Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail nor any work professional associated with it. All original plots and characters are mine.
In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.
Previously, on Fairy Adventure, looks like the Devil and Bael had a fruitful first meeting. But the Devil isn't giving up just yet. Kyler, Mirella, Lance, and Nashi take on the event with Kyler seeing through Mirella's ruse. Pazuzu finds Nashi under the influence (though, in a very different way) with Lilith wanting her and Lance, but he saves them… Or did he? Gale introduces Carlisle to his friends only to decide enough is enough. Looks like Bleu and Luna are getting cozy as well, oo-la-la…! Loke answers some of Luke's questions, but Luke has plenty more after Igneel shows him something he shouldn't have. Kyler outs Mirella's true intention and takes the poison apple, as one can say. Pazuzu helps Lance and Nashi find Aine, but everything is not what it seems when Lance goes alone and Pazuzu drops Nashi in the labyrinth. We get to meet Peter's parents in Leekwood, but things go off in a rocky start once they realize Peter's love interest is a Mage and their adoptive son is coming into power with his Alchemy and Alkahestry. Mary Jane and Mira get precious mother-daughter time with Mary Jane calling someone she knows she needs to see. Lance comes to in a forest with Aine to restart their romance and journey to the Asphodel Meadows. Gale ends up being spurred to get down on the dance floor and…kiss the girl?! Woah! I didn't expect that!
"Gale, please! Think about this, okay?"
"I am. I'm thinking I should have fun."
Oh my… I really hope Gale stops himself before it's too late! And what did Loke mean?
"Malã'ika… Come to me."
The focus saw the Ice Devil in shackles. These shackles looked like they would not hold with ice and frost caked onto their innards and looking for a way to cut them down.
'What is this place?' came wonderance. 'Where am I?'
"Malã'ika…"
The focus turned to see the silver depths of the Ice Devil in his naked glory. His growl resonated throughout his shadowed prison and struck deep. The lust, the anger—it melded into something potent that could bend her to her knees.
"Malã'ika, I will come for you," came hefty promise from the beast of Winter. "I will wipe every trace of them from you with my tongue. I will make sure that disgusting Brand is destroyed and you only know your true Master."
How could winter make one so hot? How could a thing made to freeze make her body tingle with expectant warmth?
The Ice Devil's eyes lit up as though he understood what she was going through and he grinned, flashing sharp teeth. "That is it, Malã'ika, understand the intent of my words," he purred. "The second I find you, I do not care who or what is around. I will throw you on your back and take what is mine. I will make sure you only feel my winter in-between your legs until you beg for me to stop…and even then, I will not."
Sensitivity was her enemy as she mewled at such a perverse promise. Heart quickening, she wanted him to cash in those words now and show her to whom she belonged.
"That's it, my little Female," he hissed. "Spread your legs and imagine how good my tongue will be licking your pussy. I refuse to stop until you know who you submit to. Only me. Only me!"
Quivering started. She was on the edge. He could not do this to her. He could not leave her like this.
"I will spank you for getting caught in this madness," the Ice Devil told her. "If you even have a scratch mark, I will spank you for getting into danger. I will punish you for trying to fuck another when you are mine."
Her hips bucked as her chest heaved and her nipples tingled, begging for someone to lick them.
"Come for me, Malã'ika," he purred. "Come for me and wake from this. Come for me so I know the scent I am to follow." His eyes iced. "Come!"
°•°•°•°
"Gary!" Nashi gasped as she woke up with her legs shaking and her body needing to be coddled. Such intensity stung her eyes as she tried to wrap her head around what just happened.
Where am I? What happened? How did I get here?
Her mind flashed to Pazuzu's glinting glazed eyes.
Nashi put her head in her hands. "Oh, my God, what's happening to me?" She finally felt the stickiness between her legs. Her nose wrinkled. "Did I just wake up with an orgasm? The Hell?" A grunt escaped her as she tried to stand up. She staggered and glared at her heels with curses falling off her lips as she ripped them off her feet. A look around made her realize she was really not where she used to be.
"What is this place?" Nashi whispered. "It's like a maze." Realization popped. "Oh, my God, this is the labyrinth Kyler was talking about! Gary—! The Devil—! They're here!" She stopped massaging her feet to get up when she noticed something about herself. "Okay… I know for a fact I was drowning, so…"—she took a look at herself—"how am I dry?"
Nashi turned around to see she the body of water she had fallen in extended beyond her comprehension and into the darkness, no light in sight. "Well, I guess I can't go back," she said dryly. "I can't find my friends either…" An idea hit her. "But, somehow, I can find the Devil. I found him just like I found Mary Jane." She looked at her palms.
I felt the world around me and made a connection. Back then, I was under an adrenaline rush. But now? I've been having trouble recreating the feeling. So how could I connect to him? Seraphim? Anything?
Seraphim answered, You've always had a connection to both light and darkness as you are part-Etherious and yet have the souls of Angels within you. It's natural a Dark One can connect to a Dark One. But, because you have such a connection to the light, it would be more natural for you to connect with it with myself and Cael at your aid.
Do you think I could find Kyler? Nashi wondered. He's an Angel, right? Wouldn't my Magic seek him out?
I would think so.
Nashi went to the wall and found a vine engraved into the architecture. She smoothed a hand over it and closed her eyes. In. Out. Deep inhale. Deep exhale.
Feel a connection with the earth, Seraphim instructed. This is different than we practiced. You are feeling for the light this time. You are feeling for someone like you.
Nashi tried her hardest to relax and seek it out. She remembered Kyler's Blessing. She remembered the awe she felt seeing his wings. She remembered the type of light she felt, how it was purer than hers and set her at ease.
A spark lit up in the distance. Nashi could feel the spark igniting into light and traveling through the dimension to find the source. Brighter and brighter it went until there was a flash and a scene was set. A shadowy prison took the stage with only one main character and four sides. Slumber was Kyler's best friend in his nudity. Wraiths guarded his body, but it was anyone's guess if a familiar was their master.
Kyler… Oh, no… Nashi's panic welled up. Kyler's trapped! But how…?
The scene zoomed out more to show the prison at its whole and someone surprising was in the picture. Mirella watched Kyler sleep with her golden eyes quiet.
Nashi's gut pounded at her with guilt and fierce ire. Mirella, she snarled. She did this to Kyler? But why? I thought we could trust her! She just wants her daughter back! She pulled herself away from the connection and the dizziness hit her for only a couple seconds. As she reoriented herself, questions surged. So Mirella's the bad guy, but why? No. It doesn't matter why. She must've drugged Kyler. Maybe a bargaining chip for her daughter.
Nashi let out a shaky exhale. "I know I need to find the Devil, but Kyler… He needs me."
Choose wisely, little one, Seraphim advised. The Devil needs his Light. But Kyler needs his sister-in-wings.
Nashi rolled her lips around. Decisions had to be made and no one could do it for her. She was her own maker of destiny. Calmness spread her and helped her decision become final. "I'm sorry, Devil, but Kyler needs me," she said aloud as though telling him her plan. "I'll find him and take the Demon and Mirella down." With her chin down low, she started down the labyrinth. Five steps in and an oath of pain came out of her mouth. She dug the rock from her foot with a mental middle finger. "I just wish I had shoes other than heels…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Ah utsukushii sekai
Utsukushii mirai
Utsukushii kehai no suru sono saki wa
Subarashii sedai
Subarashii kitai
Subarashii sekai
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
You could never have fun at a party you were not drunk at.
Parties—these kinds of parties—were meant to be full of drunkards and stoners and foreplay and sex and maybe only slight sobriety for the designed driver or den mother. Parties were meant to have music you would get it on to and a lot of wall space for you to back it up with a person of your choice. Parties were meant for a distraction, for a night of alleged freedom.
Gale had switched partners through the songs and now had a feisty girl with violet highlighted hair dancing with him. He felt a little sweaty, but his nose could not tell who was more crossed: him or this new chick. But the disappointment Sycaña fed him was tampered down into nothing.
Hair of sun rays flicking in the wind.
Chocolate gleaming in excitement.
A casual smile with a blossoming blush.
Gale shut his eyes when he saw flashes of her and stumbled away from the girl. A hand brushed back his hair as his ears hummed and everything shut out. What am I doing?
Gale tried to focus, but his body felt free from gravity. Everyone moved around him, but to him, time was slowing down. I shou… I should find her. Loose determination resolved him as he tried to find an exit. She's mine. Fuck Bleu, I'm the one who should be with her.
Gale found the sliding door and clumsily slid it open. Different music was outside and it was still crowded, but at least it was more dispersed than a living room. He went to sit on one of the deck chairs with his Compact coming out. Without even hesitating, he called her.
RIIIIIING…. RIIIIIING… RIIIIIIING… RIII—
"Hi, this is Luna! I'm sorry you can't reach me! Leave a voicemail and I'll get back to you soon! Peace!"
BEEEEEP.
"Blondie!" Gale hollered. "What's good, girl? Are you still out with him?" He laughed mockingly. "Well good for you! You can have your fun and I'll have mine. You know how long I was waiting for you?" He coughed. "Damn, it fucking blows seeing you fall all over some asshole when you could've had me. But you know what? I'm fine!" He yelled that last part. "Because he'll never even come close to me. He'll never care about you like I do and…! And…!" He rubbed his face when a bit of sobriety hit him. "Ugh… Fucking forget it." He ended the call and dropped his head in his hands. "Dammit, dude, the fuck are you doing?"
"Getting over your ex seems like it."
Gale looked up for his eyes to peek at a new girl. She had ash blonde hair that did not look natural and dark eyes. She was bold to wear a crop top hoodie in December, but at least she had pants on. Gale waved off her assumption. "Not an ex, just…something."
The girl snorted. "A 'something'?" She sipped from her water bottle with a wine bottle in the other hand. "Yeah, I get that. She break up with you for some other dude?"
"Can't break up if you weren't together in the first place," Gale supposed humorlessly. "It fucking sucks to admit that, but we never were and pro'ly never will be."
The girl offered her wine, but Gale denied it. As she shrugged, she set it aside. "Yeah, that does suck," she admitted. "But you're single, you're young and dumb, and you're looking for some fun. So why not have any?"
Gale snorted. "I did back in there. Still feelin' funky after that." He blinked widely as the world tipped. "Wow, I am drunk," he realized.
She chuckled. "Maybe you just haven't met the right girl to have fun with."
It took Gale a minute to see what she meant. "Thanks but nah." Was she really this attractive? "I, uh, can't." Curiosity seeped through him as he dragged his gaze up and down her.
But what happened if he did?
The girl let the water sit on the table. "Why not?" She lifted her chin as she came closer. "Take a drink with me, yeah?" Her smile was supposed to be tempting as she stripped him of his gloves and put them on the table. "Take off the gloves, kick back, and drink with me."
Gale's eyes went to her hands when she dipped low to let them slide onto his thighs. "How far is this drink going to go?" Disgust tried to rattle him alongside Sycaña's disapproval, but whatever he ingested muted her words and muffled her influence on him. All night long, desire drove him and the hesitation was lessoning and lessoning. Female after female passed within his hands, trying to be the one to win him over, but a part of him still objected, still wanted his Truth. But he could feel despair swallowing him with lust not so far behind. It was like the two were working together, providing him an alternate path to his frustration and sadness, an opportunity.
He could feel a shift. He could feel this girl's hands stroke his thighs. He could feel her being his next opportunity.
"As far as you want it," the girl promised. It was surprising two people could fit on the deck chair, but she made it work as she straddled him. "But I like sharing my drinks in private." She went to touch his hand—
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Montages were the worst when half of your mind was screwed over through weed and liquor. Scenes hit the focus hard and blearily as the voices went in and out. The first scene focused on an aspiring young man in a school uniform as he spoke on stage. Admiration invaded his half-conscious mind, an emotion not his own and one mingled with affection. The young man glanced down as the focus with a confident smile and kept speaking.
The next was at night when the moon was out and Heavens were right. The focus looked up at a ceiling, but the attention was diverted to the young man beside it. Warmth of new love finally recognizing itself came into play as the focus watched the young man and his gray eyes. He looked at the focus, half-lidded, and with a sleepy smile, but that hesitation was there. The focus leaned towards his face and darkness faded over the s—
Brightness came back as warring betrayal, hurt, and envy banged against the scene. Sheets had been pulled up to cover the body as the young man stood with his back to the focus at the doorway. He gave the focus one last glance with something guilty in his eyes before he walked away and the focus darkened through tears and angst.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"You look so confused there…" The girl nibbled on his earlobe and let her pant fill his ear. "How adorable. Are you a virgin? Were you saving it for her? Let me tell you… Sex is nothing but purely physical. I mean, everyone needs to know what they want and being a virgin won't help." Her fingers trailed down his stomach and rub against his pants. "But I can help you figure it out."
A hand worked up his chest and fluttered across his neck. Nature spurned him on, desire hardened him, and despair let him justify it all. An opportunity presented itself to him. He could feel his Wild snarl at him deep within his soul. And perhaps he knew this was not how he wanted this, who he wanted it with, and he knew this was wrong. But Nature compelled him to follow its demand. His Truth was out of his hands and into someone else's. Nature cared little whom he was supposed to be with; it cared for the now, for legacy. His hands found the curve of her back and grasped an ass that was not his. He watched his opportunity's reaction, listened to how quick her heartbeat raced, and smelt her budding arousal…and not trace of purity.
"No kissing," he instated. This was non-negotiable. Desire clicked and Nature submitted. They would approve that choice.
"Anywhere?" The girl looked a bit put out at that. Perhaps to someone else, she looked adorable.
"No lips," Gale corrected. A growl tore inside him when she slowly ground against him. This girl—this female—was not to be something coveted. She was a replacement—an opportunity—his disgrace. And he would treat her as such. "Someone else gets that."
The girl shrugged and grinned. "Fine by me as long as I get the other stuff. The big stuff. And trust me, sweetie, you're big." She slid off him to adjust her clothes and another opportunity came up. This was his chance. He could walk away. He had the power to. She was not on him and he could ignore her advances. But his eyes watched as she bent over in front of him, intrigued at her saucy grin, and she slowly pulled herself back up to get her wine and water bottle. "Are you going to come with me or are you going to stare?" she teased.
"'Come' where?" Gale found himself asking.
She nodded her head towards a fixed-up barn nearing the back of the yard. "Barn back there has a guest bedroom and a little apartment up top where we can get more comfortable," she told him. "And we'll definitely need a bed to get comfortable." She made a show of bending forward and her free hand rubbing him.
Heat flared in ruby and made him tense. Pleasure like this would forever be second to his previous methods. Nature chanted in his ears and despair let it happen. But hesitation nagged him. He went for his Compact—
"Uh-uh…" The girl took it from him and shook it like he was the cat and she was dangling a toy. "No exes tonight. We're forgetting about them, remember? You'll get this back when we're finished." She pocketed it to descend from the deck. "C'mon."
Another chance, but it was too late. He stood (his fault). He followed her (his fault). He adjusted himself (his fault). He let weakness grip him as his opportunity fully led him towards the temptation of desire, towards distraction from his shame, towards his downfall. Nature's intent perched on him and would not let him go until all was done and that was a promise.
…but deep down, he knew he would feel the Wild's betrayal once all was done.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure 048
Awaken the Feeling Inside
本当の気持ちを示さなければなりません！過去に行った選択は未来を変えます！
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Mirella used the shadows to leave Kyler's cage and enter the hallway. It was far too lavish for her tastes and far too fake. A familiar was waiting for her there, a monster of a fish with two legs. He dressed the part of butler with guardian Wraiths behind him. He bowed at Mirella's entrance. "Lady Mirella, your father wishes for you to change, then meet him in his study."
Mirella rolled her eyes, arms crossed below her bosom. "Of course he does." She ignored the familiar's gesture as she walked to her room. Not assistance was needed for this and annoyance puffed through her as the maids and Dark Ones alike bowed to her. The castle was more than an illusion of wealth—it was one of the deadliest traps of creation. The air potent with a stress-relieving scent and enchantments forcing mortal recipients to experience a sort of high to keep them unfocused, a human would never survive here.
Mirella found her room and opened it herself. She had no need for those guards to do it for her. Maids with their horns and long nails stopped fluffing the room when they saw their charge and gathered around her with praises and greetings falling so swiftly from their lips. Mirella continued to walk to the bathroom when she got fed up with the noise and addressed them. "Cretins, I'll say this once," she sneered. "Don't – fucking – touch me."
"But the Unholy Lord has told us to prepare you for a feast, our Lady," one of the maids complained. "He might notice our hard work through how well you have dressed."
"He may even bed you," another giggled merrily. As the other maids tittered, she continued, "To share the bed of His Darkness would be indescribable."
Mirella shook her head to the ceiling. "I forgot incest is a thing here," she replied dryly. "Look. I'm not here to fuck my dad, contradictory to the fucked-up rules of the Underworld. I'm here for business—not – pleasure." She tried to shut the bathroom doors, but the maids beat her to it and bustled in. Mirella groaned openly as the bathtub was brewed.
Some would take advantage of this. You had a full crew of women on deck and ready to help with whatever little task. You had a milk scrub, then a rosewater bath with your hair soaking in water filled with rose petals. You had people who ran colors by you, who ran shoes by you, who ran hairstyles by you. But to Mirella, this was an ordinary day of her being prepped for her father's approval.
…and his lust.
Mirella let the maids dress her, though she kept her claws sharp for them to know she was not one to play their games. Still, her mind went elsewhere. She thought of little eyes who blinked up at her in wonder and curiosity. She thought of Middlemist Reds and laughter in a meadow. I'm doing this for her, Mirella thought. Nothing else matters.
Turquoise gleaming in adoration.
Coldness stormed her heart as the finishing touches to her look were complete. Nothing else matters.
The walk to the study was a quiet one with guards and the fish butler her acting guide. He tried to catch her attention as he told her the current affairs of the court, but there was nothing Mirella wanted to listen to unless it meant someone's death. Besides the master bedroom, the study had the most pretentious doors and it showed. Mirella did not give a damn, but she saw the familiars who did and knew she had to hold her ground on this.
"His Darkness will be with your momentarily, My Lady," one of the familiars chimed. "He is in a meeting."
Mirella snorted as she walked up to the door. "Meeting my ass," she muttered. She needed no introduction as she opened a door.
X - X - X - X - X
Breasts bouncing against a desk. The fresh sound of a moan. Hips slamming against an ass with no remorse to the pain. The twitch of a cock on the verge of giving into release.
Mirella sighed as she caught a glimpse of her father finishing inside yet another maid while an exposed butler's cum roped onto the ground. "It's amazing how your lust never ends," she remarked, not caring about the two drained servants.
Her father stopped his ministrations and pulled out from the maid as she mewled her distress. He did, however, have the decency to lick his fingers clean of some of the cum the butler had gotten onto him. "Mirella," he purred. "I've missed you. I wish you'd visit more often."
X - X - X - X - X
"And I wish you were dead…"—gold matched gold—"Bael."
Bael shrugged as he walked over to her and abandoned his partners. Darkness covered him with each step to give him a loose button-down and slacks while the maid and butler were brought down into the shadows and away. An attendant ran over to vigorously clean the stains left behind.
"You were never one to like me," Bael reminisced. "I thought I gave you everything you could ask for. Money, sex, food, jewels—"
"You gave me the illusion that I was your daughter when I was just a pet in your plans," Mirella said flatly. "Cut the bullshit. You feel nothing but getting turned on and bloodlust. So don't soothe me over with this 'love' nonsense. Let's talk business."
Bael offered for Mirella to sit with him on the couch. She decided to take a chair. Bael chuckled at her actions. "Fine. Business it is." His smile never left, but his eyes were lethal. "I see you brought the Enoch. Well done. He's more alive than I thought he'd be, but I knew you wouldn't kill him."
"Yup. I'm a pussy like that." Mirella heaved a breath. "I did as commanded. Brought you the cupid. So I'll be taking back what's mine now, capische? Grazie."
Bael's chuckle made Mirella raise an eyebrow. "What's yours?" He adjusted his sleeves. "That's cute. It's been centuries, Mirella, and you still think she'd want to go back to you."
"Unlike you, I know how to parent and love," Mirella spat at him. "You've kept her trapped here, stunted her, and you think she'll choose this Hell over her own mother? Wow. I forgot Demons have arrogance coming out of their asses."
Bael rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. "You really should watch your mouth, Moralia. You forget. Dirty talk gets me off." He eyed the crossed legs of Mirella. "So do headstrong females."
"You're disgusting and I wish you were dead," Mirella said, flat. "Stop trying to flirt with your own daughter, asshat. I want my baby. Where is she?"
Bael tipped his head. "And how am I supposed to know that?"
Mirella narrowed her eyes. "Cut the shit, Bael. Where the fuck is my daughter?"
Bael sighed as he got up. "Moralia, when your own was taken from you, how did you find out?"
Mirella ground her teeth. "You know how. It was a nightmare. I was trapped in the shadows and told by a figure by the time I woke up, she would be gone. A deal had to be made. I bring Kyler in exchange for my daughter."
"And what color eyes did this 'figure' have?"
"Oran—" Mirella froze.
How could she have been so stupid?
How could she have not seen it?"
"No," Mirella whispered. "The voice was yours. She wouldn't have known about her. The wards, the enchantments, the spells…"
Bael was behind Mirella now and his hands massaged down her shoulders. "Now, now, Moralia… It's not your fault you assumed the worst of me," he soothed in a purr.
"I thought it was you," Mirella could have sworn. "In my nightmares, it was always you giving me assignments. It was you letting me have only snippets of information about her…"
"Lynn knew you thought the worst of me and thought my form was the easiest to manipulate you in. She has a way of mimicking me to get what she wants," Bael explained with a paramount sigh. "Believe me, Moralia, it frustrates me to no end how childish your sister is. She thought by taking your own flesh and blood and turning you into a monster with her hostage, Lynn would break you down and subsequently kill you the second she killed your heir. She wants—"
"I know what she wants." Mirella's nails extended into claws and dug deep into the grandfather's chair. Whipping her hair around, she glowered at her alleged father. "And it's because of you she turned into this obsessive bitch only capable of thinking how much dick she has to suck to get your powers and take your place. You turned her into a monster."
"And she turned you into one, just like Daddy taught her," Bael pointed out, smirk impish. "Just what you are…or the front you put on."
Mirella stood straight up to face him, but Bael was prepared for her. "Don't give me that look," he told her. "You don't really think I think you're even remotely as callous as I wished you were, do you? Please. You put up a front, but if you were as much of a bitch as you try to be, the baby daddy would be dead already."
Mirella tensed. "You don't know anything."
"You're right." Bael leaned forward. "I know everything." He moved around the grandfather's chair to circle her and Mirella stood tall. "It's amazing how you thought running away from me and onto Lemuria would've hid you and your tryst. Should've tried one of the noble warrior planets like Vanhalla or even Zion. But no. You thought getting away from me would make me oblivious."
Mirella tried not to bristle as Bael brushed against her. "My wards—"
"Are impressive," Bael had to give her. "You did well hiding for a while. But the second you fucked that Enoch, you let your guard slip and I found you. I did nothing, of course. I let you have your fun, let you think you were free." His fingers trailed down her collar bone. "My most promising offspring condemning herself to fucking mortals and an Enoch… How disgusting. I thought you had taste."
"And I thought you wouldn't kill my mom by fucking," Mirella retorted blandly. "Shit just doesn't work out."
Bael rolled his eyes. "Oh, right. Humans have an attachment to their parents. My bad."
"Your 'bad'?" Mirella shook. "You motherfucker. You killed my mother by fucking and you say, 'my bad'? Do you know how fucked up that sounds?"
Bael sighed. "Moralia…"
"No, you sick bastard!" Mirella shoved Bael away. "Don't fucking touch me!" she growled. "I don't have the time to deal with your ass. I'm taking my daughter back and we're leaving. If you stand in my way, don't think I won't cut you down."
Mirella stalked off just as Bael said, "You'll never find her. Lynn hid her well. But, if you did a favor for me, I might be inclined to help you."
Mirella opened the door and paused. "Don't play a game you won't win, Bael."
SLAM!
Bael chortled to himself. "Oh, Moralia… You don't even realize how deep in my game you are." He walked over to a stray table revealing an odd map that looked similar to a tabletop RPG. The pieces were in place. The Demigod and the Amazon were together in the fields while the Berserker was still in the midst of the labyrinth, in his prison. He watched as Lynn's piece—the Shadowcaster—stalked down the labyrinth while a pink piece with wings wound around the halls, the Cleric.
"I can't wait for the main event," Bael murmured. "Long live the king."
And right on the marble floor was the dame symbol on Bluenote's pocket watch: the upside-down pentagram wrapped in the ouroboros.
Aine laughed into her hand. "I think it's amazing your friends went along with that."
Lance admitted to that with a chuckle of his own. "Well, Cade can be pretty persistent when he wants to," he admitted. "I feel like the only reason we weren't stopped was because we sounded and danced like a legit boy band. It helps we watched the dance practices a million times and Justin refused to give up on us." He showed Aine the King Kong pointe dance. "I still remember doing some of the pointe dances." As Aine laughed at him, he stopped dancing and grinned. "We all used fake names and Transformation Magic that night, but I'll see little splotches of our performance pop up on twit and insta with the 'Where are they now?' and everyone trying to guess."
"That's incredible!" Aine exclaimed. "And you remembered all those lyrics too! What language did you say it was in? Koreo?"
"Korean, I think," Lance told her. "Honestly, it doesn't sound that different from Josean, but…"—he shrugged—"Cade's from Earth. We learned Earth Land and his Earth have a lot in common in terms of languages and cultures. It's the Magic part that really separates us."
Aine looked down. "It's so cool to think you have a friend from another planet. Two of them." She looked at Lance for confirmation. When he nodded, she continued: "It just sounds so…amazing. You have friends with different cultures and backgrounds, but you're all friends. Not too many people can accomplish that."
"It's not easy," Lance confessed. "There were a lot of times we stepped on each other's toes or said something we didn't know was insulting. But we definitely do our best to understand. Most of us took sign classes so we could talk to Mara better. Cade likes to teach his Korean—our Josean—to the littler guild members and anyone interested." His laugh was back. "Which helps because my mom is totally fanatic about J-Dramas and Z-Dramas."
"Z-Dramas?"
"Zhōng Dramas," Lance elaborated. Then, he winced. "That came out wrong. Technically, it's the People's Republic of Zhōnghuá, but everyone shortens it. It's in Sela with Joseo and Cipangu—and it has a lot more."
Aine saw the look in Lance's eyes and her smile was airy. "Seems like you know a lot of about geography and culture."
Lance might have blushed a little, but the look in his eyes faded. "Not me. My girlfriend does. She loves learning languages to better connect with people and learning the culture behind it." He shot Aine a look full of meaning. "If she could only keep up with practicing."
Aine nudged him with her hand. "Quiet, you. Don't talk bad things about your girlfriend when she's not here to defend herself."
"Then defend her in her place," Lance teased. "Why not keep up her studies? Oh, I know. Because she's lazy."
Aine whacked Lance's shoulder but holding in her chortles was a problem. "Don't say the l-word, mister! Your girlfriend can't be lazy if she has you for a boyfriend. I bet she's constantly on her toes around you."
"I think you have it backwards." Emerald sparked in wist. "I'm constantly on mine to keep up with her."
Silence settled in, different for both parties. Awkwardness filled Aine as she realized Lance was in another world and thinking of another woman. Her fingers found their other half and got into a tangled mess. How can I feel like this? I knew he had a girlfriend. I know it. This should be wrong. We're flirting and he's taken and it should be wrong. But it feels… It feel—
"We're here."
Aine lifted her head. The second she saw what was in front of her, she shifted towards Lance. The meadows were before them, but were they really meadows? Of course, there was grayed-out grass in this demented landscape and rolling hills in the background that acted as a fence. But rather than flowers growing in this said meadows, people were there. Naked and translucent, people of human and beast and creature all stood stock-still. Without blood, they were witless, inactive. Their blank faces had no identity to them. Like a plant, they had a stem that connected them, but this was a reverse stem that traveled into the sky with no place to go.
"No wonder you didn't want to go here," Lance breathed. There are probably hundreds of thousands of people here, trapped in the Demon's prison. His eyes caught one essence in particular that looked more translucent than the rest to the point where she could disappear. He watched as she did just that, disintegrating into particles. And in her place grew an Asphodel.
"I think I understand," Lance decided. "So those stems of black are their connection to the Demon. When the Demon absorbed their essence, a flower is left like a little marker." While people outnumber the flower, there are a lot of flowers.
Lance tried to walk, but Aine held him back, shaking her head. "We can't go in there," she whispered. "What if they wake up?"
"They won't," Lance assured. "Without a complete soul, just an essence has no life to it and can't move. And, without a host body, they can't physically attack us." At Aine's shaking, Lance brought her close and locked their hands together. "I'll keep you safe, little fox," he promised. "Do you trust me?"
Aine's hesitation was a moment. But her nod was absolute. "Yes."
Lance guided Aine into the meadows with slow steps and encouraging hand squeezes. Their stroll was different. Aine looked around with darting eyes and a dry throat and waited for one of them to act up. Lance was focused ahead, but he let his eyes sweep to notice the fresher essences from the dying ones.
There's a strong magnetic pull this way which means we're probably going to the center. Which also means we'll have to face whoever is guarding it. He glanced at Aine. I can't put her in danger. In this state, she doesn't remember her martial arts. I'll have to worry about protecting her and the people which isn't ideal, but I have to.
"Do you think the center will have monsters?" Aine feared.
Lance grimaced. Now was not the time to beat around the bush. "Most likely," was what he gave. "I'll be ready for them. I'll have to keep my Magic low since its pretty explosive, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to defend us."
Aine cast her gaze to the side. "I'm going to get in your way, aren't I?"
Lance sighed and squeezed her hand. "It's not ideal to have to protect so many people," he gently put. "It's doable, but not ideal. I'll protect you and everyone here with everything I've got. I just need you to understand you can't go rushing out to save me. You have no proper training and we can't afford for you to try to act tough on a battlefield."
Aine shot him a pleading look. "But I can help—!"
"No. You can't." Lance stopped them both to sear Aine with a stern face. "This is tough love, but I need you to understand you can't help me no matter what you think. Right now, you're untrained and ill-prepared which is a drawback for us both. I need you to get that. We might even see illusions trying to tempt us. You cannot believe everything you see and hear and you cannot fight with me. You need to stay safe and hidden." He lowered his chin. "Do you understand that?"
Wow. Maybe if Aine was actually like this, I'd get Misty's point of view. She can't fight just like when Nashi would take on things she wasn't prepared for. It sucks to say it, but it needs to be said.
Aine's shoulders dropped and her nod was low. "I understand."
Lance tipped up her chin. "I'm not saying that to hurt you," he soothed in apology, "but it's because I care I say that." He took up her hand and took the lead again.
The walk was much more silent this time with Aine stewing in her own emotions and Lance trying to block out the riff to keep himself observant and alert. He tried to sense for any type of electrical current besides the one at the center and felt none.
I can feel only one thing at the center which means either the Demon is arrogant and isn't taking this seriously or he made sure he picked something he knew could kill us without a problem.
It took some time to travel, but they made it to the edge…which led to a wide moat covered in fog. Dreariness was the overtone here and it felt like your breath was swept out of your lungs and your body was waiting for something to step out.
"What is this?" Aine whispered to Lance, another hand tugging on his sleeve.
"I don't know," Lance told her. "I'm trying to think back to Encan mythology. I know there's some ferryman that helps you cross into their Underworld or something like a spirit guide." He tsked. "I don't really know that much about mythology. Misty would."
Aine and Lance tried to see into the fog, but it was impenetrable and thicker than blood. Nothing was coming in or out and that was that.
I can feel the pull get stronger, Lance thought. But I haven't felt anything but one life force… So how do we cross?
STEP… STEP…
Little feet pattered against the sands of the moat.
Aine turned her head. Chocolate wide, she tugged at Lance. Lance looked in her direction and could not even think. What the…?
Wide turquoise eyes blinked up at them and brunette pulled into twin braids. Patches of lighter skin interfered with her skin tone, but it did not take away from her—it made her look beautiful. Even if the ragged pants and shirt did not.
Aine glanced at Lance, but she took a step towards the child's direction. A smile delighted her. "Hi," she murmured. "My name is Aine and this is Lance. What's your name, sweetie?"
The girl blinked and tipped her head. Her hands came together before making a trickling effect. What surprised Lance and Aine was that trickling effect was a spell and glittery Magic rained on them for only a few seconds. Lance saw his change into sparks of cyan like his lightning while Aine's changed into a magenta.
The girl drew back her hands. "L—… Los…?"
Aine nodded eagerly. "Yes. We're lost. Are you lost too?"
The girl shook her head. "No…"
Lance came forth, but the girl noticed and took a step back, ready to flee. He held his position and held his hands out. "It's okay." He lowered himself to her level. "We're not here to hurt you. We're here to make it to the middle of this thing and save our friends."
The girl seemed confused. "Fr... Fren…?"
"She might not speak Fioren," Aine whispered, "but I don't know what else to do without scaring her. She looks like she's only twelve or thirteen, Lance."
"I know," Lance murmured, watching the girl. She must've been the life force I sensed. So either she was condemned as a prisoner…or she's putting on an act… Emerald narrowed as he tried to assess her. I can sense she has a power inside her, but there seems to be some sort of limiter on it.
The girl abandoned them both to get closer to the water. She trickled her hands again and the water understood her intentions. It rippled and Lance quickly covered Aine. Peering over his shoulder, Aine watched as a mass arose from the depths of the water. An old punt breached and looked obviously unused and unkempt. Seaweed drenched the sides and moss, yet the water fled from the inside of the punt. A pole appeared within its boat, but no one else came with it.
The punt docked on the beach safely and the girl pointed at it, looking for Lance's approval. "A…cro…?"
"I think she's trying to say this will get us across," Aine whispered. She left her position to head towards the girl. "That was amazing! How did you do that?"
Lance was in no rush as he studied the girl. Yes… How did a supposedly lost and helpless girl do that on her own…?
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
And on Earth Land…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Chilliness nipped those unprepared as people streamed out of the mall and the officer guards outside bid everyone a farewell. Bleu held open the door for Luna as she trickled out of the theater in her gloves and hat and jacket. "The movie was great!" Luna exclaimed. "I loved the princess scene!" She laughed as she twirled around. "Ugh, I could watch that again and again!"
"I'm sure you could," Bleu agreed, amused as he steered her into the parking lot. He grabbed her hand and let her swing them back and forth. "The plot was kinda meh, though."
Luna gasped, but Bleu tried to sate her. "Hear me out. I get it was about friendship, but we literally just saw them fight for her game and now she wants to leave it for a new game. Do you not see why I wasn't too impressed?"
Luna pressed her lips together. "I mean… I get it…but…I'm still going to buy it on Amazone."
"You would." Bleu bumped her shoulder for good measure.
Luna looked around the parking lot with a startling realization. "Um… Where are we going?"
"My car." Bleu pointed down the lot aisle to a four-door Lacrima Car, a dark blue thing with a long hood and accented eyes. "I normally ride my motorcycle, but I let it rest once November-December hits."
"But…why are we going to your car?" Luna asked stupidly. "You're not giving me a ride home, are you?"
Bleu snorted. "Well, duh…! 'Course I'm giving you a ride home. How could I not? Up-bup-bup," he added in when Luna tried to speak. She lifted an eyebrow and he went on: "Your buddy ditched you with no ride of your own. That's really crappy of them to do." He took out his keys to unlock his car and start it from his position. "I'm not letting you walk or get a Ryde at this time of night."
Luna sighed, then pouted. "Fine," she supposed. "But if I'm going to make the last train to Magnolia—"
"Also no," Bleu tacked on. He drove Luna onto the passenger's side and opened her door with a gentleman's hand. "I'm taking you home and that's final."
Luna shot him a look as he helped her into the car and shut her door. Making herself comfortable, she noticed things about this car. It was already heated, even the seats. An L-Pad was at the ready in the car to the point where it welcomed Bleu and proceeded to show a menu with an overview of the model of car. "What car is this?" Luna wondered, scrunching her eyebrows as she put on her seatbelt.
Bleu did the same. "A Nikola. Normally in fall-winter, I take my stick shift since she's less flashy. But my dad insisted I take this little guy since he was technically a gift when I got my license. Like her?" Within moments, they were cruising out of the parking lot.
Luna narrowed her eyes playfully at Bleu. "I always knew it. I always knew you were rich."
Bleu grinned. "You know it, Treasure." He glanced at the L-Pad. "Should be able to get you back home if I take the highway, but…"—he glanced at the time—"you might want to let your parents know we might be a little past your curfew so they don't worry."
Luna nodded and went for her Compact. As she waited for it to turn back on, she asked Bleu, "So…are you going to go get Carlisle too?"
Bleu nodded. "After I drop you off, I'll swing back for my cousin," he planned. "I don't know why he thought it was necessary to follow Gale, but he did and now he's stuck at some party, probably finding a rebound from Zack." A sigh. "I swear. Drinking never agrees with him. He gets wild when drunk."
A stifled laugh came through a hum as Luna went to call her mother. A notification popped up that had her freeze. Gale left me a voicemail? It was instinct to tend to it, listen to it, but irritation made her put her mother first. Probably him yelling at me anyways. She waited for her mother to pick up, though it was just about to go to voicemail when she did.
"Luna, hi…!" Just three syllables sounded so rushed and breathless. "Oh, it's our daughter! How are you, baby?"
"I'm okay, Mama," Luna chirped, though warily. "Are you guys having fun on your date night?" She whispered, "Do I need to rescue you from Papa?"
A mumble slipped through the cracks, but a jab made Natsu cry out. "We're having a lot of fun," Lucy assured. "Your papa's just being silly. What's up? Are you okay?"
"I am, it's just… So, um… I might be a little late coming home," Luna tried to explain. "I know—"
"It's fine!" Natsu blurted, a note of impatience in his voice. "Loke's at the house till we come back tomorrow. Just make sure you text us when you're home and check-in with him, yeah?"
Luna chuckled. "Aye, si—"
"Awesome! We gotta go, baby girl. Your mom's acting up," Natsu growled teasingly over Lucy's squawks of denial. "We love you."
"Love you too. Bye." Luna hung up and a sigh of relief came out. "Well. That went easier than I thought. I thought Gale ratted me out to my parents, but I guess he didn't."
Bleu hummed. "But they still don't know about what happened." A statement, no questioning about it.
Luna sunk a little in her seat. "Well… No. But," she added quickly, "I promise I'll tell them tomorrow. They're on their date night and I don't want to ruin it."
"Take it easy," Bleu soothed. "I'm not rushing you on that and I'm not telling you to lie about it. I just don't want to cause anything between all of you. And when I get to see you again, I don't want your dad to burn me alive."
Luna freely laughed. "Let's hope it doesn't come to tha—"
A high-pitched growl of a stomach ruined her words.
Luna blushed as Bleu threw back his head to cackle. "Hungry again? Dang, girl, I thought I was the only one!"
"Are you kidding?" Luna tossed her head as she cackled. "I'm hungry practically all the time! I just didn't want to freak you out at the festival, so I minimized it with sneaking snacks when you weren't looking."
Bleu changed lanes and seemed to be changing direction. "Treasure, don't ever worry about eating too much in front of me. I like a girl with an appetite and I know the perfect twenty-four-hour place to go." He paused. "If that's okay?"
Luna rested her hand atop Bleu's on the console and their eyes met in something more. "It's fine," she murmured. "I really don't mind spending more time with you."
LUB-DUB.
Bleu's smile reached his eyes. "Looks like we're on the same page then."
°•°•°•°
It was the dead of the night, but this place was still alive with young ones and oldies alike who enjoyed a good burger, fries, and milkshake at their leisure. The old town diner had it all from the Jukebox Lacrima to the rollerskating waiters and horrid tile work.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Wake 'n Steak, a chain restaurant started in Mid-Sella that quickly developed over Ishgar, Alakitasia, Melandia, and North Mesonia (mainly the United States of Mesonia) It is notoriously known for its hand-dipped milkshakes and steak burgers. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Bleu made sure Luna got to pick what side their two-seater she wanted before sitting down. After thanking their hostess, Luna looked around, mesmerized. "Wow… I've heard about these, but I've never been to one…"
Bleu raised his eyebrows. "Are you serious? These are, like, everywhere and the best places to go for shakes at two in the morning!"
Luna laughed behind her hand. "Sorry. I've never been. I stuck around Magnolia most of my life, so we have a Donny's Diner, Dunkin', Wassaburger, and…Taco Veranda. But that's it. We're not a big city, y'know."
A skating waiter came to take their drink orders after putting water down for the table with Bleu ordering Luna a lemonade while he treated himself to diet coke. After that, Bleu said, "I know, I know. But still. I feel like every teen's been here once." He thought about that. "Nah. I'd say Donny's is the place everyone's been. Or Pancake House. Especially when drunk or hungover."
Luna sipped on her water with a smile as Bleu asked her, curious, "So…?"
Luna swallowed. "So…?"
"Your friend. Gale." Bleu shifted. "He seemed…kinda like…"
"A douche bag?" Luna tittered when Bleu looked surprised she would say that. "Yeah. He can be like that. And I'm not a stan for his attitude."
Bleu nodded at that. "Well, why would you? Neither of you controls each other's lives. You're not together and even if you were, you shouldn't offer ultimatums like that."
Luna felt Bleu's words and let her eyes drift to the table. "I think…I might've overreacted," she decided. "I don't know. I'm annoyed at him for not taking our friendship seriously. I was off doing training and he was doing whatever, so we lost touch for two weeks and the second we do spend friend time, he's off with someone else…but…" She shook her head. "I don't know. I don't control him, so I can't be mad, right?"
"You have a right to be mad when someone flakes on plans, Treasure," Bleu assured softly. "And when someone is mean to you, you're allowed to be upset about it."
Luna sighed, shoulders slouching. "Let's not talk about Gale." Chocolate aimed at Bleu with a deep smile to match. "Let's talk about you."
Bleu chuckled, shaking his head. "Ooooooh no. We're talking about you."
Luna tried protesting, but the skating waiter beat her to it. With their drinks set, Bleu rattled off an order while Luna embarrassingly picked at the menu she never touched. When the waiter was gone, she tried again, but Bleu stopped her. "Treasure, you've been reversing all my questions to being about me instead of you. I want to know more about you." He took a sip of diet coke. "Consider this a test run for our first date."
Luna's cheeks warmed, but she tried to play it cool. "Fine. What do you want to know?"
Bleu sat forward. "Let's start with a little past the basics since we're over that," he decided. "Tell me more about life in Magnolia and how you grew up—aside from being the daughter of two powerful Mages."
Luna sat back and played with her glass. "Honestly? Not that bad. Like, being my parents' daughter was something kept under wraps, y'know? I wasn't known to the public outside my name," she explained. "My parents kept me inside Magnolia for most of my life, so I don't remember the times when I was young and they took me to MagiWorld or something. Life was pretty dull, actually."
Bleu frowned. "It's hard to think they'd actually do that, but I do believe you. I remember seeing things coming out about your brothers and sister and seeing their stats and such with the GMGs and GWGs, but I only kind of knew about you through interviews they or your parents gave."
Luna let her hands cradle her cheeks. "Yeah," she said lamely. "Life was definitely dull."
"Then tell me something less 'dull'," Bleu prompted.
Luna hummed, rolling her lips. "Um… I used to do a lot of photography?" Perking up, she let her eyes gloss over at the memories. "Like a lot a lot of photography with books full of my pictures."
"That's pretty cool," Bleu admitted before sipping his drink. "Why use the past tense though? You don't do it anymore?"
"Nah," Luna dismissed. She paused. "Well. Maybe. I don't know. Like I want to get back into it. I just don't know how, if that makes sense. Besides the whole buying an expensive camera part."
Bleu was about to comment when his Compact came alive. With a scowl, he yanked it out of his jacket pocket. "I'm sorry. I have to take this," he told her.
Luna quickly swallowed her mouthful of lemonade to shoo him. "No, no, it's okay! Go ahead!"
Bleu got up with a playful look of warning. "Don't run away."
Luna's grin said it all. "I'm a Mage. I'd just teleport anyhow."
Bleu chuckled before slinking off to take a call that soured his look. Luna hummed to herself as she took out her own Compact. She was met with some text messages and Twits and YouView notifications and other nonsense, but she got onto Instagraph to see everyone's pinstas. The stories were great and she laughed at Cane's. One of his friends was doing the Shake.
But when she saw Gale's, she was…shocked.
It was obvious Gale was the one taking the video as he was in the backyard somewhere with a sea of people all jamming to the same beat. A girl was already clinging to him during the video while others waved on camera like they lived for the attention. They were singing along to a song, Luna assumed, but she was even more stunned when the girl and Gale kissed for the camera and the clip ended.
Luna's Compact shook for a second when her grip tightened.
Pup—Icarus was calling to her—your emotions... Is it the drake again? What happened? Do you need me to come to you?
Luna tried not to ground her teeth as the video replayed. It's fine, she made out as her eyes stung. He can do whatever he wants. He's my friend, nothing more. So he should enjoy his Friday night. In fact… Spite was a gnarly little blighter and was worse than a parasite when it wanted to be. Luna rubbed away the warm tears gathering and set up her camera for her pinsta. She fluffed out her hair and tried to keep her blush down. He can show he's having fun and I'll show I am too.
Icarus hesitated. Pup…
"Bleu!" Luna called to him as he came back to the table with her smile vicious. "Wanna take a selfie with me?"
Bleu grinned and dove into her side of the booth. "Whatever you want, Treasure," he said, wrapping an arm around her.
Luna made short work of their poses and their picture. She saw a reflection of them leaning on each other with her peace sign out and his smile boyishly charming. Once the picture was over, Bleu went back to his side of the booth while Luna worked on a caption and edits.
"Send that to me, yeah?"
Luna gave a verbal agreement absently as she put the finishing touches. Her smile was pure poison. "There. Done." It was posted and down her Compact went. "I can't wait for my friends to see it."
Bleu grinned. "Yeah? Does that mean I get to take cute pictures of you too, Treasure?"
Luna let herself go in her laugh. "If you want to," she decided. "Just make sure you get me on my good side." She flipped her hair to one side and made exaggerated duck lips that had Bleu bursting into laughter.
Five minutes passed, then another, and another. Their food came with Luna squealing over the size of her steakburger and Bleu salivating over his milkshake. As they talked, as they laughed, neither of them noticed a comment had popped up for Luna's selfie on Insta. It was stuck in a sea of comments and its words were jumbled, but the implications were real.
M in lvoe with yoh
Mary Jane enjoyed the solace of her room.
…except when she was hungry.
A rumble came from her stomach as she saw the flickering light downstairs from her crouched position on the banister and heard a fight scene occur. If it was not for her father's loud complaints over the unrealness of the fight, she would have assumed both had fallen asleep. An unceremonious sigh huffed out as she went back to her room, closing the door with care. Flinging herself onto the bed was her only idea at that point.
"This is so annoying," she groaned to herself. "I'm so hungry…! But I can't go down there. Not with him down there. Ergh…!" She flopped onto her stomach to snatch her Compact. When she saw the time, she groaned. "Ugh… And it's a Friday night which means everything's packed or over eighteen-years-old…" A soured pout covered her lips as she went to YouView. A house tour recommendation from one over her favorite YouViewers was the first thing she clicked. The ad started not even five seconds when she heard a knock on her…
…window?
Mary Jane got to her knees as she eyed her closed curtains. Another round of little knocks prompted her to move over and turn back the curtains…
…only to see Igneel grinning at her.
Mary Jane crossed her arms. She was in no mood to play tonight. "What."
"Let me in," Igneel told her. "C'mon, MJ, I'm bored…!"
With an eye roll, Mary Jane opened her window and slipped off to her desk as Igneel climbed inside. "You know," she started as she sat at her desk, "you can't keep doing that. Climbing into my room isn't really appropriate."
Igneel shrugged as he made himself at home on her bed. "Please. We're Fairy Tail. We're known for not being appropriate," he dismissed.
Mary Jane's scowl was brightened with her Archive Lacrima screen's glow. "What a solid justification," she said scathingly as she clicked away.
A frown marred Igneel's face. "What's got you all annoyed tonight? I could smell it the second I came inside."
"Nothing." Mary Jane tensed. "Just Daddy being the ultimate parent as always and always being right." She paused and her posture dropped. "Sorry. I shouldn't be annoyed and whining, should I? The old me used to get mad all the time."
Igneel's head tilted. "You're allowed to get mad, MJ. You're allowed to have all sorts of feelings and being angry at your old man can be one of them." He tossed himself back onto the bed. "I'm pissed off at Luke and it's fine."
"What?" Now Mary Jane looked at him. "Why? You two always seem so in-sync."
Igneel half-agreed. "I guess. He said some shit that pissed me off, so here I am." Before Mary Jane could add anything, Igneel rolled to his feet with his cheery grin. "Welp. No use sitting around and moping. Let's get some good eats!"
Mary Jane harshly shushed Igneel with a hard glance at her door. "No way!" she whispered. "My parents are downstairs."
Igneel went to reopen the window. "So?"
"So we can't leave just like that," Mary Jane whisper-scolded. "And I am not climbing out of my window!"
Igneel groaned. "Stop being picky…!" he whined. "You're hungry, I'm hungry, let's go…!"
Mary Jane stood up. "We are not climbing out the door," she refused as she went to get her lanyard with her keys. "We just have to be smart and think."
Like a child, Igneel huffed and glared at her.
Mary Jame twisted her lips until a solution came to her. "I think I found our answer." Blue-red clashed mischievously onto onyx. "But you won't like it."
Igneel tilted his head. "Why?"
°•°•°•°
"I want to di—bleh…"
"Woooooohoooooooo…!"
The broomstick was a little worse for the wear, but she flew like a breeze as Mary Jane guided it with her cloak fluttering in the wind. A pure blissful smile brightened her face as she flew the old broomstick across Lake Sciliora below. She took a dip down to catch the water with the tips of her fingers and see the reflection of herself.
Flying night fury fish surprised her as they made their traditional leaps from the water and glided with her. She giggled as she fell into the glide and some even squirted little things of water at her and the green Igneel who gripped her for dear life.
"This is so much fun!" Mary Jane shouted.
Igneel felt his stomach lurch. "Ca-Ca-Can we land now?" he bemoaned. "Where are we even going?"
Mary Jane pointed at the sky. "Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning!" She tossed him a wink. "Right, Peter Pan?"
Igneel's eyes widened. MJ…
Mary Jane gripped the broom. "Here we go…!" She pulled them into the sky with Igneel near retching and did a spin for good measure. "Wow! I can't believe I can still ride a broom! Why haven't I done this sooner?"
Igneel could have passed out when they hit turbulence. "Land…!" he pleaded. "I'm gonna hurl…!"
Mary Jane giggled at Igneel's theatrics before scouring the land. Lights from an up-and-coming town caught her attention. The broom followed the tilt of her body. Igneel opened an eye as the noise from the town hit his ears. Activity at this time of night might have been rare for some towns, but nightlife was prominent it seemed from couples to groups to the rare jogger. The broomstick slowed and gravitated towards a parking lot filled with cars, bikes, Magic Carpets, and other broomsticks. The second Mary Jane planted her feet on solid ground, Igneel melted off the broomstick and looked practically like goo.
"Bleh…" Igneel lamented. "I never want to get on that death trap again…"
Mary Jane dismounted her broom to walk it over to the broom stands. "Cherrygrove Falls, here we are!" With a lock on her broom, she settled her hands on her hips to take a look around. "What d'ya think? Awesome, huh?"
Igneel poofed back into his normal self and scratched his stomach, unimpressed. "Sure, but, like, why are we even here?"
Mary Jane puffed her cheek, arms crossed to match her attitude. "Can't you even be a little glad to be here?" she muttered. "Besides…"—her arms loosened—"well… We needed a break from being in Magnolia…" Fingers toyed with the acorn charm. "You looked really upset and when I'm upset, you always take me to places, so I just thought…"
Onyx softened as a calloused hand thumbed the thimble beneath his red scarf.
Mary Jane could have choked when Igneel strong-armed her into a side embrace. Scarlet-cerulean looked up to see Igneel's happy-go-lucky grin. "Igneel…"
"Well, we're in this together," Igneel deduced. "You brought us here, so lead the way." He winked at her. "Aye, sir?"
A slow blink led to a quick smile. "Aye, sir," Mary Jane tittered.
There was no real rush for navigation tonight. Everyone in Cherrygrove did not seem in too big of a rush. With this being the last possible weekend before snowfall, it made sense so many used this time wisely to be out and about with their friends and family. The bars and pubs were packed with the smokers outside, chuckling over sports and whatnot. More restaurants were opened than closed with business being driven inside to stay warm and get their bellies full. The bricked streets were fewer cars and more bike-drawn carriages and Magic Carpets and maybe a broom or two. A couple on a motorcycle zipped through the streets, however.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« Cherrygrove Falls is one of few smalls towns that border Sciliora Lake. It is known for its hidden falls at the heart of its town as well as its Grand Sciliora Junction, a hotspot for quaint nightlife activity. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Igneel followed Mary Jane only a few steps behind to watch her, keep her in view and observe her emotions. She looked drawn towards everything she saw with the eyes of the tourist and the energy of a child. Even as he smiled when her eyes sparkled when she caught something particularly fascinating, he could not help the guilt he felt deep down inside welling up inside him to douse his flames.
Why did she have to choose here of all places and use that stupid broom? I should've told them everything and now I'm putting her at risk, but…—he could hear her free laugh and see the sparkle in her eyes—seeing her like this, so happy and goofy and alive… I missed it.
Shaking off his thoughts, Igneel effortlessly caught up to her. "So, MJ. Where did ya want to eat? Hungry for anything in particular? There's a Stellian place up the street if you're interested."
Mary Jane shrugged. "Nah. I'm really up for anything and nothing at the same time. I just don't know what I want to eat, but I'll know it when I see it."
"Ugh." Igneel snorted at her. "Girls are so confusing and indecisive." He prodded at her. "Choose something, I'm starving…"
Mary Jane swatted him away with a chortle. "Okay, okay!" she agreed. "I choose…"—she caught a restaurant close-by and pointed at it—"that one!"
Igneel stopped to see where Mary Jane was pointing at…
…and nearly paled.
No… How did she…?
He coughed. "I-I don't think we should—"
"Let's go!"
Mary Jane jogged into the restaurant and he trailed with heavy steps and a heavier heart. The bell rang as they both came inside and it was like Igneel had been there yesterday with the Magia scenes everywhere from Belle and her tamed Beast to a brave Merida and her bear mother. Even at this hour, the place was still busy with mainly teens and adults and the occasional child.
Mary Jane gasped in splendor. "Wow…! This place is amazing!" She giggled when a little light entertained her with its tinker bell sounds. As it danced away, Mary Jane regarded, "It's like this place is a fairytale in itself."
Before Igneel could say anything, a hurried host came to their aid with a fudged smile and dressed as Link. "Welcome to Nevereverland where your fairytales never end," he greeted. "A table for two?" With Igneel's tight nod, the host looked over his tablet. "We have a two-seater booth. Is that okay?"
Igneel glumly nodded while Mary Jane did enthusiastically.
The host guided them this way and that with Mary Jane entranced at the characters she saw. Snow White happily delivering dessert to a group of friends while Tiana bustled about her playfully lazy prince to serve beignets. Sparkles of light played tricks on people as though they were fairies themselves. Mary Jane could not get enough.
Igneel wanted to leave.
The host was quick with his work to give them their menus, remind them their waitress was none other than Belle herself without her dreadful Beast and left them alone.
Mary Jane kept wriggling as she opened her menu. "Oh, my gosh, I love this place already!" she squealed. "Why didn't I know about this sooner? It has everything I ever wanted! Magia!"
"Mmm-hmm." Igneel picked at his menu.
Mary Jane noticed and put down her own. "Did you not want to eat here?" she asked. "We can go—"
"No!" Igneel leaped to sate Mary Jane. "No, really, it's fine! It's just that, well…" His eyes slid to the floor. He could not show her his face when all he told her lies. "My…friend and I used to come here before…"
Horror and guilt came to Mary Jane swiftly. "Oh, Igneel, I… I'm so sorry I—…!" The menu shut and she made to stand. "Let's go—"
"MJ." A hand grabbed her wrist to keep her there and genuine onyx caught ashamed cerulean-scarlet. "Stay. It's okay."
Mary Jane slowly went back to her seat, but the giddiness was gone and her words once-prominent had nothing but apologies stored. "Wh…?" She cleared her throat. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Igneel shrugged as he took a look around. "I don't know. Seeing this place brings back good memories, I guess. I stopped coming here after she…" He resorted to not saying it. "But seeing you so happy about it made me happy we came here."
Belle came in her blue commoner's dress and placed water on the table. Their drinks were taken and she was off again.
"Igneel…" Mary Jane fidgeted. "I would have never come here if I knew this brought you sadness. You know that, right?"
Igneel's chuckle was airy. "I know, I know. Don't sweat it. You didn't force me here and I'm glad to be here. Now I can make new memories." His smile relaxed and little pink flames tipped his ears. "Memories with you."
A blush grew pleasantly on Mary Jane's cheeks. "W-W-Well"—she tucked her hair behind her ears—"I'm here to listen if you want to talk about her."
Igneel's smile vanished and so did the flames. He looked away again. "She was obsessed with Magia when we were little. It was her escape, you know? Real talk? She was the one to get me to like Peter Pan." At Mary Jane's noise of surprise, Igneel further divulged. "I wasn't a big reader, to begin with. I mean comics were my thing since the art was awesome and all. I thought Magia was for girls since all I saw were princesses and kissy scenes, but she…" He stopped when Belle returned with their drinks. When she offered them more time to think about their food, they took it and opened their menus.
Igneel continued: "She really expanded my view on it. She made me fall in love with it. I even begged for my parents to take us to MagiWorld down in Oleander." He took a sip of his drink. "We went twice. Once, when Lu was really little, and another time for Nashi's birthday, but I never went with her. I made sure to bring her back as many souvenirs as I could though. And damn were my parents hella pissed they had to pay for another check-in bag for me."
"That's so sweet of you," Mary Jane admired in truth and in awe. "I'm sure she appreciated it." She gestured to the restaurant. "So what's the story with this place?"
"It was my substitute for not being able to take her to MagiWorld with me," Igneel explained. "Magia has cosplay restaurants like this all over the world. This just happened to be the closest one." Eyes danced around in memory. "We'd spend hours here with our parents. We'd come in costume and the staff was so cool about it. We even had our picture on the wall of imagineers for a while."
Mary Jane leaned forward as Igneel's memories made him distant. "Then… You stopped coming here once she was gone?"
Igneel nodded. "They let me have the picture of her and me, but that was the last time I came here. I kept thinking I'd just be depressed coming here without her."
Mary Jane looked down as Belle came back to their table. It was Igneel who piped up with his recited order first and Mary Jane lamely picked out her dish without too much thought. Once menus were collected and Belle left, there was a shift in the air.
I wish I was more observant, Mary Jane thought forlornly. Guilt ate up her appetite and saved room for her shame. I should've seen a sign or something that he didn't want to come here. Now he's being forced in here because of me. Great going, Mary Jane. Still making people suffer around you.
Mary Jane slid out of the booth without looking at him, but she tried to smile. "Be right back," she promised. She whisked herself to find the bathroom and once she did, she locked herself into a stall. It took her only a few minutes until she emerged and went to wash her hands. The sounds of water filled the void of the bathroom and Mary Jane distantly watched her hands get clean. The trickle of the water was somehow captivating as it ran over her skin.
"Pathetic."
Mary Jane kept her eyes glued to her hands, but a reflection of her doubled to her left. An angry thing with scarlet eyes and a hand on her hip. "You're such a weak dipshit," the red-eyed reflection lashed out. "Getting sentimental over that thing? A mortal? You're better than that. Do what you were born to do, Mary Jane." The red-eyed reflection leaned forward to whisper into her original's ear. "Crush his spirit." Seduction sounded all the more tempting when it spoke of dark sin. "Break him. Kill the good he has inside him."
Mary Jane's hands shook as her eyes closed.
"Come on," the reflection coaxed. "He's nothing more than a human with feelings. We don't need that. We need power. We need to feel strong."
"No, Mary Jane!" A different reflection appeared; her blue eyes were prominent. "Don't listen to her! You're stronger with, not against! Remember how good life is when you accept life and let it grow. Remember how strong you are together instead of alone."
"We don't need him, Mary Jane," the red-eyed reflection whispered. "That boy isn't the one. We both know who you'll choose. He was made for us. Stop screwing around with his sorry excuse for a replacement and go to him. Find him."Red eyes blazed with need. "We need him, Mary Jane… We need our champion!"
Mary Jane's nails dug into her skin.
"Mary Jane…" A softness came from the blue-eyed reflection. "I know it's not easy, but you must listen to your heart, not to power."
"Your heart makes you weak!" the red-eyed reflection snarled. "Listen to power! It's the only way you can get stronger! The only way you can teach these stupid humans a lesson!" The red-eyed reflection flattened down Mary Jane's hair. "Do it," came insistent whisper. "Listen to power. Listen to what it tells you. Listen and bring us our champion!"
Wet hands boxed in her ears. "Please stop," she whimpered, eyes pressed tightly shut. "Stop it. I don't want to hurt anyone."
The blue-eyed reflection swept to Mary Jane's aid. "And you never will," she promised. "For it's your heart that makes you strong."
Mary Jane cracked open her eyes to see the blue-eyed reflection smiling down on her with a look of love and kinship. "I'm sorry I've been gone so long, but I'm here now. No longer will you have to feel anger and the need to hurt those around you. Together, we'll find your true power."
"Lies!" The red-eyed reflection forced Mary Jane to look at her. Intensity shot off her in waves like a crazed beast who scented blood. "You will bring us back our champion, you hear me? I will control your stupid mortal body if you don't bring him back to me!" She shook her original and Mary Jane could not control the frightened tears escaping her. "Bring him to me!" the red-eyed reflection thundered. "Bring him to me or I will make you kill everyone you love!"
"Get away from me!" Mary Jane shrieked. Fear struck her spine numb as she hunched over, trying to stay sane inside insanity. "Get out of my head!"
The door flapped open with a concerned staff member and her friend peeking in. When they saw Mary Jane, one rushed for help while the other attempted soothing words. Mary Jane shook her head frantically, shouldering off the woman who tried to calm her down. But one touch was all it took for Mary Jane's eyes to snap open…
…blood red…
Scarlet Magic clung to her skin as the air fizzled and crackled. The staff member backed up as horror bugged her eyes at this girl in front of her. This girl cover in Magic with eyes dripping in sanguine. This girl who whirled the air around her as her Magic pressured everything, making lights flicker and toilets rumble in uncertainty.
A girl with the gaze of a monster and the power of an angry god.
"Get away from me, mortal," Mary Jane growled with the voice of a hundred women as scarlet swirled around her hands. The ground left her feet as she floated in front of this helpless Spiritless who was petrified to the brim. A scarlet hand pointed at the Spiritless staff member. "Leave…before I kill you." She beamed as her power sparked around a finger. "Too late."
Flames stopped her before she could launch her deadly blow. Violet flames curled onto her wrists and Mary Jane snarled at this. "Who dares defy me?" came her sneer of one hundred voices.
A fanged grin. "I do."
Scarlet snapped towards resolved onyx. Igneel held his flames tight as he protected the innocent behind him. "This isn't you, Mary Jane." He said this like he was coaxing a child. "Someone's controlling you, but you need to fight it!"
Mary Jane's smirk was unnerving. "You again. You think you can stop me from killing you this time?"
"No." Igneel's honesty was astounding. His thumb hovered over the play button on his Compact. "This can." His thumb hit it.
The sound started.
The way Mary Jane's body convulsed at the first few bars would make anyone want to gag, but the scarlet glow in her eyes faded until she could not keep her eyes open anymore. Igneel caught her before she could hit the ground without any effort. Together, they fell onto their knees where Igneel held her against him, watching, waiting.
Mary Jane was unconscious.
The staff member shakily got onto her feet. With pants falling off her, she slowly backed away until she was out of the restroom and bolted away without so much as a look back. Igneel did not care. Mary Jane was too important for him to chase after a Spiritless.
"She's stronger than I realized," Igneel put. "This place was too much for her mind." He swept away hair from Mary Jane's face before getting up to carry her bridally. "Don't you worry, MJ. I'll take you away from here. I'll save you." His fangs gleamed as his head lifted…
…to show emerald.
Nashi groaned as she took another step. "Ugh… My feet are killing me…!" A rest was needed and she leaned against the wall to rub one of her feet. A pout formed on her lips. "I need a serious foot massage after this," she decided. "Maybe an entire spa day for the day I'm having." She dropped her foot to look around.
Everything looks the same to me, honestly, except for the vines are in different spots. It kinda reminds me of the guild underground prison unit or whatever with that Infinity Hex or whatever. Her eyes narrowed. Either way, this is a labyrinth. I'm on my own. I can't risk using any Magic Spells without something or someone trying to kill me, so keeping a low profile is better this way. Except… She looked at the ceiling. Why aren't I getting any closer to Kyler? I can vaguely feel his soul, but that's it. It's like he's constantly being moved and I'm following him. Does that make sense?
He might be being moved, Seraphim told her. It's probable. The Demon wouldn't keep a creature like him in one area. A moving prison isn't unheard of—especially with an Enoch as powerful as him.
Nashi grunted as she got to walking. What's an 'Enoch' anyways?
Similar to you, but different all the same, Seraphim explained. Any Enoch has one Angel parent. Just like any hybrid, they each can have a special ability. There's is called a Miracle or Blessing, I suppose, to Terrans. I'm not sure what Miracle Kyler has.
Does that mean I have a special ability too? Nashi wondered.
Of course.
I wonder what it is. Nashi cursed when she stepped on another pebble. Taking another small break, she picked it from her foot. Aloud, she said, "It's weird, though. Like I never thought about hybrids and stuff like that until I learned I was one and even then, we never really touched on it at home. It's like everyone's trying to avoid something about it or something. I dunno." She got back to walking. Maybe Mama and Papa are trying to make it seem like we forgot about it or something.
I don't think that's their reasoning, Seraphim put. Try talking to them more. Knowing your heritage is the greatest way to pinpoint any hidden potential.
Try 'hidden shame', Nashi grunted. An intersection came up and she had to choose. Left or straight? She peered down the left hall to see an endless road of dirt and vines and stone walls. All of this seems a little familiar… She looked up. But I can't give up. If I keep going straight, I know I'll get somewhere.
Nashi continued her journey straight. With each step, silence comforted her.
Do you really think my parents would tell me the truth? Nashi whispered. They lied to us for so long…
Their lies have only one excuse—they knew the truth would be too much for you to handle.
Nashi's offense brewed until it stopped. I guess you're right. I didn't handle that well at all, did I? Shame burned her. I probably could've reacted better. Now they see me as a bomb. What if this was like a test? What if they baby me since they think I can't handle the truth?
No answers could be given as noise was heard. Nashi crouched back, but curiosity prevailed. She took a peek around the next corner. She watched as two ghastly things were in the middle of opening part of the wall for the labyrinth. Like a door, the wall opened and it looked like a wolfish human made his appearance. In decrepit tongues, they spoke, and Nashi could not get a lick of it.
What are they saying?
I don't know, Little One, Seraphim told her. I can translate many tongues, but the tongue of Darkness is one I cannot.
Damn. Nashi got an idea. Wait. You told me about those gifts and I have Demon blood, right? Well… What if I could use that power to translate it? Gary and his Devil can do it.
Uncertainty passed through their connected souls. To tap into your demonic prowess will risk your exposure. And to tap into it without a guide or a medium—
Well, it's a good thing I have you then. Nashi huddled down. If I get too far into this darkness crap, start waking me up. She closed her eyes. Okay, focus, Nashi. Concentrate. Just like how I—
A snarl.
Nashi popped her eyes open. With a slow turn, she saw she was not alone. Another wolfish creature on his hind legs stood before her with teeth an ugly yellow. His snout tipped down as he took in her.
Nashi gasped out a smile. "Oh… You don't look like anything like the werewolves in Dawn."
The wolfish creature let his nose twitch. He opened his jaw.
"Wait, wait!" Nashi held up a shaking finger. "Wait a minute! Think about this, o-okay? If you rat me out, you have to…um…to…"
Think, girl, think. What the Hell did you learn about dark creatures?
Mischief flooded her face. Hickory became half-lidded as her finger went to his muzzle. "You wouldn't want to share me with everyone else…would you?" she murmured.
The wolf chimera paused. Questioning was in his gaze and he allowed her finger to trail his jaw.
"I mean, c'mon…" Nashi offered a soft laugh. "You've been working so hard, haven't you, wolfie? Wouldn't you want to…take a break?" With a meaningful glance down at her legs before peaking back up at him.
His tail wagged as a rumble escaped his chest.
Little One, be careful, Seraphim urged. Playing with Dark Creatures is like playing with fire. You've learned nothing about the Sirius race or Chimera.
Nashi blocked him out as she took the creature by the snout and guided him down. "C'mere, tough guy," she coaxed. "Just a little snack. And then you can go back to work. Unless…you want to share me?"
The wolf chimera growled at such audacity and shoved her to the ground, leaving her vulnerable to his will. He chuckled at the flash of panic in her eyes, a woody chuckle. Something inhuman escaped his lips as his claws cut the skirt to her dress.
Nashi blinked back panicked tears. She could feel the moisture of his snout as he sniffed her legs, coming closer for her thighs. You can do this. You can do this.
Just before the snout went between her legs, hands brought his muzzle up to face her. Nashi smiled all sweet like. "Take it slow, wolfie." Her hand slipped further into his fur. "Take it nice…and…"—her eyes turned pink—"slow!"
Like a jolt of electricity, the creature jerked as Nashi could feel his life force. She felt the darkness that encased his very soul and every fiber of his being. She felt his lust, his pride, his need for war and blood.
Little One! Seraphim tried to shout. No! You are not ready—!
He was cut off.
The light inside Nashi was swarmed in a sigh of uncontrolled darkness and the pink in her eyes turned into a feral black.
°•°•°•°
The Devil froze in his cage. A deep thrill chilled down his spine. Darkness shot through him in such a way he wanted to fist himself. Pupils dilated, saliva dripped onto the ground and burned it into dry ice.
"Malã'ika…" Skin exchanged for ice. Like a desperate wolf, his hips thrust in the air. He needed relief. He needed her. He needed—
CRACK.
SNAP.
BOOM.
On all fours, the Devil landed like the animal he was. Cracks in his human skin showed as the blue seeped through and ice began to cocoon some of him like sprouted fur. Silver became prominent in his eyes as his nose twitched, him scenting the air. A leery grin crept onto his face, showing his canines, showing his Nature.
"Wait for me, Malã'ika… I will come for you."
°•°•°•°
Bael paused. Clothes gone, he had taken to sitting on his chair, watching the pieces move on his game-board, while a pale creature that showed it was male pleased him. His head rolled, cracking his neck.
"So… The Cleric isn't in her convent anymore…" Bael lifted a finger. The Cleric on the board had been split in half, one wing of darkness and the other of light. He settled back in his chair and a hand fisted the hair of the pale creature. "Let's see how well he'll handle that."
°•°•°•°
Mirella had been on her way to the elevator when that same shiver crept into her bones. Her stomach dropped and the air felt like it was leaving her. Everything was off. And yet, everything clicked.
"You felt that too?"
Mirella whipped around to see Pazuzu gritting his teeth as though physically restraining himself. A smirk marred her as she crossed her arms. "Aw… Is the little cat trying not to be in heat? Do you need to hump something to take the edge off, kitty?"
Pazuzu glowered at her for the jibe. "I Branded her. Naturally, I want to fuck her when she's showing her Demon."
Mirella rolled her eyes and went back to waiting for the elevator. "Lucky you."
Pazuzu stalked until he was only a breath behind her. Teeth bared, he hissed, "Don't think for a second I buy your cold bitch bullshit."
"It's not bullshit if it's true." Mirella did not flinch. She did not have the time. "Now would you mind? I need to go kill my sister so I can steal my daughter back."
A growl rumbled in his chest from the disrespect. "Then… Perhaps our goals align…"
Mirella tipped her head towards him. "Make it quick. The elevator will be here soon and I'll get on with or without you."
Pazuzu turned his head closer to her, his words dancing on her ear. "You want your sister and the Demon dead. I want my Branded and that hybrid alive. We can get what we both want." Canines showed their Nature. "We both know Lynn's on her way to the princess as we speak. She never liked competition. She'll kill the princess if it means she can fuck the Devil and kill your daughter and you if it means shestay alive. And if Lynn didn't kill your daughter, then Daddy Demon would kidnap the princess and your daughter so he could fuck you."
Mirella let her own rumble come out. "Get on with it, Pazuzu."
"I say we eliminate the threat." Pazuzu circled her, a panther circling his potential enemy or ally. "It's killed or be killed. You kill your sister. I will handle the rest."
Mirella raised an eyebrow. "You kill a Demon? Don't make me laugh. You couldn't do that. Even if he isn't your Maker or your Name—"
"Don't forget, in comparison to my age, you're still a child," Pazuzu spat at her. "I've lived long enough to make connections." He stopped at her side, his back to the elevator while she faced it. "But we have to execute everything with precision or it won't work."
Mirella blew out a breath.
DING.
The elevator arrived.
Mirella stepped into it and Pazuzu followed her. He pressed a button and Mirella could see where this was going. She turned to him. "All right. What's next?"
Pazuzu's smile was all teeth as the elevator began to shut. "How badly did you want her father out of her life?"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
On Earth Land…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Lucy sighed, hair in a messy bun, as she cuddled against Natsu's chest. The hot tub was just right, her skin tinged in pink, and his hair matted down. He held her close with his head back. This was what they needed. Their hotel bathroom was excessively huge, but even with how big it was, all they cared about was how close they could be to one another.
"This is nice," Lucy confessed. She looked up at Natsu for chocolate and onyx to lovingly connect. "Really, Natsu, it is. Thank you for this. I shouldn't have doubted you so much."
Natsu grinned and nosed Lucy's neck. "Give me some cred, Lucy. I wouldn't take you to some shack," he cackled.
"You so would," Lucy teased him with a nudge. "You took me to your home and it was a literal shack."
"Psh." Natsu squeezed her tighter and lived for the way Lucy giggled. "It was cool, you buzzkill. Then you went and changed everything all Lucy-like—"
"For our children—"
"Yeah, yeah, for our future 'n stuff," Natsu supposed. He kissed away Lucy's pout. "And I love it." He pecked her lips again. "And I love you." Another peck.
Lucy tossed him a saucy look. "Someone's being generous, eh?" she ribbed. "Don't tell me this is the calm before the storm? Are you going to try and seduce me into wearing that thing?"
Natsu belly laughed. "Ah, c'mon, Lucy, you should know me better th—!" Onyx lightened into scarlet. A rumble in his chest darkened the entire atmosphere.
Startled was Lucy at the sound. It sent shivers down her spine in a way she did not believe. "Natsu?" She turned around to face her husband. Onyx and scarlet battled it out for dominance. Flames tinged in black scorched his arms. Nails dug into the sides of the hot tub to keep himself grounding as he snarled. Lucy was quick to take Natsu's head in her hands, forehead against forehead. "Natsu, I'm right here, okay? What's wrong?"
"She's…awake…" Natsu hissed out. "Moralia…"
Lucy's eyes widened. "Nashi?" she whispered. She pulled away to search Natsu's face. "Natsu, is she in trouble? What's wrong with our daughter?"
Natsu shut his eyes and tampered down his flames. Back to human, he was, with his head giving off a residual pound from the horns trying to emerge. "I felt something in the bond," he rasped out. When his eyes opened, it was pure onyx. His hand came up to cup her cheek. "I'm sorry," he told her, "for worrying you. I just… I felt something there."
"The same thing with Luke?" Lucy's panic rose. "If it is, we need to—!"
Natsu calmed Lucy down with a simple touch. He widened his legs to get her to sit side-saddle and snuggled her into the crook of his neck. "Don't freak," he soothed. "Don't worry. Nashi's going to be fine."
"But Natsu—!"
"Lucy." Her name was a soft hiss of command on his lips. "Relax, all right? It was nothing to be too worked up about. We both knew little flare-ups like this are normal, didn't we?"
Lucy sighed. "I guess…"
Natsu smiled as he ran his nose down her neck. "That doesn't sound convincing at all," he rumbled to her. "Guess if you're not gonna chill out, I'll have to make you." As Lucy shivered against him at that and Natsu offered a lustful growl, a bothersome thought was in the back of his head. Tonight, Lucy, I'll make sure you don't feel anything but us. Because I know tomorrow's going to be Hell.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
And in the paradox…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Lynn's lips curved into a grin as she kept up her walk in the shadows. "Well, well, well… The little princess seemed to grow some Demon balls, hasn't she?"
Her companion was none of than that little girl with her silver-touched hair and her stuffed reinbear. "Shall I kill her now, Lady Lynn?"
"No. She's mine to break," Lynn determined. "And I will enjoy every second of it. No, Yuki. Keep an eye on Pazuzu as planned. I don't trust that panther as far as his claws can come out."
Yuki bowed. "Yes, Lady Lynn."
"Oh and Yuki?" Lynn's steps began to drag her down into the shadows. "Try not to go too overboard and I'll make sure to revive your lost son."
Yuki's eyes sparkled at such a bargain. "Thank you, Lady Lynn!" She swirled around and her body was growing, maturing. Icy-white covered his skin with snow flecks in her hair. She puffed frost. A full-grown woman was left and she flicked her hair, ice in her eyes, in her veins. "You won't regret this."
Lynn disappeared from out of the shadows and into the labyrinth like nothing was afoot. Perfectly poised, she saw Nashi with the wolf chimera on top of her and could not help but laugh. "Really? That thing is what gave you such a power trip?" She sighed and crossed her arms. "You couldn't have picked a weaker specimen even if you tried."
Effortlessly, Nashi threw the body of the wolf chimera. He was not dead. But he would not wake up any time soon. To her feet, she went, but she had yet to turn around.
Lynn lifted her chin. "You know, I'm impressed. To have two conflicting powers inside you—most rare. If I wasn't needing a kid, I would've easily wanted you more so than your Devil." She licked her lips. "He's tasty. Feisty too. You might have trouble the first time taking all of him in your mouth, but trust me, sweetie, it's worth the practice."
Nashi tensed.
"Struck a nerve?" Lynn had noticed it. "Well. Sorry I got to him first, but duty calls. You understand, don't you, princess? How about I leave you the Enoch? What do you say? He's more your speed. More vanilla."
A rumbling growl sapped out from Nashi's throat.
Lynn popped an eyebrow up. "Oh? Another nerve? Oh, you must be remembering my sister turning the bird in. She's probably long gone by now. It was a fair trade. Father of the kid in exchange for the kid. A life for a life. I like to trade fair. Taught by the best of them and all."
Nashi's jaw clenched as her growl grew louder.
"One last thing. Your Devil?" Lynn snorted. "Oh, don't make me laugh. Devils aren't owned by anyone but themselves. Did you really think that Devil wanted you? Please. Just like Zuzu, he was addicted to the coming-of-age smell you gave off. But don't worry. He won't bother you any longer."
A twist in feet. A shift. A dynamic to be changed.
Veins protruded from Nashi's neck. Black had leaked into the whites of her eyes and left her once hickory irises a burning red. A beautiful pair of horns had sprouted, taking after her sire. Nails sharpened, she lifted her chin towards Lynn. Something primal possessed her back to arch at this enemy and her teeth to be seen, canines freshly emerged. Nature willed it so. She had abandoned all that made her human. All her compassion, her heart, her mind—all had been left behind and surrendered. No, she was not human. No, she was something else.
She was…
…Etherious…
Lynn bit her lip invitingly when she saw canines poking out of Etherious Nashi's gums. "I love it when they first wake up."
Etherious Nashi crouched low, legs tense, ready to spring.
Lynn let out a carefree laugh. "Oh, Etherious Princess, if you want me…"—and orange clashed with solid black—"come and get me."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Something ugly rose from Etherious Nashi's mouth. Something beastly. The light that shown so beautifully within her had been darkened into something wrong. Like the moon, there was a dark side, a side Nature never intended for the world to see. A growl tore through her as her eyes cloaked in red swallowed in black glared at Lynn.
Lynn shrugged. "Come at me, princess. Let's see what you've got."
Etherious Nashi snarled as she raced for Lynn, but something stood in her way. Many somethings. A legion of phantom soldiers stood between Nashi and her prey.
"Oh? You see them?" Lynn walked backward as the shadows fashioned a chair for her. Already two familiars awaited her command with their masks in place even if their bodies were straight shadows. "You'll have to kill them to get to me. Go on, little songbird. I insist." She raised a hand and a cup of tea was right there for her. "Give it your best go."
With a deeper roar, Etherious Nashi found herself tearing into the soldiers with no restraint, not a scrap of light shedding in her movements. Each soldier came for her, but she put them down with a force she never had and a speed she had never known. Light be damned, Darkness powered her and showed through her veins. It would be the maker of this battle.
One of the masked shadows asked Lynn, "My Lady, why not kill her yourself? Where is the glory in letting others do it for you?"
"Please. She won't die." She set down her teacup and settled back. "I'm just making sure she tires out. You know how Darklings. One rush of power and they think they're invincible. She'll tire out."
SPLAT.
SHRIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK.
Etherious Nashi sunk her teeth into the shoulder of one as her nails dug into the soldier's chest.
"And besides… The more darkness consumes her"—Lynn's smirk was tainted—"the fast he gets here to consume her."
And Etherious Nashi's screech of blood vibrated the air.
The boat ride was smooth sailing. The girl took pointe and watched the mists with fascinated eyes. Aine and Lance sat in the back with Lance's careful eyes on the girl and Aine glancing around.
"Can you sense anything?" Aine asked.
Lance shook his head. "The mist is made to mess with any sensors. I can't detect true north anymore." He caught the worry in Aine's eyes and an easy smile lit his face. "Relax, kid. We'll be okay. You have a Fairy Tail Mage to protect you."
Aine playfully eye-rolled at him. "Yeah. I feel so safe."
"You should." Lance let his hand rest atop hers and emerald zapped dark chocolate. "I'll protect you from it all, even from myself. Even from you."
Aine allowed herself to take comfort in that. The need to touch him was too great. Caving, she scooted over to lean on his shoulder. If she could purr, she would have when his hand came up to hug her shoulders. Warmth settled inside her as she drank him in. "Thank you, Lance."
Lance nosed her temple. "Of course." He eyed the little girl at the front as she looked into the mist with eyes that knew better. I'll protect us both from whatever you're about to do.
The boat docked after several minutes of listless sailing. It pulled up onto the sand with a rocky landing, but the girl did not care. She jumped off and kept floating by while Lance helped Aine off and they followed. Holding onto his arm, Aine cowered as they walked through a misted forest with no hope of retracing steps. Lance looked down at his hand and let his static run freely. There's power here. Incredible power. Wherever she's taking us must have something S-Class defending it. His eyes narrowed when a stream of black lightning interfered with his cyan electricity. Cold hit him as unwanted memories flared up. He remembered the Church. He remembered bits and pieces of Gale's screams and Igneel's fading life force. Nausea nearly overtook him when he felt that same black lightning run through him once, just one current. But that current made all the difference.
That power… I remember it… It feels imbalanced—
And the mist suddenly evaporated away with just one more step.
No longer were they in this world of unknown. They saw the world now, bleak and confusing. A temple stood before them and proudly showed its wealth and fortune. It looked like centuries had not been kind to it with vines wrapping around the columns and cracks in its armor, but the muck and brick stood sturdy against time. The grass before it was unkempt without a groundskeeper, but what could they expect?
Aine shifted into Lance. "Something feels weird, right?" she whispered in his ear.
Lance refrained from letting the pleasure of her lips that close control him. Instead, a careful grin wove onto his face as his hand traveled around her waist. "Careful how close you get to me, little fox," he breathed. "I'm a man of honor"—he caught her by surprised when he flushed her straight into his side—"but you're tempting me." At Aine's blush, a chuckle escaped him. "Something is off, but don't worry. I'll keep you safe."
The girl climbed the steps of the temple before freezing.
Lance stopped in an instant and pushed Aine behind him. He felt Aine tremble and cling to the back of his jacket. "Don't worry," he stated under his breath. "When I say, 'run', you run, okay?" When he felt Aine's nod on his back, he spoke aloud to the child, "So? What's wrong?"
The girl straightened. "The demigod and the Amazon have arrived," she sounded in an odd tongue. She slowly turned around and gone was her innocent confusion. Killer was the only way to describe her now. Power ignited around her and raced onto the ground.
Lance turned to pull Aine into his chest and shield her. He watched as the power cut deep into the earth to form a block. The segment was cut off from the mainland and the earth shook, startling Aine. It was Lance who kept her on her feet. He nearly buckled himself when the earth uprooted itself and buckle he did when the pressure got to him. He and Aine landed on a heap on the ground, but Lance was quick to shield her with his body as the climbed through the air. Only after a few more seconds did they cease to move.
Lance did not trust it.
He lifted his head to look around. Clouds surrounded them as they passed on by without a care. The temple had come up with them, but that was the least of his worries. His eyes steeled when he saw they had borders. And crossing those borders meant… She tricked us. She isolated us.
"Lance?" Aine murmured. "Is it safe?"
Lance rolled off her to get to his feet. As he helped her up, he admitted, "I think we're still in the woods." The hairs on the back of his neck bristled. Everything broke down for him in slow motion as lightning wound around him. He let go of Aine to concentrate his lightning into his palm and turn around—
BOOM!
The force of the explosion knocked Aine back several feet and onto the ground as she coughed. Ringing was in her ears as she tried her hardest to get back up. "Lance…!" she croaked. "Lance…!"
"Ah. The Amazon."
Aine barely registered a shadow loomed over her, eyes gleaming in red, in bloodlust.
"Die now." The shadow raised a hand thick with power—
ZZZZZZZT-ZZZT!
Lightning cut through the smoke and the shadow was forced to spring back and hide in it before electricity got the best of them. The smoke parted in two from the stream of lightning and Aine could not stop her coughing. Soon, a friendlier soul was helping her onto her feet. Lance lifted her bridally with a look of distraught on his face. "Crap, your asthma," he cursed. "I'm so sorry, little fox." He gripped her tighter. "Hold on." Lightning swirled around him. "This might get a little bumpy." Lightning lit up his jade eyes as he took off. It took him mere seconds to find an exit to the explosion smoke, but that exit entailed being close to the edge. He looked down to see the place they once were was nowhere in sight.
Dammit. How far up are we?
Aine coughed.
Lance placed her on the ground, but he refused to let her lie. He sat her up and kept her upright. He rubbed her back and tipped up her chin. "That's it," he soothed. "Breathe, Aine. Slow breaths." He had no time to keep his cooing when the dark presence made itself known again. Lightning came to his aid as he took up Aine and fled, just missing a fatal attack that could have destroyed them both. He bounded across the edges until he saw the temple come in sight.
A plan occurred. If I can just get her into the temple, she'll be safe.
He skidded to a halt, however, with his lightning hissing around his body, coiled. The girl was only yards away with a dead look in her eye and the stance of someone who would not let you pass. She stared him down with her influence coming off in waves. She refused to hold back her power.
Lance's jaw tightened. Her showing this much power and being alone must mean she doesn't intend to let us live… But she had every opportunity to kill us before. Why wait now? He remembered his lightning then he growled at himself. Of course. That power I sensed. It was the same power I felt from the Harvest Festival… His eyes were drawn into the temple. He tapped his foot and let the electric pulse travel. His eyes widened. There's no Demon in there, but… There's a massive amount of energy trapped by a Curse… I feel…an electromagnetic pulse… A human one…
"They said the Amazon and the demigod would play with me." The girl cocked her head. "I want to play."
Lance felt a bead of sweat on his brow. I could take her even in a dirty fight, but with Aine… I can't risk her safety. I'll just have to dodge everything for now until then. Jade slipped back to the temple. But why would she be protecting one human soul?
Bleu followed Luna up the steps to her house with the porch lights and the lights trailing the path still on and about. Before Luna could unlock anything, she twirled around to face Bleu. A note was made mentally how short she was in comparison. "Sorry about the walk," she tried to apologize. "We don't really have a driveway since no one in the family really drives. We have bike paths and a landing thing for Nashi, Mama, and Igneel's brooms. I mean Mama does have a car, but the way she takes is private and—"
"Hey. It's fine," Bleu assured, hands in his pockets. "I didn't mind the walk with you. Sorry about how late I'm getting you home, though."
Luna waved it off. "It's fine," she parroted back with a tease lilting her voice. Gosh, she felt like those silly girls in Igneel's manga. "Anyways, I had a lot of fun. Seriously. But next time, I'm paying for food, okay?"
Bleu's eyes lit in mischief. "Mmm, we'll see," he decided. "But I had a lot of fun too. Definitely didn't expect my night to go like this. Thought I'd be retail shopping with Carlisle as my Friday night."
Luna simpered. "Well, you could always spend your Friday nights with me—" Once the words were spoken, red heated her face as she covered her mouth. Her eyes went to the ground, horrified. Why did you have to say that, me?
"Asking me out now, Treasure?"
Fingers tilted Luna's chin up for chocolate to meet blue-violet.
A smile touched the corner of his lips. "You beat me to it," he remarked. "You're somehow good at that."
Luna blinked, too stupefied to really show any other emotion. "I mean… You can still ask me…" A low chuckle made her tingle.
"You're right," Bleu agreed. He searched her eyes. "How about it, Treasure? Will you go on an official date-date with me?"
If Luna felt she could not get any redder, she certainly did not show it. "What happened to 'Ace'?" she whispered. Had he always been so close? Why did her stomach feel so tossing and turning when she was not hungry?
"It's your smile." Bleu let his hand wander down her cheek to brush back her hair. "To anyone out there, your smile's like treasure."
A jittery laugh escaped Luna, but she dared not move. "That's so cheesy," she teased.
Bleu never lost his intensity. Who was moving closer now? "Maybe…" was all he spoke with a glance towards her lips.
Luna swallowed under the weight of his gaze. Is he…? Are we going to kiss? Is that a little too forward before the first date? Nerves bit at her as she glanced to the side. Icarus?
No answer.
Luna risked a glance back at Bleu, but, to a mixture of surprise and dismay, he seemed to be pulling away. Maybe it was the look on her face that got him to loftily laugh and say to her, "It's okay, Treasure. I won't kiss you yet."
"But why?" Luna covered her mouth after she blurt with embarrassment swelled inside her.
"You're a little nervous and I get that," Bleu consoled her, fingers tips going from her hairline to comb through her locks. "And I don't want you to have second thoughts when I kiss you. But…"
Luna raised her eyebrows when he trailed off. "'But'…?"
A frown muffled Bleu's smile. "I don't really know how to say this, so I'll say it because I need to know. Were you thinking about Gale when we were about to kiss?"
Taken aback was Luna as her eyes widened. "Heck no! Why would you even think that?"
Bleu extracted his hand to put it in his pocket, sheepish apology in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I just know you two are close and all and I don't want to get in-between that."
Now Luna was the one moving in. "Bleu," she said lowly, "you are not getting in-between anything, okay? He's my friend. A bad one, but still my friend. Only my friend." She tugged at his arm. He let her do as she pleased as she lifted his hand back to her cheek like a cat wanting attention. "I already agreed to a date with you anyways. I'd hope I didn't like anyone else."
"Actually"—the smile was tugged back—"you didn't say, 'yes' yet."
Luna realized it just as he said it and groaned. "I'm so stupid," she belittled. With a sigh and a quick smile afterward, she nodded into his hand and placed a hand over his. "Yes, Bleu, I'll go on a date-date with you."
"Cool." Bleu's smile widened as he side-nodded to her door. "You better get inside, Treasure."
Luna did not even realize she was pouting. "So you're not going to kiss me?"
Bleu belted a laugh. "Do you want me to?"
"Well, kind of, yeah."
"You really take no prisoners, do you?" Bleu joked. "I thought first kisses were supposed to be super special and romantic?"
Luna tossed her hair saucily. "Please. Like you're my first kiss."
"Oh yeah? Should I be worried my competition might make a comeback for you?" Bleu teased.
"No way. He's long gone. Leaving me here lonely and to hope someone will love me again," Luna moaned in her dramatics. "But…what about you? Would this be your first kiss?"
Bleu thought about it. "Let's see here… There were Stacey and Trixie and Rosita Chiquita Juanita and Phoebe… Ow!" He rubbed his shoulder while Luna turned away from him with an angry pout on her lips. "I'm kidding, Treasure." Like he was trying to sate an angry kitten, his movements were slow when trying to touch her again, waiting for her to strike. When she did not, he relaxed. "You sure you want me to kiss you?"
"Not anymore," Luna grumbled. "Go kiss Stacey. Or Trixie. Or Rosita Chiquita whatever."
Bleu turned her to him. "Yeah? Well, I want to kiss the beautiful girl I'm seeing in front of me even if she is a little jealous."
Luna blew out a breath. Her eyes snapped to him. "Really?"
Bleu made a show of leaning closer to her with his hands cupping her cheeks. "Really."
Luna did not mean to lick her lips, but she could feel her eyes shutting before Bleu could even come close. Every part of her tingled as something different bubbled from the pit of her stomach and shot up to her heart.
LUB-DUB… LUB-DUB… LUB-DUB…
Bleu was a gentleman, taking his time, feeling her tremble beneath his fingertips. His lips came close to hers, but he did not dare sweep for a kiss yet. He kissed the edge of her mouth first and felt her tense. His next kiss dropped to the other corner and kept repeating either side until she relaxed under his touch. He paused as his head tilted and guided her the opposite way.
It was still between them.
…then their lips met between the stillness and hearts were set ablaze.
Every kiss was different whether it be the person or the time. But first kisses were especially fragile and to be coveted. Rarely were they perfect. First kisses were made to test the water, to understand the nerves and the type of passion and to just feel a different closeness. It was the second kiss you would learn a little better about which angle they preferred and whether to ease up or add more and the third kiss you might add your hands to bring them even closer with their hand on the back of your head and yours embracing them. It would take you many kisses or few kisses to get it right, to share your first real kiss, to know and compromise so you both felt physically and emotionally there.
…for a first kiss could easily be forgotten, but the first real kiss between two was something worth remembering.
The first kiss Luna and Bleu shared was brief due to nerves on her part and consideration on his. Their eyes were still closed when he came back for the second after a few beats of air and her hands twitched as though longing to touch him. It was the third kiss she let the chains of her fears go and let her arms wrap around his neck.
But she was still the one to pull away first as her boldness caught up to her. Glancing away, she let go of him. Except he would not let her. Bleu was quick to grab her hands and intertwine them with his. Luna dared not look at him. Instead, something caught the corner of her eye and she looked out into the yard.
"Look, it's snowing!" Luna gasped. It was true. Nothing big, just wispy flakes of snow drizzling down from the sky. Winter was not due for another week of snow, but Nature was preparing for that was to come.
"Luna?"
Bleu and Luna turned to see a smiling Loke leaning against the doorframe as he held open the screen door. Luna nearly steamed in her abashment as she withdrew from Bleu. "Uncle Loke!" she squeaked. "U-U-Um—!"
"Don't worry," Loke soothed. "Icarus already told me." He nodded at Bleu and stuck out a hand. "Nice to meet you. The name's Leo, but you can call me 'Loke'."
Bleu shook his hand without missing a beat. "Nice to meet you, sir." He looked back at Luna. "Get some sleep. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"
Luna nodded, still too embarrassed to really speak. "O-Okay…"
Bleu chuckled as he stepped towards her. A kiss to the forehead, chaste, promising. He pulled away for his hands to hold her face. "Goodnight," he murmured.
Luna relaxed a little. "Goodnight."
Letting her go, Bleu gave a final smile to Loke before flipping up his hood and venturing out into the drizzle of snow. Loke waved a hand as Magic wafted around him. A yellow-tinged light appeared before him. It pulsed once before Magic shattered around it and formed into a sleek lioness of translucent gold. She rumbled as she offered a bow of acknowledgment toward the king of her pride.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This type of spirit is called an Estrel Spirit. They are the stars within constellations and serve under their Celestial Spirit. Lucy has one of Loke's Estrel which is rare between Mage and Spirit. It's the ultimate symbol of trust and love. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Algieba…" Loke gave a low sort of puff that instilled power.
Algieba hummed and whisked away to stalk after Bleu and into the cold. Without warning, Icarus shortly appeared in his husky-malamute form with a wagging tail and a flopping tongue. He padded inside the house and shook out his fur with his collar ringing.
Luna passed Loke with a ducked head and tried to make a break for it down the hallway.
"Ah-ah-ah!"
Luna stopped.
"Not so fast, niece-of-mine."
Luna winced and spun around. Excuses tipped her tongue. "Okay, so I did call Mama—!"
Giving his niece a stern look, Loke crossed his arms. "I know you did. She told me. What she didn't tell me was about someone other than Gale being out with you. Icarus did."
Traitor, Luna jeered at her spirit.
Icarus only rumbled back, irked, as he went to the living room.
A hand to her arm, Luna mumbled, "Okay… So… I might've…forgotten…that part…"
Loke sighed. "Luna…"
"But, like, Gale ditched me first!" Luna hurried to defend herself. "He left me and went to some party to kiss some girl! So it's not my fault!"
Loke guided Luna down the hall. "Then why didn't you let her know?" he pressed. "Or even let me know? I would've come and got you or Luke or Igneel or any of the other Spirits." He grabbed her hand to force her to confront him. "You had other options than letting a boy we don't know take you home."
"So what?" Luna wrestled away from Loke's hold to glare at him. "I know him. I was fine!"
"Yes, but we need to know these things," Loke argued. He followed after Luna when she rolled her eyes and stomped passed him and to the stairs. "Luna, we need to talk about this."
Luna stopped on the second step with a fierce look in her eye. "I don't get what's the big deal," she huffed. "So Bleu took me home. So what?" With a whirl, she was back climbing the steps. "Oh wait. This is about me being distracted, isn't it? Glad to see Papa got to you too."
Loke stayed on the ground. "Little moon."
Luna paused.
"Your parents care about you," Loke soothed over. "And so do I and all your family. We just want you safe. It's not too much to ask to know who you're with at least, right?"
Shoulders dropping, Luna mumbled, "No…"
Loke put a hand to his neck and sighed. "You know I love you, Luna."
Luna bit her lip as it wavered and guilt filled her. "I love you too, Uncle Loke." She meant every word.
"Luke should be upstairs too. There are some dumplings down here if you get hungry." His footsteps trailed off. "Goodnight."
"Night," Luna echoed, the syllable weak on her lips. She climbed the rest of the way and her mind shot seething through her link to the Canis Minor spirit. You told on me? Real classy.
I won't apologize for it, Icarus told her. He needed to know and we both look out for your safety. You are young, Pup.
Yeah. Thanks for the reminder. Luna was set to march into her room and lock the door when Luke came out of the bathroom, shorts on and fresh from his shower.
"Oh hey, Lu," Luke called. "You're in pretty late."
Luna rolled her eyes as she went to her bedroom door. "Yeah, not late enough," she muttered. "Tell Icarus to stay out of my room. He's not welcomed." She heard Icarus whine within their link.
Luke frowned. "Everything okay?"
Luna paused, then turned to her older brother. "Everything's fine," she said, sarcasm dripping in each word. "Haven't you seen Gale's pinsta? I'm sure he's having the time of his life."
"Kitty texted me," Luke admitted as he stepped over to her side. "Didn't you get any of my texts? I was offering to come get you since he bailed. How did you get home?"
"Bleu." Luna went into her bedroom and flicked on the light.
Not crossing the line between hallway and room, Luke leaned against her doorframe. "That guy you've been talking to? How's that going?"
The smile Luna was looking for was back on her face as she took off her coveted bracelet. "Great! We're going on a date, actually!"
"Really?" Luke's eyebrows shot up. "Mom and Dad signed off on that?" At the glare he was under, he ducked his head. "Okay, so, when do Igneel and I get to meet him?" This time, he would not back down. "What? Don't give me that look. You really think we're letting you on a date with a guy we don't know?"
"Oh, so, now I have to get your permission to have fun?" Luna huffed.
Luke sighed as irritation started to stir within the pit of his stomach. "That's not what I meant," he explained, tolerant. "What I meant was that, just because you know the guy and Mary Jane knows the guy doesn't mean we know the guy. At least one of us should meet him, okay?"
A low whine.
Icarus had laid near the door with his snout inching towards Luna's room. He whined and shuffled even closer, gauging Luna's face.
Luna turned her back towards her spirit. "I'm mad at you."
Icarus whined again. I will make it up through cuddles. Maybe a story?
Luna sighed. Fine. Get in here.
With a happy bark, Icarus scampered into the room and leaped onto Luna to give her licks of gratitude and love. She giggled at his antics before he hopped down to get onto the bed. Tossing one more affectionate look at him, Luna glanced at Luke. "If you meet him, you can't be as overprotective as Papa, you hear me?"
A raspy chuckle escaped Luke. "We'll try," he assured. He started to turn away. "When Igneel gets back, I'll let him know. I'll let him know about Gale too." He shook his head in disgust. "Seriously. Between him and Gary, I don't know which one is worse."
"When he gets back?" Luna had sat on her bed to gift Icarus some side scratches as she hung on to the little piece of information. "Where did he go?"
Luke shrugged. "I dunno. He'll be back whenever." He grabbed her doorknob. "I'll be in my room if you need me. If not, night."
"Luke, I…"
Luke paused to see Luna staring at her socks. "What's up?" he prompted.
A hand went to her arm and rubbed it. "Um…" Luna blinked up at him, then away. "Don't be mad at Gale, okay? And maybe…could we keep that from Igneel?"
"'Keep it from'…" Luke sighed when he saw Luna's pleading look and stepped back into the room. "Lu, why would you want to keep this from him?" He knelt before her when she looked away. "Lu?"
Luna gripped her arm tight. "You were there when Igneel and Gale got into that huge fight late in the summer," she reminded him. "I don't want them to fight again."
Luke smoothed back his bangs. "Luna…"
"I know you guys have the whole 'Bro Code' thing and with your 'Sister Clauses'—"
A tick mark burned against Luke's forehead. "Dammit, Redfox, spilling our secrets—!"
"It was Cane," Luna corrected, "and he didn't really tell me much outside of you guys looking out for your sisters which is great, but…" She lowered her eyes. "I can't watch Igneel and Gale fight because of me again, Luke. I can't. Gale had every right to go to that party and…and…and kiss that girl," she gagged out the words as if they stung her. "He did nothing wrong. And you know Igneel barely checks Insta anyways, so please…?" When Luke still looked hesitant, Luna put in, "I'm asking you as your baby sister."
Luke groaned. "No… Don't go asking as the baby sister…" He hissed an exhale. "Okay," he relented. "Okay, I won't say anything, but"—he pointed at her—"if he finds out, that's that. It's on Gale to explain. And no tricking me into making a Heartfilia Promise either, okay? If I feel like not telling him might lead to something we could have prevented, I will."
"Absolutely," Luna quickly agreed. "Of course. Whatever you say."
Luke's frown was half-hearted as he brushed her hair back. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah." Luna nodded. "I will be. Just tired. A lot of excitement and everything, y'know?"
"Don't I ever?" he muttered, sarcastic. "Just come find me if you need to talk and we will. You know all of us would drop everything if you just needed to vent. We might be pains in the ass sometimes, but we love you." He stood up, kissing her forehead on the way.
"Yeah, I know," Luna said softly without looking at him.
Luke rubbed his neck. "As much as I hate saying this, why not cheer up and think about Bleu and your date?" He touched his chest and pretended agony overtook him. "Oh, God, I think I'm dying," he bemoaned as Luna giggled. He staggered to her doorway. "I need to lie down. I can't believe I just said that." He grabbed her doorknob. "Before I say something that destroys me, night."
Luna giggled again. "Night!" she chorused with a bark from Icarus as Luke shut her door. "I still can't believe Bleu asked me out! Eee…!" Giggling to herself, Luna fell onto her back. An exhale whooshed out. "I can't wait!" Her hands fumbled for her Compact to send a text to the group chat Silver and Ena were in.
« Guess who's going on a date? »
A new message popped up and Luna saw it came from Bleu.
« Is the glowing lioness going to go away once I leave? »
A silly laugh.
« That's Algieba. She'll leave once she feels you're safe. The woods are normally fine at night, but we didn't want to take any chances. »
« Awww, you're so cute thinking you need to protect me lmaoooo »
« Don't worry treasure. I might not be a Mage but even I have some tricks left »
« Quiet you. Don't text and drive »
« Yes ma'am. I'll text you when I grab Carlisle. »
« FYI. This car has autopilot. So ha »
Icarus rested his snout on Luna's stomach with a mixture of a wine and a growl coming from his lips. This new Male has secrets. His name, for one. His wealth.
Luna moved Icarus off her to go onto her side and nuzzle into him. Yeah, but I won't force him to tell me. I mean I have secrets of my own. Time traveling, fighting Demons and Warlocks now, riding Dragons… Oh, my God, I'm living Clash of Thrones right now.
Yes, but you have to keep those secrets to protect other humans, Icarus pointed out. This new Male… It makes me wonder who or what he is trying to protect.
Luna hummed absently. I should probably tell Mary Jane. She was the one to introduce us. Her Compact came out to shoot a quick text.
« Sooooo Bleu asked me out! And I have you to thank for it! Thanks girl! »
And she hit send.
A text blinked to existence, but it was hidden from the world. The Compact was hidden. Darkness was around them like it served a purpose and not a scrap of light was allowed to intrude on its territory.
Mary Jane lay on her side, but nothing could wake her. Not the text. Not her Compact. Not light. She was far too deep in her own dreams to even recognize anything.
"…aat…"
Her brows pinched.
"…aat…"
Her nostrils flared.
"…aat!"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Columns surrounded the focus with nothing more to do than to protect their domain. It was easy to see this was a place of peace with the golden-touched clouds floating by the entry and reflecting onto polished marble and a fountain that trickled a constant translucent rainbow. Everything had a place. Everything followed the flow of energy. Everything had order.
The focus was looking at someone dressed in toga attire and a tail for good measure. A male with high cheekbones and spoke a language that sounded nothing like anything modern. "…the squadrons for a patrol along the eastern border. One of the tree sprites reported some shadows moving there."
"Do as you see fit," came soothing command. "But we are peacemakers. Remember that."
An argument brewed in the man's eyes, but his obvious respect had him swallow it down. "Yes…"
What he said after sounded muffled and foreign.
That same sound was coming closer with hurried footsteps and what appeared to be a female centaur came into the room with pants coming off her and her warrior three behind her. They all bowed low.
"We have seen them…"—the name was lost—"and what the General thought was right. They came to scout and to mock, but soon they will try to invade with numbers and weapons far greater than our own."
There was a neutral hum. "Numbers and weapons mean little without actual intellect and power behind them. These creatures are lawless. We have little to fear." The focus turned. A man was shown—that much was obvious—with golden hair, but his face remained blurry.
Gasps and outraged flocked the court as the focus straightened and narrowed. The man with the tail leaped to defense with his tail lashing. "Why have you come, traitor? You dare walk into our home and think yourself a free man?"
The newcomer stopped, but his head was tipped toward the focus. "I come to seek mercy and forgiveness. I come to give my apology on my knees if I must. But I come here today as an ally." He dropped to his knee, vulnerable and readily submissive. "I come here today to accept any fate deemed necessary if it means I may help you."
The focus tilted up, ever so slightly. "Stand aside, General."
The General had no choice but to obey with a bow.
The focus moved toward to inspect the newcomer. "You come to me bearing peace. Why? I believed you to love her. Thought her your soul mate."
"I do," he admitted. "But as I have watched the days go by, she has grown further from the one I called my other half. Because I love her, I come to you and beg for aid in saving her. Saving my other half." He chanced to look at the focus. "Saving your sister."
Mist covered the scene only to defog itself into something even lesser-known. The stars were out and peeked above the mountains. The grass was itchy, but no complaints were made. The focus turned to see a little boy pointing at the stars with an eager grin on his face.
He turned his head to the focus with eyes as—
The mist clouded again and this new scene was…not a scene.
Scarlet and cerulean had been torn in half with their own stars, their own sky, their own light, their own darkness. This was their way of maintaining their order with this split between red and blue and a horizon their divider. For never shall the two meet.
But she was not alone in this place. Something curled at the horizon. Something small and feminine. Something…familiar.
"Hello?" Her voice rang in this space, this realm, this haven. "Who are you?"
The something stirred and uncurled. A little girl. She turned her head—
—and her eyes were violet.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Slow was her friend as Mary Jane opened her eyes. Nothing could describe how the racing of her heart and the vividness of her memories played with her mind, but she bounded past them. Instead, she took a look around to steady her. Just beyond her and the grass and the small cliff was a series of small waterfalls in all their glory. With fireflies gone for the winter and foreseeable spring, the only light Mary Jane had to go on was the bioluminescent bacteria in the water and Lady Moon.
Where am I? Wait a second… Where's Igneel?
Mary Jane shakily got to her feet. "Igneel?" No matter how hard her eyes tried to adjust to the darkness, she could not see a splash of blonde. A hard swallow. "Igneel…?" A higher pitch this time.
Nothing.
Worry struck her first. "Oh no…" she whispered. "What if he got lost? What if a Warlock got to him? Or a Demon? He could've been captured. We had to have been if I'm all the way out here."
CH.
"Who's there?" came a quick blurt as Mary Jane cowered in on herself. "Sh-Sh…! Show yourself!"
CH.
With a head turn in the other direction, Mary Jane took a step back. "I-I'm not afraid of you!" Such brave words for such a scared tremor. Slowly, she stooped down to pick up her Compact. After a quick glance around, she went to Igneel's contact and called the number.
"You've reached the number of…"
Mary Jane looked physically ill as the voice machine rambled its speech. His voicemail… That must mean…
CH.
Mary Jane froze as the machine went silent for her to leave a message.
CH. CH.
Tears sprung in her eyes as she covered her mouth. What am I going to do? I need to save him.
CH. CH. CH.
Her eyes fastened shut, but her eyes would never forget every twitch of grass, every eerie rustle, every breeze.
CH. CH. CH. CH.
Silence.
Mary Jane's eyes popped open with her shadow swallowed. Something was behind her. Something…big. Teary eyes watched as a hand was lifted. And watched as the hand came d—
"MJ?"
A scream tore out of her as punches and slaps were dished out like a buffet. Stronger hands captured hers within a heartbeat, but a determination to live powered her. To the ground, she pulled her assailant. No mercy. Not for the one who stole her. Not for the thing who stole her fr—
"MJ, MJ, wait, it's me!"
A pause shocked her as the voice was recognized. Her eyes swung up to see concerned onyx glinting in the moonlight. There Igneel stood. There, with his messy blonde hair, to-go bags strapped to his arm, and her brother's broomstick on the ground. What was surprising was a DKK bag on his arm.
"Igneel?" Mary Jane whispered. "Where did you go? What happened? Where are we?"
Igneel released her within moments and watched as she sat on the ground. "We're at the Cherrygrove Falls. Basically, after you passed out, I got us to-go bags, went to the pharmacy, got the broom, then I brought you here," he summed.
Mary Jane blinked, taking each word into account. "That doesn't explain why I passed out. Or why I woke up alone." Not accusation; just confusion.
Igneel plopped down. "You had a panic attack." He gauged her, watching her as she sunk in the lie. "You ended up passing out. They insisted on calling the Guard and getting you to a hospital, but I knew how much trouble we'd get into. They had just brought out the food, so I had them box it. Went to the DKK to get some nausea pills for you and motion sickness patches for me. Then, I got your broom. But the Guard was kind of looking for us since someone called them, so I hid us here." He pointed in the forest. "The reason I had to leave you alone for a second was to throw off the Guard. Don't worry, though. I placed a Borderline so you'd be protected."
Awe rocked Mary Jane. "You did all that for me?"
"Well, yeah." With a cock of his head and raise of an eyebrow, Igneel seared her a look. "You're my friend. Why wouldn't I?"
Mary Jane blinked and did not even realize her hand went to her charm. "Right… Friends…"
Igneel got up to dust his shorts. "Anyways… I was thinkin' I'd fly us back. Not that you aren't a great flier, but I bought the patches—"
"I want to see the stars."
Onyx went to Mary Jane as she looked up at him. Something had shifted in such eyes. Something confused, yet something desperate.
"The stars… I…" Her eyes went downcast. "My dream… I saw…" Tension. Shame. "Never mind. I'm just rambling."
RUSTLE.
Mary Jane looked up to see Igneel already unpacking their to-go bags with a hearty grin. "Good thing I grabbed some drinks and stuff from DKK. I figured we'd finish eating in your room, but…"—he shrugged—"this'll do."
"Oh, no, wait." Mary Jane rushed to stop him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to force you—!"
"Psh. You didn't force me, so chillax…" Igneel hushed. He set her food before her, a tasty servicing of mashed potatoes, broccoli, and steak. "Not like I'm in such a rush to head home anyway."
To hold her tongue or speak up… Mary Jane chose the latter. "If you wouldn't mind me asking… What happened between you and Luke exactly?"
Igneel faltered, but only for a nanosecond. He rustled into the DKK bag for drinks. "Nah… Just brother shit is all. He can be a little too much of a nerd sometimes and always wants answers to shit he doesn't understand." He offered her drink and she took it. "We just fought about that and I bailed. It'll be chill when I get back, but I need some space for now."
Hardness was in his eyes and she saw it. She knew that hardness. Hesitantly, her hand reached out for his arm. A light touch created sparks that neither one of them had predicted. Surprise was in Mary Jane, but as scarlet-cerulean touched onyx, they were met with something unexpected: yearning.
"I'm here if you ever need that space," Mary Jane proffered. "I'm not good with comforting. But I want to be. Especially for you."
Taken aback was Igneel. "MJ…" His eyes closed for a moment. He listened to the trees. To the wind. The water. The stars. When he opened his eyes, they were at peace and not at war. "You already are helping," he murmured.
"How?" How was she possibly helping him?
"By being you," Igneel said. "And being here with me tonight. By being here for me." His arm glided away for a hand to take place and touch hers. Intensity wrapped around their connection as tingles shot up Mary Jane's body.
A blush was thankfully concealed as Mary Jane pulled away to cough. "So, um… Shall we dig in?"
°•°•°•°
"And that should be…the Belt of Orion once you see Alnitak come out."
"Wow…"
Bellies full, the two Mages had taken to sprawling on the ground with the stars as their witness and show for the evening. They lay heads close as they took in their sky.
Igneel smiled. "From what my aunts and uncles tell me, Orion can be an ass sometimes since he thinks he's the shit at archery and hunting. His three sisters try to keep him in line, but he tries to have sex with anything that breathes—including Aunt Aquarius." He shuddered. "I don't even know why he would try with her. I heard he and Uncle Scorpio got into a huge fight after some goddess told my uncle Orion was trying to sleep with Aunt A, so they couldn't have their constellations close to each other."
A giggle left Mary Jane as she watched the stars. "Y'know, if I had been raised Spiritless, I wouldn't know about the stars being actually beings. I'd think they'd just be burning balls of gas and that's it."
Igneel heaved a breath. "Y'know… My father used to say…the great kings of the past were—"
"I might not be able to cast a spell right now, but I'm still strong enough to throttle you," Mary Jane threatened with no true intentions.
Igneel chuckled and nudged her, mischievous. "Fine, fine. No throttling, please, ma'am. Everything you said is technically true. But all stars have a name and a spiritual body that they can separate from the physical one. Honestly, I'm kind of shocked I remembered this much. Luke's the better astronomer." His eyes soured. "He's better at me in everything."
Mary Jane frowned. "That's not true." She looked up at him, but his eyes remained firmly on the sky. "Hey… Igneel, you know that's not true. Everyone has different talents, different weaknesses. So why compare yourself to him?"
Igneel looked at her. "Why compare yourself to Lance?"
The truth stung for a second and Mary Jane looked down. Just as Igneel reached for an apology, she spoke back up. "He's the perfect son," whispered from her lips. "He's the golden child, I guess. Perfect grades, perfect girlfriend, perfect life, perfect…everything." She sat up, cold and alone, and hugged her knees. "When Nik and V were here… It was different in the house. Nik was always fighting with Daddy. V was doing her own thing. I was always angry. But Lance? He was perfect. He got Daddy's Magic and Mom's kindness. Became S-Class without trying. He's dating basically a supermodel. He's never been the problem child like any of us."
Igneel sat up with her. "That's not true," he rebutted. "Lance has his fair share of problems too."
Mary Jane harrumphed. "Yeah. But not in the family." Her chin dropped to her knees. "Everyone in my family seems to be perfect. Literally everyone. Look at Penelope. She's younger than us and was S-Class even younger. She knows all about these…these religions and-and facts and theories and could probably cast every spell in the book—!"
"Just like my brother." Igneel bumped her shoulder. "You're not the only one with perfect relatives, y'know. Luke's like a god to everyone. He's studying under basically the next Guild Master, he gets to tour around Ishgar for his lessons, he reads all these books and gets perfect grades and never has any trouble with anything." A huff of smoke came from his mouth. "It took me months to keep myself from burning up and it takes him, what, a week to basically conquer his Magic?"
Igneel flopped back onto the grass, ripping some up with his hands and burning them. "And then there's Nashi who has this crazy Heavenly Magic pretty much only she and three other identified Mages have because it's that rare. Oh and Luna's Magic can basically defeat anything, so there's that. And I just get stuck with…" He conjured a quick flame and smashed it out. "So yeah. So awesome."
Mary Jane looked back at him. "Looks like we're both disappointments in the Magic Department. I had Magic and now…I don't. And even when I did, I related to you. Everyone had such incredible powers. Elvin is a Changling. Liberty is literally luck herself. Ellie can transform into freaking fae. And my powers were…nothing as good." She dropped onto her back.
A pregnant silence came between them and the stars.
"But you taught me something."
Igneel looked at her.
"I don't have powers anymore. At least, nothing strong and worthy of a Mage," Mary Jane said. "But…you taught me that even us who don't have a lot can make a big difference. I might not be a Mage, but that doesn't mean I'm any less Fairy Tail."
Igneel did not know where she was going. "MJ…?"
"I'm gonna do it." The stars shined in her eyes. "I'm gonna use what little power I have to make Fairy Tail proud. I'm gonna try and go on adventures and live a full life and I'll become someone I can be proud of. Because to do that would be a pretty big adventure." Scarlet-cerulean turned. "Right?"
She froze.
DRIP.
Tear upon tear streamed from Igneel's eyes as he gazed at her with the look of the lost.
"Igneel?" Mary Jane turned her whole body to him. "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
Igneel's smile might have been feeble, but the emotion about him was not. "No. You said everything right." A sniffle.
Mary Jane tried to wipe his tears. "Then, why are you crying?"
Igneel leaned into her touch. With a gentle hand, he held onto her own. "Because those words mean so much to me. And I'll do whatever I can to help you. I already gave you my word I'd teach you. And I'll do whatever it takes for you."
Flush red crept up her neck as Mary Jane wiped his tears. "Come on now. No need to be all dramatic," she teased. "Let's wipe those tears and get cleaned up. You're driving." With a foolish tongue stick-out, Mary Jane was on her knees to clean up their mess.
It was in no time they were in the air, Igneel with a motion sickness patch behind his ear and Mary Jane leaning on him with a comfy smile. Igneel's mind could not stop going back to her words. Why…? Every time I feel okay, she does this… Why now? Why those words?
"Thanks for being my friend, Igneel."
Igneel shifted as Mary Jane did, sighing into his back. His lips lifted as he heard her heartbeat steady and her breaths slow. "'Course, MJ," he told her over the rush of the wind. "One girl is worth more than twenty boys after all."
"Hmph." Mary Jane's snuggled tighter. "Wake me up when we get home, okay?"
"You got it…Wendy." Igneel pressed on ahead just as the second star to the right winked in the great sky.
ZIP.
With music stubbornly trying to invade the bedroom, only a yawn was clear and the squeak of a bed as she turned. Gale did not feel her eyes on him. She was too busy taking guzzling water.
"That couldn't have been your first time," she regarded as she finished her messy half bottle of water. "Seriously. Damn. I for sure had my eyes in the back of my head. Your fingers were great, but I kinda wished you went down on me."
He finished with his hat backward before fixing the bottom of his shirt.
Silver hair was pulled into a bun as lethargic eyes watched him move towards the door. "Going so soon? I thought we were just getting started." An invitation. Not out of courtesy but out of female desire.
The Wild held back its growl.
…an unworthy female who tempts deserves retribution.
"Nah." The word was passive, but it had that firm rejection lacing it. "Got shit to do. You were cool to meet though."
The blanket was pulled back. There was nothing to cover her. Skin flushed with sweat for all man and woman to see. Her eyes pressed onto his back in hopes of him turning to see her offer. "C'mon, Daddy," she tried to beg.
"Don't call me that." The snap was quick with bite to it. The Wild reared its head. Only so much it could tolerate. "I'm not your dad or anyone's dad—thank fuck. Call me by my name or don't call me anything." His hand went for the knob.
Anger mashed her desire as her legs snapped shut, offer gone. "That's just it? You're leaving me like this?" The blanket covered body exposed now as her hands mangled into fists. "I'm drunk and you're leaving me after you did this to me?"
A belch.
Her eyebrows shot up as Gale turned around, eyes glazed and off-center.
"Look, whats-your-name, I am an advocate for sexual abuse victims and I fully endorse consent forms, but at this moment, I am completely drunk and I noticed you never touched your wine bottle." He nearly fell, but he righted himself with a nod. "In fact, to make sure I wasn't accused of this, I checked your scent. You had two small sips from that bottle."
"So what?" Defense was her best offense. "I don't like to drink a lot. Are you saying I raped you then?"
Gale burped again before wrinkling his nose. "Phew… Damn… I smell bad…" Ruby went back to her. "Right. You." He leaned his back onto the door to steady himself. "Girl friend, I ain't accusin' you of nothin'. Excuse the double negative, but you get me. I"—a wobbly thumb pointed at himself—"am a fuck up and probably fucked up my chances with the only girl I love and don't even get me started on how Kitty and Lady J will hate me. You"—such a hard point nearly made him fall over—"were a plenty good distraction and I think a good first time, but I don't know. I'm pretty numb." He burped again and his hand went to his chest to rub it. "All in here. All numb."
The girl's eyes softened from her rage to something relatable and sad. "We're quite literally break up with your girlfriend, I'm bored, aren't we?"
"Well, we would, Thotiana, but I'm pretty sure she'd have to be my girlfriend and you'd have to be my ex," Gale replied factually.
Slowly, she gathered her panties from the floor. "Sorry to go bitchy on you," was her quiet apology. "I shouldn't have done that." With a sigh, she looked at him. "Guess I was looking for more than a one-night-stand since my own something is with his new something who is also a he." She tossed her head, sarcastic. "Guess we're both fuck-ups."
"We used each other as an unhealthy coping mechanism," Gale told her as he watched his hands like they were the most fascinating thing on the planet. "I used you to numb the emotional torment of my probable-mate basking in the glory of another guy all while knowing I would upset her and make my friends and family and Mother Dragon disappointed in me. You used me to mask your sadness for the guy you had feelings for liking someone else and that jealousy and even the shame you had and guilt for hating him just for that tiny bit for being gay. Considering the desperate way you fucked me, you were imagining him." Ruby went to the ceiling. "Woah… I think the ceiling got higher…"
"Are you, like, a psychologist or something?" She struggled to put back on her pants. "That was some pretty deep shit."
"Nah. My mom's got her masters in history and Minstrish, a doctorate in linguistics, associate in psych and some others. Dad's just an asshole." Gale burped again. "Anyway…" He went to open the door and music barreled in. "Pip pip da doodly doo." He saluted her. "Thanks again, Herc. It's been a real slice." With that farewell, he went into the hall and closed the door. Getting down the stairs proved to be a challenge, but he did it with a couple of people giving him claps on the back.
The second Gale made it down the steps, he stopped. It was like reality hit him for a spare moment for him to say these words: "You told him a lie."
Julia stepped in front of him with eyes like her father's. "Why?" Such a loaded question.
A small grin lifting his lips, his eyes dulled and saddened like an aria. "I'm numb, Julianna." So soft, the music could swallow it. "I fucked up."
"You did." Julia lifted a hand to wipe something from his cheek. A tear. "What did you feel?"
Gale let the moon tattoo in his eyes. "Everything."
Julia nodded at that. "Is it broken?"
"It will never break," Gale murmured to her like he was in a dream. "It's a blessing and a curse. It will never break."
Julia nodded again. Her head bowed as her thoughts collected. It was just her and him under the moonlight at the entrance to the barn. Even with people all over, it felt like the moon and stars gave them a curtain of silence, a veil of privacy.
"Maybe you should talk to Igneel." Julia looked up at Gale who smiled at the moon. "He'll understand you—"
"He'll kill me." Gale's cackle was mirthless. "Oh, he'd try to kill me just like he did months ago. Don't you get it, Julianna?" More tears trailed down through his moon eyes. "We both fucked up. He just took it one step further than I did." He cupped his eyes as he laughed. "At least he has her. At least he can't get tempted. At least he can't make fucking stupid decisions like I did, J-J-Juli…" His laughter went into a sob then back into a laugh.
She took his hand like the gentle daughter to her elderly relative. "You're not alone," she murmured softly. "I'm here."
"Will you be there when my dad hands me over to the King?" Gale rasped. "When he does the same thing that Igneel was condemned to? You won't, Julianna. You won't because I won't let anyone see me destroy myself. I deserve the Hell I'm going to face, all of it." He dropped his hands as he shook.
Red-rimmed ruby clashed with ocean.
"Why did I do that?" Gale whispered. "What's wrong with me?"
"Easy. You're human." Julia swept away some of his tears. "You make human mistakes, Gale."
"He's going to kill me," Gale croaked. "Igneel… Uncle Natsu…" Grief murdered his heart. "Oh, God, Uncle Natsu! Dammit!" Fingers tugged at hair roots. "Why? Why did I do that? Why…?"
Julia tucked Gale's face into the crook of her neck as he shook and cursed and cried. "I know," she soothed. "I'm sorry. I know."
Gale hiccuped as he clung to her like a frightened child. "I can't go home."
"You know I don't care if you're over," Julia reminded. "You're practically family anyways."
"Thank you." A sniffle. He buried a face full of shame into her shoulder. "Are you mad at me?"
Julia kept her eyes ahead. "Yes, but not about what you think."
Gale sniffed. "Why are you mad then?"
"Because," Julia sighed, "you're hurting and I can't do anything about it. I'm mad at you because you did something stupid and self-destructive and I should have—"
"Don't blame yourself." Gale pulled away to wipe his eyes. "Self-blame isn't a good look for you, Lady J. This… This was all me. There's no one to blame but me." Ruby dimmed in guilt. "I made that promise. I was the one who looked him straight in the eye and promised him. Not you. Not Blondie." Anguish rattled his center. "Blondie… What am I going to do?"
Julia jingled keys. "We're going for a drive. We'll stop somewhere so you can eat and get sober. We'll go to my house and we're going to sleep. We'll take this one step at a time because that's all we can do." She was about to avert her gaze for this next part, but her spine straightened. "Honestly, I don't know what's going to happen next with Luna. Gale, she's…" She took in a breath. "From what it looked like, she and Bleu are about to get very close and, well, in the human sense, you don't owe her an explanation."
"I know." Gale put his head in his hands. "I never wanted to be like Leo. I never wanted to have a 'One that Got Away' and slept around to hide the pain but look what I just did."
"Hey."
Gale peeked through his fingers for oceanic eyes commanding his serenity.
"One step at a time," Julia reminded. "First step, the car. Come on." She whipped around.
"Julianna?"
Julia frowned. "What?"
"Thanks."
Julia softened all over again with a deep sigh. "You haven't called me that in a long time, you dick."
"Does he call you that?"
"Who?"
"Your..."
Julia glanced up at the moon for just a moment. Ocean shimmered at that fleet of sadness but it was all blinked away. "Let's just go home."
DING!
The elevator opened.
Pazuzu staggered out of the elevator with fangs long and eyes burning. Mirella watched him with a characteristic look of unimpressiveness and glanced at the bulge in his pants. "Wow, the great Devil is ready to fight anything," she remarked.
Pazuzu growled at her and took to shaking his head to clear it. "I can handle this just fine," he bit. "You'd be going crazy if a Demon just released his bloodlust."
"I would," Mirella agreed, "but unlike you, I didn't mark anyone so the pull isn't as strong. You, dear Devil, are fucked." She tipped her head. "And you still want to fight the Ice Devil, knowing he's on the hunt to get free pussy?" With a squished smile, she patted his shoulder. "I don't think so."
Pazuzu panted as he tried to keep his claws in. "The Hell are you going on about?"
Mirella rolled her eyes. "This is going to be a pain in the ass." She smoothed back her hair as Curses swirled around her, decaying her dress. Black and gold wove up her body to form her suit of armor, even knotting her hair in a warrior's braid. Her hand twirled and a gun appeared in her hand. "I don't know where you're from, but swords and cute little arrows aren't going to cut it." She cocked her gun. "My gun makes a much better opponent to the damn horny bastard more-so than the thing that marked the one who chose as his mate."
Pazuzu bared his teeth at her. "But your vengeance on your sister—"
"Will happen," Mirella promised. "Bitch, please, I'm not about to let her ass leave her until I have my daughter back and dear sissy is dead. But I need to clear my mind chakra like the stupid Cupid taught me to and think rationally. That Ice Devil will bring you pretty close to destruction for marking his territory. He's on his way to essentially fuck the Angel and commit a heinous sin and she'll probably enjoy it. But we can't let them mate. You Marked her, so you have some sway in controlling her as long as she doesn't become a Darkling or even a slave. As for me, I'm more experienced and have handled Devils in the past. Dealing with one this horny won't be an issue."
Pazuzu hissed, but he reigned it back in. "But you are keeping him away from his mate, Mirella."
"And he'll be pissed, throw a fit, and have blue balls—oh well," Mirella huffed. "Point is I'm a better-suited match. I don't have a horse in this race. He'll give me Hell, sure, and try to kill me. But you? No, he'd destroy you or die trying—things we cannot afford to happen if we want a horse in this race." She scented the air and her nose wrinkled. "Ugh. The smell of winter and lust is thick." She walked into the labyrinth without looking back. "Go make sure Nashi doesn't kill herself trying to kill my sister. That's my job and believe me, kitty-cat, I have the experience for it." She tossed him a mocking salute before turning a corner.
Pazuzu got on all fours to arch his back. A tail sprung from his lower back and his claws kneaded the earth. As much as I need to control myself, I can't save the princess without giving her my everything. In that case… He shut his eyes, but there was no pain written on his face anymore. His transformation was naturally flowing as fur sprouted from his body, bound in shadows. Claws extended, his fangs turned into that of a Sabertooth and his tail split into two. His clothes lay in shreds as a beast emerged. White fur tufted his chest and his paws were made to take down any threat. A Black Panther forged of shadows and with a glimpse of man rose to his feet. Tasting the air, a rumble crossed his throat.
There… I smell you, Marked One, Pazuzu rumbled. He allowed the snarl of his rust to burst from his chest and fill the hall. He tasted the air. The tang of darkness, light, and blood combined into one was what led him to speed down the labyrinth. I am coming for you, Malã'ika!
°•°•°•°
Mirella did not hesitate when it came to shooting her gun. She would not consider herself trigger happy, but she was certainly not a wimp in terms of shooting. She shot anything that moved and did not care what side it came from. In her eyes, all things unfriendly were nothing but trouble and it had to stay down and dead.
Mirella popped in another magazine as she abandoned another to shoot her next round. These Dark Creatures stood no chance against her accursed bullets and she knew it. What she could not shoot, she simply overrode their minds until they committed their own deaths. The work was not pleasing, but work was work. She killed a Ghoul without even flinching when black blood landed on her cheek. She flicked it off without even having to try.
"Ugh. What bullshit," Mirella hissed. She kept her gun drawn in case anything changed. "Maybe I should do myself a favor and shoot myself for doing this sort of crap."
A tingle hit her stomach.
Paws hitting the ground hit her ears.
Mirella dropped her shoulders. "Oh no."
A blur sliced through the patrols of Dark Creatures without hesitation and left behind a blazing trail of ice.
Mirella shook out her shoulders. "Just breathe, girl. Breathe. He can't be that big and bad. You've faced the biggest and baddest, remember?"
One drip of saliva nearly melted the floor into dry ice.
Mirella rolled her lips to try and loosen her nerves. "You ready for this. You can do this." Her eyes hardened. "For her."
Winter hit her back and nearly burned the skin off her. Mist surrounded her as paws skidded to a halt. Haggard pants were on the back of her neck and she did not care for them. She could feel, smell, taste the lust radiating around her, suffocating the atmosphere until the air itself was nothing more than gaseous arousal.
Mirella straightened. "So. You're looking well…"—she turned around with her gun drawn—"Devil."
The Ice Devil loomed over her with silver eyes and chops full of saliva and mist. Tail down, his crystalized fur shimmered and his wings were folded into his back. He could not help how his claws kneaded the earth, digging into the ground for some semblance of relief. A beast—an abomination of Nature and son of Winter—stood before her, but he did not look at her. His right leg twitched as he tasted the air over her, a dog on a mission to find the source of heat. He sniffed, nostrils flaring, to catch the faint scent of the one he would never forget.
"Malã'ika…" the Ice Devil breathed, wreaking such foul scents of ice and desire.
"Hey! Yoo-hoo! Down here!"
The Ice Devil turned his chin down to look at the woman with a gun pointed at him.
Mirella did not care about his size. She was not threatened on size alone. "Use your hand because you're not getting lucky while I'm standing. And don't worry"—she cocked her gun—"I'm always standing."
BANG.
°•°•°•°
Etherious Nashi kicked down another opponent. Without a flinch to it, she punched straight through its chest, unafraid of the black blood on her arm nor the particles flying upon her face. Her head snapped up and narrowed at Lynn. She sat on her chair with her smug smirk and her tea… How quaint of her. She had no time to think as her teeth sunk into another pound of brainless flesh with a thunderous snarl ripping from her throat.
Lynn, on the other hand, seemed amused as she watched Etherious Nashi. "My, my… The little Etherious Princess has some stamina. I see why he likes her." She licked her lips as her eyes ran over exposed skin. Most of the dress had been torn, even the strapped bra had been ripped. Lynn tabled her tea and snapped her fingers.
The masses of Darkling froze.
Etherious Nashi got to her feet, looking like an Amazon of a woman. Teeth stained in blood, scratches and gashes on her body like war trophies, eyes crazed… She looked nothing as she did before. Even the ends of her pink hair were becoming to stain black. Her red pupils burned onto Lynn and she spat out black and red blood.
Lynn got to her feet. "Doesn't it feel wonderful?" she purred. "That feeling of freedom… The power it possesses… The thrill of the kill? Isn't that what humans say?"
Etherious Nashi cocked her head.
Lynn grinned. "I see. The Etherious inside you is out and eating away your human side. All you know is destruction, murder, anger, pain…" She began to walk towards Nashi. "A baby without a mother…" Burnt umber widened in realization.
A baby… She's just like a baby all over again.
Cunning could not even describe the extent of Lynn's widened grin. She extended her arms. "Do you know what a mother is, little Demon Princess?"
Etherious Nashi tipped her head to the other side as though confused, yet curious.
"A mother raises you," Lynn explained. "They teach you how to sin, how to kill, how to make them bleed." She nodded when Etherious Nashi straightened as though the words made her eager. "Yes, yes, that's it! Isn't that what you want? To murder? Slaughter? Let them beg for their lives?" She was only two steps away as her hands descended on Etherious Nashi's face, caressing her skin. "I'll be your new mother, little Demon Princess," she murmured. "I'll raise you to be the most bloodthirsty Demon the world has ever seen. And then…" She pulled Etherious Nashi close to her with her eyes wide, plotting. "And then Daddy will let me have his power. I'll be the rightful heir. You'll be my ticket in." She pulled away to see such innocent loss on eyes filled with black with pupils of scarlet. "And you don't even know what I'm saying," she teased in a coo.
"But I do, Lynn."
Lynn whirled around to see Pazuzu with a litter of bodies behind him. He stood on his hind paws with his front paws transforming into furry hands. His focus was primarily on Etherious Nashi who looked interested in him and instantly moved towards him.
Possessively, Lynn held her back. When Etherious Nashi growled at her, Lynn snapped, "Don't you dare growl at your new mother!"
"She wants you to let her go to her Brander." Pazuzu let his teeth show. "So desperate to have a kid, you resort to stealing," he spat. "First, your own sister's daughter and now this?" He bristled. "And keeping me away from my Branded, no less?"
"You have a harem at your beck and call," Lynn hissed at him, not even struggling as Etherious Nashi fought against her hold. "You don't need this one. Transfer ownership into me and I'll release you."
"Like your word means a damn thing to me," Pazuzu retorted, prowling closer. His eyes flicked to see Darklings had risen up to defend their mistress and her possession. "Either way, you'd try to kill me. And we both know that won't happen." He extended his claws. "Before I slit your throat for keeping me away from my Branded, I'll ask you again: hand her back to me."
"You slit my throat?" Lynn lifted her chin and her Darklings crawled forward. "Oh, please. Do you know who my father is?"
"More than you would ever know." Pazuzu got on all fours. "If you don't wish to do this easily"—he sprinted with his feline growl and took down three Darklings in one blow—"then you will answer to me!" With a raised of a paw, his claws gauged the eyes and nose of his next prey.
°•°•°•°
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Mirella lifted her hand for black energy to protect her when shards of ice tried to obliterate her. She gritted her teeth as the Ice Devil darted down another hall. He did not even care snow and ice were left in his trail—he needed to get to her.
Mirella cursed. "Damn horny bastard." Her shoulders shook as ugly bat-like wings sprouted from her back. She gave them a flap before diving after the Devil. Drawing up her hands, a shadowy crossbow was conjured and she took her shot when she had the chance.
The Devil faltered when one dug into his shoulder. He stomped his tail.
Mirella cursed when ice popped up from the ground and walls in columns. "Daaaammiiiiit…!" she swore as she did her best to maneuver. "I should've flown more with these things—Woah!" She barely avoided her wing being crushed, but in doing so, she lost sight of the Devil. She growled when she found herself at an intersection and his ice trail had stopped. "Satan forbid I have any sons," she panted. "Who does this kid think he is?" She went to the ground and let her eyes flash gold.
A smirk delighted her face when she saw a fading trail of black mist intertwined with ice crystals. "Can't hide, motherfucker." She took off down the hall and her nose cringed, nearly making her stutter mid-flap. "Satan Antichrist Almighty…" She coughed and held her nose. "Geez… His lust smells as overwhelming as Bael's and that says a lot!" She hacked again, but she kept herself tight on the trail.
BUH-BOOM.
Mirella stopped dead.
A smirk full of sharp teeth.
Oh, Sissy…
Claws extended from her knuckles.
…can I play too?
°•°•°•°
"Herrrrah! Ha!"
Pazuzu cut them up and tore them down like it was nothing. When nothing was left for him, he stood amidst the bodies with blood on his chest and on his teeth and even beneath his claws. He refused to sheath them as he turned around to see Etherious Nashi clawing and fighting against Lynn's restrictive hold, even resorting to biting whenever she could.
Pazuzu bared his teeth in a grin. "Can't control your new hellspawn?" he teased with wrath seeping out of each word.
Lynn glared at him. "Shut up! She's mine now!" But that moment of looking away as all it took for Etherious Nashi to swipe her stomach and bite her hand. Caught off-guard, Lynn loosened her hold and Etherious Nashi darted away. "Wait! No!" Anguish came to her as she watched Etherious Nashi run away from her like an old wound had been reopened.
A flash of bright light. Blood mixed with tissue. A despaired cry.
Lynn stumbled when she heard cruel laughter. "Reminiscing?" came pressing question. She blinked to see Pazuzu welcoming Etherious Nashi with a wide mouth to inhale her scent and give her a chirp. A scowl was slow to grow on her face as she watched Etherious Nashi emit a rumble in her chest and, like a cat, she nuzzled against him, welcoming his dominance.
"Give her back to me," Lynn gritted out. "Don't force my hand, Zuzu."
Pazuzu stepped forward to cover Etherious Nashi, nudging her between his front paws. She welcomed his protection, curious what was happening, what he was offering, like a child hiding behind their parent's leg. "Go ahead," he challenged. "I don't care what you do. You think I'm afraid of you?" He puffed a laugh. "Your power is nothing. Your life is nothing. Your father thinks of you as nothing."
Lynn refused that. "Daddy—!"
"Thinks you're a game."
Lynn's eyes widened.
Pazuzu had her. He knew it. "You're nothing but a game. He lets you live because you're nothing more than entertainment to a King of Hel, a plaything for a Demon." His lips pulled back in gnarly grin. "Letting him fuck you? Letting him do as he please with you? You're the most gullible toy I've met. Hell, you can't even carry a baby, can you?"
"No…" Lynn shook her head. "No, I can!"
"Oh, really? From what I heard, you lost every baby you tried to have." Pazuzu tipped his head as he watched Lynn take a step back like the lashing physically struck her. "Or did I hear wrong?"
Splatters of red hitting the floor. Bored gold. A frown that held disappointment for lifetimes.
"No…" Lynn grabbed her hair and tugged at it. "No, no, no, no, no…"
"But you know…" Pazuzu placed his paw before him. "There is one daughter still alive and she actually carried… Haven't you ever wondered why Bael let you live this long when he has her?"
"No!" Lynn spat at him, seething. But her eyes… Oh, the look in her eyes… "I took her! She's mine now! My baby!"
Pazuzu cackled as his head lowered. "I see why Bael keeps you around. Entertaining indeed. But you see…"—his claws teethed the ground—"I'm not Bael… I don't need to keep you around for entertainment. In fact, I don't need to keep you around at all." He looked beneath him to see Etherious Nashi crouched low with her white red eyes searching his. "Tsula a mona," he commanded in their rough tongue. "Ke tla dawo maku."
Etherious Nashi blinked owlishly. "Me benag?"
Pazuzu gave her a warning growl, nudging her even more. "Mona." With a final firm look, he lifted his head and pinned them on Lynn who was trying to Shadow Walk away. "No you don't!" He sprinted with a battle roar. He tackled Lynn out of the shadow and did not care about the tumble he took. He batted out her, claws extended, and slashed her face.
Lynn growled at him and kicked him in the stomach, trying to get away. She did not want to fight. She needed to run.
Pazuzu bit into her leg and dragged her back to him. His mouth went for her throat, but he missed and tore into her shoulder. She yowled and darkness swept into her arms. Dropping her jaw, she hit him with a wave of darkness, blasting him back. To her feet, she slowly got. She charged at him with everything she had, darkness misting off her and burnt umber ablaze.
Etherious Nashi watched the fighting with anticipation and eagerness, like a puppy seeing two big dogs for the first time in their lives. She perked with every hit Pazuzu threw and growled whenever Lynn was successful in her strategy. She flattened herself to the ground. She wanted to kill. She wanted to see blood pitter-patter and lick it from her skin. She wriggled, excited to—
LUB-DUB.
She paused.
She looked behind her and into the shadow. She tilted her head and tried to peek into the darkness…
STOMP… STOMP… STOMP…
Lynn and Pazuzu sprang away from each other, ready to dish their next blows, when they sensed the presence as well. Pazuzu flattened his ears with a snarl coming off him while Lynn looked into the shadows. That presence… How could he…?
A glint.
Etherious Nashi's eyes rounded as a shadow was cast over her.
The Ice Devil had made his arrival and his nose was pointed directly at her.
There was no question as the Ice Devil let his snout travel over her. The moment he smelled Pazuzu's brand, rage fueled him and he was quick to bowl her over in attempts to Brand her himself. She flinched back, but the second he growled for her to stay still, she obeyed. However, the moment his nose went south, she had a growl of her own and swiped at him. He pulled back his head, surprised, and eyed the little Etherious who defied him. Teeth were drawn, but, in comparison to his, they looked so little and laughable. And, yet, she stood her ground against something bigger than her without a trace of fear.
Intrigue entered icy silver.
He pawed closer to her and ignored her little rumbles of irritation as he nosed his way to her flesh. His tongue darted out and licked from her breasts to her neck. He would have to be gentler than he had thought. A shiver wracked her body as something warm stirred within her belly. She had never felt like this within her existence. From the day she emerged, she had only known the need to kill, to murder, to thirst for blood and a body count. She knew curiosity and eagerness. Never had she experienced…desire.
Her neck turned as the Ice Devil lapped the spot, saturating it with his scent. Once he was satisfied, he moved his tongue lower.
Rage shook Pazuzu to the core. A fierce snarl thundered from his chest. He tried to spring into action when something thing tackled him. He growled, claws raking the ground as he tried to get back up. But he was flattened to the ground and could only see chains of shadows holding him back. His head twisted to see Lynn atop him. "What are you doing?" he thundered.
Lynn leaned down to whisper, "I'm tired of playing games where I lose. So let's play another game. This time I get to win."
X - X - X - X - X
Lust stung Pazuzu's nose and envy demanded blood for it. He watched in seething fury as the Devil went forward to lie Etherious Nashi on her back. He sniffed her from head to toe, taking his time below her stomach. His fangs showed when he teethed at the remaining material that was between him and his prize. Etherious Nashi seemed to understand his intentions and cared little for ripping the rest of her dress, leaving her exposed to him. To her, nudity was another concept she did not understand. She did not understand the material she wore in the first place.
A slow lick trailed up her stomach.
…but she began to understand how to crave.
The Ice Devil growled at the Scent of Desire winding into his nose. The pad of his tongue traced over her breasts, her flesh, every last inch over her. Blood and sweat clung to him, but it was her natural taste that was the strongest. He felt pride swell within his chest with every quiver, whimper, and arch the little Etherious beneath him gifted him. He lapped down her stomach to her thighs. He teased the outer part of her thighs first with slower licks and a nip here or there, amused at her little jumps. But even he could only take so much when he was drawn to such a sweeter, thicker scent.
He let his nose guide him between her legs and felt his cock painfully stiffening even more. A pussy creaming for him, wet for him, trailed in white for him, craving for his touch. How delicious.
His nose spread her wider. A shudder rattled him when a fresh wave of sweetness mesmerized and put him on alert. Nothing existed outside him and the creature beneath him. Nothing else.
Delicate was his tongue as he licked the seam. It was his first taste and he was already greedy. He wanted to covet this taste. He wanted to kill every last creature who had a taste before him. The Etherious squirmed and a whimper escaped her. She wriggled her hips closer to his tongue. Cute. She did not know what he did, but she liked it and wanted more.
And he would oblige her.
His next lick was more elaborate. His tongue slid between her folds with utmost care and his tail thumped the moment he swallowed her sweetness. Never would he drink anything against but her. He would only drink what she gave him. His tongue had a mind of its own as it lapped at her, teased her for another round of sweetness. He put a paw close to her to keep her complacent and down as his tongue darted into her and felt her tightness contract around him. Her back arched and a cry bubbled out.
The Ice Devil reared his head back with silver freezing his eyes.
He could not handle this anymore.
He needed to finally have her.
He came to nudge her. Etherious Nashi understood his intentions and shakily went to all fours, a whimper of fear escaping her. The Ice Devil licked his chops. So small… So tight… Frost and the mist of dry ice puffed from his fur as he deflated. His massive size was back down to his normal Devil size, but his ice-cold skin and wings and tail would not disappear, not yet. Not until he was done.
The Ice Devil smoothed his hands against her, nearly hissing at the burning heat he felt. Still, he took his time, letting his lips come forward to kiss the curve of her hip.
Lynn watched like a clinician; face schooled into only observation. Fascinating… Normally, he would have done anything to override the Brand on her. And, yet, he's taking his time instead of rough fucking her… I don't sense the human coming onto surface… Burnt umber widened. Don't tell me he's—! Her thoughts cut off when she was throttled worse than a bull rider. Landing on her side, she grunted and knew her shoulder had dislocated from the sheer force.
The Ice Devil let his lips come to her neck, hands comfortably holding her breasts. His rumble was soothing, a purr really. Like he was reassuring her. He nudged her head and she craned her neck for him. As a reward for her obedience, his offered a little nip on her skin, playful, teasing, but promising. Etherious Nashi wriggled and something impatient growled out.
The Ice Devil chuckled and shushed her with his saucy smirk. "Momarillo, Malã'ika," he hushed. With the gentle force of his chin, he tipped her downwards so she crouched low to the ground, ass against him. "Ke so batlin yo da'awar kowabe inci tso gara ku."
Cock pulsing, he positioned himself behind her and groaned into her ear when his dick slid against her pussy. He would not give her the satisfaction of having him inside her yet, but, damn… That heat… It was so warm and inviting, so…tempt—
X - X - X - X - X
SLICE!
Blood splattered onto the ground.
A smirk indulged Lynn as she sat up. "I thought so."
Pazuzu stood with a frothing muzzle and lashing tails, his shadow misting about him in his rage. With ease, a force of shadows shoved the Ice Devil away from Etherious Nashi. However, rather than claiming his prize, Pazuzu stood in front of Etherious Nashi and hid her from view. Glazed watched as the Ice Devil placed a hand on his arm to stop the bleeding. "Control yourself," he snapped. "She is not for the taking!"
The Ice Devil tried to catch a glimpse of Etherious Nashi, but when he realized he was blocked, silver went to Pazuzu. "Ku…" He went to all fours. "Bolaea ku… Thoim'ai Malã'ika…" Claws unsheathed, he dashed towards Pazuzu with frost misting around him.
Pazuzu met him halfway with a raised paw and landed the first blow.
Lynn's smirk broadened as she watched both Devils. How amusing. Kitties at play. Burnt umber turned to Etherious Nashi who curled up, watching both Devils in interest. Not as though she wanted to join the fight, but she held interest in the most bloodshed. Now's my chance.
PUH-CHING!
Her eyes widened.
Shakily, her head went to her arm…
…which had been completely cut off.
Fright scarred her as she looked at her still arm as blood oozed out from the stump left behind.
STEP… STEP…
"Did you see that Muta? My poor sister's arm got cut off."
STEP… STEP…
Nausea rolled within Lynn and she could not help it. Hunched over, she wretched as she felt too rattled to function. No pain had set in yet, just numbness, like she was being naïve to the pain.
"Oh, that's right," came mocking coo. "You never liked bleeding, did you? Always loved to dish it, but you hated it when it came right back to you."
Lynn tried to lift her head, but a boot crushed her face into her own nausea. Disgust made her gagged and she was at the mercy of her attacker. The boot forced her head to the side, displaying how her wretching marred her face. Burnt umber burned into cold gold.
"Hi, Lynn." Mirella flexed her wings. "Been a while. You looked so good looking like Bael that I had to just come and see you." She pressed her boot harder into Lynn's jaw. "Now I get to kill you."
Lynn only grinned, the only thing she could do now. "And never learn where your little daughter is?" she cackled. She spat out the rest of her vomit. "Killing me means she goes down with me, Sissy."
"I know." Mirella shoved her boot even more into Lynn's skin. "You think I didn't realize how you bound her to you? Bitch, please. You're a Demon's daughter. But the whole I-die-she-die routine? It's so overdone… So here's the armor-piercing question… What to do with you…?" She whipped her arm behind her.
SPLAT.
She did not even flinch when she ripped out the heart of a Darkling and watched it disintegrate. "I don't know. Can't kill you, can't like you, definitely can't love you…" She shrugged. "Only thing that's left is torture."
"Like you have the balls to torture your own blood—Bleh…!" Lynn felt her face turning red as the boot went to her throat, stomping on her windpipe.
Mirella bent down to whisper, "Don't act like you know me. And don't act like I don't know how to tear apart the binding. You know I do."
"You wouldn't," Lynn challenged. "It would destroy her."
Mirella shook her head. "Amnesia is a small price to pay for all the Hell you put her through. No, Lynn…"—gold swirled as her shadows swarmed her—"it would destroy you."
°•°•°•°
Etherious Nashi licked her lips, wriggling a bit. Her lust had amplified as she watched Devil try to slaughter Devil. Black blood had hit her cheek, but she licked it away and purred at the taste.
"Kit?"
Etherious Nashi turned her head to an odd creature. Furry, yet he was massive in size and with clothes and even wings of an Angel.
Her eyes fixated on his wings.
Muta cursed as he watched Etherious Nashi stretch her arms like a newborn wanting to touch everything in sight. "Dammit." He took out the vial to swirl blue liquid. Let's hope this works… He approached her with gentle paws, though he had to nudge her away from touching his wings. "C'mon, kit. You need to drink up." He dangled the vial and she tilted her head, nose twitching as she tried to catch a scent.
The Ice Devil howled when Pazuzu's claws raked his face. He shook away the blood for his eyes to catch Etherious Nashi taking the vial to study. He recognized that liquid. Panic consumed him. "No!" He tried to make a run for it, but Pazuzu blocked him. "Out of my way!"
"No!" Pazuzu lashed his tail. "Control! Use your human to control yourself! She is nothing more than a cub at this age!"
"Mate," the Ice Devil sneered. "Mine." He bunched his muscles.
Pazuzu snarled and readied himself. "Muta," he called, "get the princess out of here! We can't let them be together! He'll mate her and we'll all be in trouble!"
"Right!" Muta gathered Nash in his arms, bridal style. She tried to protest, tried to get a peak of the Ice Devil, but Muta flew them to new heights and away from the fray.
Lynn watched Muta leave in fear. "No! He can't have her!"
Mirella did not even laugh. "No one can have her because she belongs to no one." She watched Lynn squirm. "It's pathetic how desperate you are to keep living. You talk a big game, but once another player overtakes that game…you become so panicked that you only think to save yourself. I mean isn't that why you're still alive right now?" Her chin tipped low. "Bael wanted to kill you, force you to commit suicide. He would never want you and you were another skin bag full of failure."
"No!" Lynn wriggled even harder.
"You couldn't stand it when he chose me to become his successor," Mirella went on quietly. "Because you knew I'd live and you'd die. You knew I never wanted to be a part of his plans. After I left, you were so desperate to stay alive, you agreed to be a sex slave for him, please him. But when he got tired of you and tried to kill you, you were even more desperate."
Tears leaked from Lynn's eyes. "No! No!"
"Even so desperate you got yourself knocked up," Mirella carried on. "What did you think that would accomplish, Lynn? Did you think he would love you? Let you live? He'll kill you, Lynn. He let you live this long because he was having fun with you. But he'll end you as quick as he ended your mother."
Lynn glared through her tears. "My mother was weak and spineless! She didn't have what it took to be here and she was killed for it! I say thank Satan she's dead!"
Mirella locked her jaw. "You'll never change," she spat.
Lynn's smirk was maniacal. "Just like you'll never tell her who her father is."
That resonated with Mirella and her eyes widened, but that was all Lynn needed to throw her off. Mirella stumbled back and Lynn shot up, shaking some of the vomit from her, but some had clung to her hair. Her hand went to the stump of an arm and shadows bandaged it for her.
Mirella berated herself. Dammit. She caught me off-guard. She adjusted her claws. But not again. She went forward.
Lynn gritted her teeth as she narrowly avoided the first swipe, but not the next blow to the side. She just barely missed the next hit.
Mirella noticed as she went into a roundhouse kick. "You know," she panted, "Bael knew I was the better fighter."
Lynn ground her teeth. "I know," she growled. Her hand tightened on her arm. "He punished me whenever I lost to you."
"I know." Mirella was successful in kicking Lynn down to a knee. "I always pitied you." She kicked Lynn in the chest.
Lynn grunted as she tried to get to her feet. "I didn't need your pity," she spat at her. "I needed a sister!"
"Ha!" Mirella let a cruel laugh go at that. "A 'sister'? That's what you thought you needed? Oh, give me a break, Lynn. What you need was some weakling to make you look good. Oh, wait. That's what I got."
Lynn got to her feet. Her eyes shifted to see Mirella's shadow enlarge and detached itself. Perfect. "You'll never see her as long as I'm alive!" Her smirk was back. "She's mine to control. Even calls me her mother since her real one didn't even have the balls to kill the father to get her back. I bet right about now she's slaughtering that Demigod."
Rage strengthened Mirella's darkness. "What the Hell did you to my daughter?"
Lynn's lips twitched. "Come now, Sissy. Is it really any surprise after all these years she's forgotten her mother and made me her true one?"
Mirella could not help it as gold emblazoned and her shadows sprouted into arrows. "You biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch!" She was set to head forward with her attack, but ice had wrapped around her legs and feet and chained her to the ground. She whipped her head back to see a woman made of ice was slinking back into her own darkness. "No!" Gold turned to see Lynn disappearing into her own shadow. "NO!"
Her arrowhead shadows easily crushed the ice and her feet moved on her own.
Everything broke down as though time was relative.
Mirella pushed herself, but it was not enough. Lynn was slipping from her grasp. I have to get to her! I have to save my daughter!
Middlemist reds. And in the middle of a sea of flowers, a little figure with her back turned.
Faster, Mirella spurned. Goddammit, go faster!
Moonlight touched angelic wings and loving turquoise.
Mirella locked her jaw and took the leap. I won't let you slip away from me again! I have to do this for her!
Gold widened as burnt umber was right on top of them. "No!" she screamed. She used her good hand to sweep a ball of darkness and let it jet from her palm to make a small sphere. "Get away from me!"
Mirella did not care as the sphere pierced as she fell into the shadows. I have…to do this…
A bundle of joy swathed into a turquoise blanket with pink cheeks and dark hair.
…for…them…
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…
Oh, Gale… I really wish you hadn't done that. Is Kyler really the father? To find out more, tune in to the next Fairy Adventure!
Lamps lit up the lone street as a sleek car flew by. A gate and a stationed watch guard were there, but there was no need for the guard to step out. A buzz of approval rang and the gate opened up just in time for the car to come sailing through it. The front grounds were well-kept with the fountains off at night and the trees and bushes and grass greener and freshly trimmed. Guards in their suits and ties took to their zones with their night vision goggles and earpieces. The asymmetrical front of the limestone mansion was truly a beauty, massive in size and taken with the Perench renaissance. Lights were on as the car pulled up to the front where guards and a butler and maid waited without fail.
The moment the car parked, the butler and maid descended with a valet rushing forward. Bleu came out of the car and tossed the keys to the valet with a friendly smile. The maid approached him with only her stern eyes visible from her coverings. "Navrn Kuru," she began.
"Minstrish, Aleda," Bleu gently commanded. He abandoned his car to go up the steps. Guards opened the doors for him.
"Young Master," Aleda corrected in her rough tongue, "you shouldn't be out this late."
"It's okay, Aleda," Bleu soothed as he toed off his shoes. "I had to take Carlisle back to NAC. I'm certain nobody missed me this late anyways." His eyes flashed over the wall of memories and none of them contained either one of his parents. "Where's the bastard anyways?"
"Working, Young Master," the butler spoke up. He looked sharp with white hair and half-crescent moons for glasses. "He would like to remind you that work is imperative for you as well."
Bleu moved to the grand staircase. "Yeah, yeah, I know," he sighed. "I'm on it, I just… I need more time." He began to climb up the steps.
The duo followed him up the steps. Aleda carried on with her eyes narrowing: "Perhaps it is time we dispose of all distractions to ensure the young master can complete his job. Wouldn't you agree, Luther?"
Blue bristled. "I said I'm working on it which means I have it handled. My friends aren't distractions, so please don't call them that. Respect that I'm going at a good pace and respect I like to be around my friends."
Aleda started, "The master—"
"Aleda," Luthor cut her off and blocked her from another step, "allow the Young Master his space. I am certain he is doing his best with the situation at hand. We are not to question him, only to guide him when needed. We are not babysitters. We are his trusted staff. If you can't understand that, perhaps assigning you here was ill-judgment."
Aleda's eyes went to slits. "You dare question Our Lord's judgment?"
Luthor raised an eyebrow. "No. I'm questioning yours." He followed Bleu. "Why don't you oversee any messages for the master? Master Bleu is tired from his day's events and doesn't need any more nagging today."
A growl came from Aleda's scarf. "You are not the lord here, Luther."
Luther stopped with another indifferent look cast to her. "And for that, young lady, you should be grateful."
Bleu's bedroom door was opened for him by the attendants on duty, but he really did not care how his room looked like his own suite with a mini kitchen, its own living room, and even a balcony with outdoor furniture. He took off his coat as Luther turned on the lights for him, firm and at attention. Bleu paused to look at the butler. "Thanks, Luther," he murmured his appreciation.
"Don't thank me, Young Master," Luther dismissed. "Aleda has been getting quite restless as of late. Putting her in her place was something I should have done a while ago."
Bleu nodded.
"However," Luther added, "she isn't the only one pressing. Your father has voiced his…concerns over your whereabouts. He isn't reconsidering your position. But he would also like you to take on a more active role."
Bleu snorted as he pulled off his shirt. "Yeah? And what did you say to that?"
"I told him your work here was equally important," Luther explained, "and you were not to be disturbed. He gave me a fair bit of warning for my outspokenness, but I don't care much for his bark or his bite. I serve you, Master Bleu, until you no longer need me to."
Bleu's smile was real. "Thank you, Luther, for standing up for me." He went over to his bed too large for even two people and took off his socks. "He'll probably get pissy again and summon me, threaten me a little bit, and send me back here like always. Father doesn't have concerns. He has an agenda and doesn't like deviations." He stopped for a few beats as he remembered the faces of his friends. "No distractions." He could picture Luna's beaming face.
No romance.
"I thought you might like to know that one of your uncles has acquired quite the rarity," Luther informed.
"Yeah?" Bleu ran his hands back and forth in his hair. "Which one? Exactly what did he get this time? Or did he just call to brag about business again?"
Luther said, "I wouldn't go as far to say 'brag', Master Bleu. His game is going quite well. In fact, he got inspiration to add a few new characters."
Bleu tensed, but he would not look up. "Oh?"
"Yes, indeed." Luther straightened out his cuff links. "He calls their classes the Berserker, the Amazon, the Cleric, and the Demigod. But he's hoping he can bring in another new character called 'the Priestess' into the game. He thinks it'll be a big hit once the next launch comes out."
Bleu's shoulders sagged. "I see…"
Luther was about to see himself out as he said, "Well, Master Bleu, please ring if you need anything. And please know that wherever you are to go, I will follow without fail." He left and shut the doors behind him.
Bleu laughed to himself. "Some people have best friends. I have a butler." He got up to stretch, then collapsed back onto his bed. A surge of resolve poured into him and he reached for his Compact. He did not need to look too much at his Compact to make a call. When it connected, silence was on the other end. "Hey, it's me." He rubbed his face. "Listen, I need you to carry out a favor under my dad's radar. You think you can handle that much? Or are you loyal to him?"
"You should know by now, Young Master, we only have loyalty to you," came cold confirmation.
Bleu sat up. "Good. Then, do everything as I say when I say it…"
°•°•°•°
The ship was nothing short of phenomenal, even if it was just a docking spaceship. Taking precautions in making sure it was still in great shape and camouflaged was a must as the crew fussed with it some more. Six crewmates were working on the ship and none looked like the other. One spoke only in sign language to another crewmate who translated to a man with green hair that covered his eyes. A massive man with a black mohawk looked on at the seventh crewmate who held a Compact to their ear.
"Don't worry, Master Bleu. We'll get it done." Feminine verification. She was a little thing with her white hair in a bun, but not a wrinkle was on her. An eyepatch covered her right eye, but no one made fun of her for it or even dared to. She swiveled back to face her crew and briskly walked. As she passed the massive man, he fell into step with her. "I want this ship prepared," she commanded. "We have another hunt by the Master and we're going to enjoy this one."
The man with hair over his eyes frowned. "The pay that good?"
"No, we're doing this for free," the white-haired female told all. "This one's personal."
°•°•°•°
Bleu sighed as he dropped his Compact onto his bed. "Better shower and get to bed, then," he supposed. He stretched out his arms as he got to his feet. "Tomorrow's going to be a long day." Rolling his shoulders, he ventured to his bathroom.
BZZZZZZZZ…
And his Compact rang.
BZZZZZZZZ…
He could not hear the vibrations as he turned on the water.
BZZZZZZZZ…
As his Compact lit up, the name of the contact scrolled across the screen…
BZZZZZZZZ…
…to reveal…
BZZZZZZZ—
The vibrations stopped. The call was gone.
⌜ COMPACT
GRANDMOTHER
Voicemail ⌟
Chibi-Nashi slides into the classroom with her hand raised and a beam on her face. "Good day, class! I'm filling in for my sister for today! Are you ready for your, Fairy Lesson!"
"Aye, sir!" the class says back.
Chibi-Nashi begins to write on the board. "Today, we'll talk about words you shouldn't call someone with magical powers," she enlightens. A couple of words are written on the board and she starts with the first one. "You all know the word 'Magi' pronounced with the gee sound is a horrible word to call anyone with magical powers, especially a Mage. But these are some of the lesser-known ones." She taps enough word.
HEDGE
"The word 'Hedge' is a derogatory word used mainly towards Magicians," Chibi-Nashi educates. "It implies that a Magician didn't learn Magic or was trained Magic, but they did, basically, DIY Magic. This means they went on the internet or did illegal deals or tried to piece together spells or even committed dangerously experimental Magic in order to learn spells and witchcraft. This sort of thing is frowned upon in the Magic Community and extremely in the Magician Community. When Magicians first emerged, it was hard for them to be recognized officially. Mages had—and some still do—looked down at them and thought they were merely stealing spells instead of investing in Magic which isn't true at all. While Magicians do learn Magic Spells, each Magician has a different aptitude and it takes years of studying with Magic Instruments to perfect Magicianry. Calling a Magician a 'Hedge' is a sign of disrespect towards their art."
Chibi-Nashi move on to the next word. "The word 'Quack" is a derogatory term towards Alkahests. It comes from the word 'quackery' which is synonymous with 'health fraud' or practitioners of health fraud. Alkahestry uses, what Fiorens call, the qi of the land as well as the qi of the person in order to heal wounds. Their medical powers heal the wounds spiritually to reflect physically and takes years to a decade of apprenticeship to master completely and calling an experienced Alkahest a 'quack' is downright insulting."
Chibi-Nashi goes to the last term that says MUTANT. "Last word we'll discuss is the word 'mutant'," she says. "In our world, we have people we call 'Aberrants'. They essentially have rebounded Magic inside them that changed them physically, but it didn't give them Magic. Like if someone has a tail or a pair of wings or even gills. Now, some Mages can get tails and wings and gills from their Magic, but again, Aberrants can't use Magic. They use their physical abilities as just physical abilities. Mutant is a derogatory term for an Aberrant, but where the word came from is uncertain."
A student raises their hand. "Teacher! Isn't there a comic series out there with that word?"
"There is," Chibi-Nashi confirms. "It was made by a few talented Aberrants to take back the word, but it hasn't circulated properly yet, so please be careful using that word." She begins to erase the word as the bell rings. "All right! That's all the time we have for our lesson today! Next time, on Fairy Adventure: DUEL!"
A grin. "Oh, c'mon, Blondie…"
Chibi-Luna squeaks when Chibi-Gary blocks the doorway. "G-Gary! What are you doing here?"
"Teach," Chibi-Gary drawls, "I think you forgot the words you don't want me to call you."
Chibi-Nashi's eyes widen. "Wait! No!" She rushes to the camera and, subsequently, Gary. "Gary, don't—!"
WE'RE SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE
THIS PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE SHORTLY
THANK YOU
Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance
Ice Devil - Griffin Burns
Nashi Dragneel - Laura Landa
Seraphim - Jameison Price
Gale Redfox - Greg Cipes
Unknown Girl - Julie Ann Taylor
Mirella - Edie Mirman
Bael - Paul St. Peter
Aine Fernandez - Carrie Keranen
Lance Dreyar - Johnny Young Bosch
Mystery Girl - Serena Varghese
Luna Dragneel - Bryn Apprill
Bleu - Xander Mobus
Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel - Cheramie Leigh
Natsu Dragneel - Todd Haberkorn
Icarus - Christopher Sabat
Mary Jane Dreyar - Erica Lindbeck
Igneel Dragneel - Bryce Papenbrook
Red-eyed Mary Jane - Erica Lindbeck
Blue-eyed Mary Jane - Erica Lindbeck
Pazuzu - Patrick Seitz
Lynn - Grey Delisle
Yuki (Girl) - Brittney Karbowski
Yuki (Woman) - Wendy Lee
Loke - Eric Vale
Luke Dragneel - Alan Lee
The General - Chris Tergliafera
Mystery Man - Stephen Fu
Julia Fullbuster - Michelle Ruff
Muta the Exceed - Jason Douglas
Aleda - Kari Wahlgren
Luther - James Garrett