Fairy x Adventure

by Magnafeana

In a new era after the Alvarez War, Lucy, Natsu, and the rest of Fairy Tail not only face new challenges but watch as their kids go on new journeys, learn new powers, and battle new enemies and old! Join Luna, Nashi, and the upcoming generation of Mages on Fairy Tail and more on their never-ending adventure!

51. Adventure 051

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

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

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Last time, on Fairy Adventure, Dazzler didn't get the wake-up call she wished for and instead got Cade, Galileo, Orochi and…another Magician? Looks like this John Winters and Dazzler go way back too, at least enough for Dazzler to agree to team up with him. Seraphim helped Nashi find her Etherious persona, but it won't be the last time we see this newly awakened side of her. Mirella has finally gotten Lynn in her grasps, but her daughter steps in to protect Lynn! What a surprise too! Mirella finally reveals the goddess powers she inherited from her mother Hemera to finish Lynn off once and for all, but it is her daughter who protects Mirella. And her name is Talia. Gary is dragged into the tundra to dream about… Whoa, is that child Gary? Who would have thought he disliked the very woman he grew to love? Kyler raged against the storm, but even his cold-bloodedness is no match against it. His mother—an Angel herself—visits her son to gift him the Staff of Miracles and to warn him off from saving Nashi. But then…who will save her? Luna finally wakes up from her never-ending nightmares to a wonderful morning and only thoughts of one boy. And, regrettably, not Gale. Her talk with Loke leaves both of them in their thoughts with Loke wondering what Luna could have seen in her vision and with Luna wondering how to fool her uncle so she can go out with Bleu. Gale and Julia spent some time catching up, but their time is interrupted by Olivia's request to spend some time with her little brother. Aw, it's so nice to see brothers and sisters bond! Luna and Ena begin the prep work for Luna's pre-date, but it gets bitter when Mystogan storms in, looking for his sister. Doesn't he realize Ena's his sister too? Speaking of sisters, isn't Julia a great one for setting up Silver's bubble bath? Silver's bath takes a turn when the water starts acting strangely…or is it him acting strangely? Aine's dreams lead her to the past…a past where hope was being abandoned. Nashi ends up sharing memories with Gary in his younger days, but these aren't just memories. These are memories from the time his Devil awakened and he was captured. Meanwhile, Dazzler and John make their way to Gary and company's campsite only for Laxus to unsuspectingly join them. Peter accidentally meets Mira, but all's well since he and Mary Jane get approval to go out together. It's just too bad Igneel couldn't stay to wish her good luck. Looks like Misses Takanashi got to him first. Lucy got shown a vision from Faven in the Spirit World, but the future looks bleak for Nashi and her time is soon coming to an end. Well, not if Natsu can help it. Aine's memories of the past where hope might have been frail catch up with the present to meet—

"You may call me…Hemera."

Is that Mirella's mother?! Who are those people following John, Dazzler, and Laxus? And Bleu… What is your real name?

---

New Azalea City was covered in buildings and skyscrapers and everything in-between. Lacrima Cars and Buses and motorcycles flooded the streets. The occasional horse and sleigh could be seen walking down the streets too to get people in the festive spirit. Buildings were covered in lights and Christmas signs. Green and red and white and gold were everywhere in the city. Songs of Christmas and the spirit of the season drifted over the bustling city and over the noise of talking and walking and engines roaring and horses neighing. An Idarian café was serving freshly brewed peppermint coffee. Hot chocolate and fresh snow made a blend that sucked in anyone who was not used to the intoxicating scent. In the theater district, hidden in the arts district, a performance of a love story between a nutcracker and a niece was constructed beautifully. The largest toy store in all of Fiore was born and raised in New Azalea City. It was called Edward's Emporium, a magical shop run by a Mage running well-past a century. Kids, non-magical and magical, burst into the store with beams on their faces and happiness in their eyes. Sox Fourth Avenue was filled per usual with rich clientele, but with the number of festive sales, anyone strutted down the shopping district with bags on arms and a list in hand. The center of New Azalea City was the Central Greens, a large nature reserve for the critters of the city.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« New Azalea City is a port city which is made of five districts, each with their own personality. The five districts are Brooks County, the arts and culture district; Kings, the market district; Richmond Island, the shopping district; Grand Bronck, the education district; and Mid-Manna, the mainland of New Azalea City. New Azalea City is the most popular city in the Kingdom of Fiore and known for its extravagant holiday celebrations, especially during Christmastime and New Year's Eve. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The alleyway was filled with dark puddles and forgotten posters. A nearby Phantom Cat was chasing a rat when a ring of fire burst onto the ground and chased both creatures away. The flames rose up, eating the air before they dissipated and left three humans in their ashy wake. Laxus was holding his mouth, green, while John was patting down a flame on his coat, and Dazzler stepped on a dying ember.

John shot Dazzler an amused grin. "Gone barmy, D, trying to torch us all?"

"You try not teleporting for months and see if it gets you a different result," Dazzler retorted. Seeing Laxus, she fretted, "Uncle Laxus, are you okay? Do you need anti-nausea potion?" She twirled her top hat into her hands and reached in, concentrating. "I should have some somewhere in here…"

"N-No…" Laxus swallowed and panted. "No, I'm fine. Dammit. I am never doing that again."

John chuckled. "So what they say is true. Dragon Slayers have motion sickness. Never thought that extended to teleportin'. You look like you're bound to fall arse-over-tit there, mate." He shook his head. "What exactly can you handle?"

Laxus fired a growl with static in his eyes when Dazzler stepped between them. "John, belt up. Uncle Laxus, get it together. We're on a mission here and I don't need random thunderstorms going off." She was about to round the corner when she paused. Looking over her shoulder, she saw both men looking at her in surprise. An eye roll. "Well, come on, people. Time's ticking and I'm not sure how time works in the other dimension." She walked off and down the street as both men rushed to catch up with her.

John looked around and cringed at the sight of the glowing billboards. "Didn't take ya as a city broad."

"I'm not," Dazzler told, clipped, "but my dealer is."

Laxus eyed the line at a club in distaste. "Thought Magic Dealers weren't a thing anymore?"

"On the outside, yes," Dazzler agreed. "Magic Dealers got such a bad reputation since the whole Rhodonite thing, but anyone with Magic can tell the real deal from the fake stuff. My dealer is the real deal. Pretty low-key and highly paranoid, but it's justified. He knew my dad from their days in college, so he's pretty much known me my whole life. I just…" Her steps faltered. "I just never took up the time to build those connections my dad had." Clearing her head, she kept her strut.

They walked for a few more minutes before Dazzler stopped before a—

"Why the Hell are we at a convenience store?" Laxus grunted.

Dazzler grinned. "Because my dealer is here." She walked and the doors slid open.

John shrugged and followed. Laxus narrowed his eyes, but he lumbered at the two of them. As Dazzler approached the waiting doors, her grin broadened as her eyes glowed. Without fail, she disappeared and Laxus and John vanished with her the moment they crossed the threshold. Their next stop was not inside the convenience store but a different sore altogether, a combination of circus and dungeon. Dazzler looked around. Ancient armor throughout the ages was in their cases, respective swords at their sides. Shelves were decked in jars with organic ingredients and potion flasks and scrolls. Farm cauldrons were on display and on sale for a discounted price. In the middle of it was a holographic orb levitating atop a pedestal. It had several rings making different orbits, but the orb itself did not look like it mapped the world. It looked like it mapped magical spots.

John chuckled to himself with a green Laxus beside him. "There, there, mate," he consoled teasingly.

Dazzler walked on ahead when an Alicanto perched on her shoulder, ruffling their wings for attention. Dazzler allowed a smile as she scratched the bird's head with a finger. "Hi, Hex," she cooed. "Silly birdie."

The Alicanto closed its eyes in bliss.

A warm smile. "Don't give Hex too much attention."

Dazzler looked up and her eyes softened. "Hi, Giovanni," she murmured. "It's been a while."

Hex cawed and abandoned Dazzler. A perched hand was waiting for her and she landed with grace. That arm belonged to a man in casual khakis and a nice plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled back to his arms. Salt-and-pepper hair suited him and his eyes were kind. "How ya doin', kid?" he murmured like he was greeting an old friend.

John had a look of astonishment. "Well…" He crossed his arms with one of those son-of-a-bitch grins. "Just blow me. Never thought I'd see you again."

Giovanni chuckled. "Jonathon Winters, good to see you." He let Hex fly off. "Last time we crossed paths, you were still a teenager. Looks like you've gotten a reputation."

"And yours seems to have vanished off the face of the realm," John pointed out. "What gives, Doctor F—?"

"None of that," Giovanni said as he climbed down the steps, his cane his support. "I don't go by doctor or professor anymore. Giovanni is the only name anyone needs to know." He met Laxus' hard stare. "Ah. And you brought with Lightning Dragon God with you. How peculiar. Mages never visit shops like these." He lifted a dark brow. "Most think it's above them."

Laxus crossed his arms. "That might be true, old-timer. Most of them are too arrogant to see beyond their powers. Impressive, yes, but they aren't invested in Magic, only about their own strength. A true Mage would know Magicianry was where our origins started." He eyed the shop. "Have to say… You have an impressive spread here. Isn't it a little dangerous to have this in a big city?"

"Actually, it's not," Giovanni countered politely. He went to fix a book on a shelf. "Big cities often have larger magical auras which make it easy for Wizards of all types to hide here. Best place for a shop like mine. In your realm, anyways." He glanced back at the curtains. "Sindella! We have guests!"

"We're not here for a friendly visit, Giovanni," Dazzler rushed to say.

"I know." Giovanni looked at her as though he was certain of whatever she would say. "But Sindella has missed you. At least grant her that before you go."

Dazzler sighed. "Of course."

The curtains fluttered for a bustling woman to come in with dark skin and a bandage wrapped around her eyes. She was beaming as she swept down the steps. "Dazzler! So good to see you!"

Dazzler was surprised at how tight the embrace was, but she hugged her back. "Hi, Sindella," she greeted. "I've missed you and your cooking."

Sindella pulled back with a huge grin. "This is why I tell you to come visit me more often, missy. Gio's not as appreciative as you are with my cooking."

Giovanni chuckled and gave those what-are-you-doing-to-do sort of shrugs. "I critique and she can't handle it," he told Dazzler with a wink.

Sindella's shielded gaze went to John and Laxus. "There's the troublemaking bad boy of a student," she teased. "Jonathon, is that really you? I thought you left this realm after the funeral?"

John looked a bit embarrassed as Sindella came up to him. "Yeah, well, had to come back for business," he explained. "It's, ah…good to see ya, Misses F."

Sindella laughed aloud. "It's 'Misses F' now? Whatever happened to 'Sindy'?" She pulled at John's cheek. "You naughty boy, poppin' off like that without a note. Leaving my Dazzler all alone. What were you thinking?"

"Easy on the merchandise, Sindy," John complained, pulling away his cheek. "Not like I had much choice in leavin'. Besides"—his gaze flicked up to Dazzler's—"she did quite splendid without me."

Sindella made a moue. "Honestly. Kids these days," she tched. She turned her sights on Laxus. "And a powerful Mage? This is unusual." She frowned. "Hmm. A skeptic. Typical."

Laxus' eyebrow twitched. "It's nice to meet you, ma'am."

A tick mark. "'Ma'am'?"

Giovanni held back Sindella before she could launch herself at Laxus, curses falling off her lips. "Who are you calling, 'ma'am'? Do I look old to you? How dare you call me that! I'm still young! Giovanni, let me go this instant!"

A sweatdrop fell from Laxus' brow. "The Hell did I say wrong?"

"Sindella doesn't like being called 'ma'am'," Giovanni informed. "She thinks it's what you call older women to put it lightly." To his wife, he spoke soft words that got her to stop thrashing. "Now." He looked at everyone else. "How about we sit down?"

°•°•°•°

The table looked prepped for a séance, but it had tea and snacks instead of a crystal orb. Hex looked happy with her meshed fruits and veggies and the occasional love her owners gave her. Laxus felt a bit of sweat whenever Sindella glanced at him as he sipped his tea.

Dazzler had not touched her food as she dove into her explanation. "We're looking for a Locator Spell."

Giovanni paused when bringing up his teacup. "I'm sure your Magic is strong enough for a spell as simple as that."

"Not when the person we're tryin' ta track is in a different dimension," John broke casually. "Let's skip the waffle, shall we? I'm on a job to figure out how and why a dimensional rift is where it shouldn't be. We found the rift, but it was made with some Curse Power and Dark Magic."

"And we think one of my friends was pulled into the rift," Dazzler added. "Actually, more than just one of my friends. Four of them. I need to find them."

Giovanni and Sindella exchanged looks. "I see," Giovanni murmured. "That's why you wanted the ingredients. Locator Spells for realm tracking can be complex and strenuous."

"I'm ready to take my chances," Dazzler said, voice firm.

"Hold on just a second," Laxus growled. "Someone explain to me the nature of this spell."

Sindella looked in the distance before getting up and out of the room. Giovanni set down his teacup. "A Locator Spell," he began, "is a spell to guide you to the location of any person or any place or anything. However, organic life is more difficult. Locator Spells require something of that life to find that life. And locating life from beyond the current realm is even more difficult. It requires steel concentration and immense power." He looked at Dazzler. "My dear… It won't be easy on you. Your Magic is great, but it isn't enough for a spell of that magnitude."

Dazzler pressed her lips together.

John glanced at Dazzler before raising a hand. "Count me in too." He caught the surprised in Dazzler's eyes and grinned. "What? Two Magicians are better than one. Besides, you findin' ya friends means I can get to the bottom of this assignment. Our goals align."

Dazzler sneered at him. "Once again, Winters does whatever he wants as long as it benefits him."

"H-Hey!" came whimper. "Let go of me! Help!"

Sindella came back in with her hands pinching the ear of—

Laxus and Dazzler shot up. "Ghost?!"

Ghost had comical tears in his eyes as Sindella dragged him along. "Ow, ow, ow…! Make her stop!" he pleaded. "She's not supposed to see me!"

Sindella seemed to glare at him from behind her bandage. "Well, she sees you just fine, you phantom." She let him go with a huff. "What's something undead like you sneaking around in my shop?"

Ghost rubbed his ear, floating behind Dazzler as though to hide. "I-I-I was just told to find Dazzler, ma'am!"

A tick mark. "'Ma'am'?!"

Giovanni laid a hand on Sindella's shoulder before she could go off. "Do we have a ghost in the house?"

"He's a friend," Laxus assured, though he glared at Ghost. "A friend a long way from home."

Dazzler rounded on Ghost. "What are you doing here?" she snapped. "Shouldn't you be in Magnolia, far, far away from here?"

"Y-Yes!" Ghost quickly shook his head. "I mean no! Look, Mister Dragneel sent me here—!"

"Natsu did?" Laxus fisted his hands and growled to himself. "That damned idiot. What was he thinking?"

John groaned. "As much as this conversation feels one-sided, let's not have that anymore, eh?" He lit his lighter and made a star with it. Pocketing the lighter, he took control of the flaming star to form a Magician Circle. "Point me in his direction, love."

"W-Wait!" Ghost comically cried when Dazzler did so with ease. "What's he gonna do to me?"

John's eyes glowed with Magic. "Ne id est sāwol mea in oculis domini galdorcræft," he chanted before pushing his Magician Circle towards Ghost.

Ghost flinched when the Magician Circle hit him, but it took him a few seconds to realize he was in no danger. He looked down at himself, but nothing had changed. He patted himself down. "Nothing happened?"

"Not quite." John stood up and shoved his hands in his coat pocket. "All right there?"

"What?" Ghost's eyes widened. "You can see me? B-B-But—!"

"John, stop showing off," Dazzler huffed, crossing her arms. "It's so annoying."

John shrugged. "Didn't think ya wanted to be a broker for the wee little will-o-wisp," he told her. "'Sides, looks like ya mate knows his onions. Think I should hear him too."

"Yes." Sindella crossed her arms. "I'd like to know exactly why a ghost was hanging around my shop. Ghosts are never a good omen." Her hand went to the bandage around her eyes. "Should I—?"

"Sindella."

Sindella paused.

Giovanni looked at Ghost with a welcoming smile. "My dear friend of only a soul, welcome to our humble shop. We're happy you could find your way. But a bit of explanation may be beneficial."

Ghost swallowed and nodded. "Um, yeah, okay." He floated to properly bow the Minstrish way, right arm curled across his abdomen. "Firstly, please to make your acquaintance. Call me 'Ghost'. Pardon me for my rudeness, but I don't seem to remember my name." He went back to floating. "Sorry for startling everyone. Mister Natsu Dragneel of Fairy Tail sent me to find Nashi. But when I was told Nashi was with Gary, Lance, and Aine, I got out of Master they were supposed to be in Erika Town."

"Yeah, they were," Laxus agreed, "but looks like that ain't the case."

Ghost nodded. "Right. Well, I spoke to one of the souls in the area. They told me Dazzler and Laxus went off with some guy. There were still traces of the Magic you used, so I used my own Magic to follow you here."

"But that doesn't explain why."

Sindella approached Ghost with a frown. "You said Natsu Dragneel sent you to find his daughter, but why did he?"

Ghost played with his fingers. "From what he told me, he just wanted me to check on her. Oh!" He remembered now. "He did say one thing I thought was weird! He was talking to Mister Fullbuster about 'that day' some decades ago and said 'she' was right."

Laxus stiffened.

"Honestly?" Ghost shrugged, raising his hands. "I'm not sure what that meant."

Laxus' jaw went taut. Great. This is the last thing I expected for her to be right on.

Giovanni's eyes slid to Laxus, but he did not comment on his behavior. "Well, then. I think it's in the interest of everyone if we get this Locator Spell up and running. We'll need some time to prep. Jonathon, Dazzler, why don't you come with me? This will require a set of Magicians' hands. The rest of you will be in Sindella's care." With a gesture, Dazzler and John left the room after him while Sindella glared at Ghost.

Ghost swallowed under her glare. "S-S-So—"

"A spirit who doesn't know their name or how they died."

Ghost flinched under the weight of her words.

Sindella lifted her chin. "You sound like a Reaper to me."

Ghost blinked as Sindella walked over to him. "A…'Reaper'?" He flinched when her hands came for him, but he was surprised yet again when she was able to press her fingers along his temples. "What…?"

"You poor spirit," Sindella murmured. "A Reaper is a soul converted into a living spirit with no memories of their past life or their death. They're created by the gods who take pity on them in their lives or to punish them for committing the ultimate sin. If I were to look at you, I would see your past life and your death." She pulled away, shaking her head. "But the cost is too high of a price."

Laxus narrowed her eyes on her. "What exactly are you?" he finally asked. "I can't feel Magic Power and from my nose, you don't smell any more than a mere human, a Spiritless."

Sindella smiled. "On your realm, you're right. I'm considered an Artless, a Spiritless, No-maj—whatever you want to call it. I have powers, but nothing the logic on this realm understands." She pointed at her bandaged eyes. "I hold most of my power in my eyes. But with how potent it is, I keep my eyes covered. A human would never be able to survive the strain."

"What are you saying?" Ghost questioned. "Are you saying you're not human?"

Sindella chuckled. "No, I am not," she confirmed. "Now, let's talk about you two." She went back to her seat. "You boys might as well get comfortable. Completing a spell that jumps across realms takes some time." She poured herself a cup of tea. "Shall we get started?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ah utsukushii sekai

Utsukushii mirai

Utsukushii kehai no suru sono saki wa

Subarashii sedai

Subarashii kitai

Subarashii sekai

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Aine tilted her head. "Hemera?" Before she could ask more, her head pulsed and nausea rolled in her stomach.

Hemera came forth in her chains for her hands to go on either side of Aine's head. Soft glows of light blossomed from her palms. "Easy," she soothed. "Regaining your memories is strenuous. I am surprised you managed to wake so quickly."

Relief and peace flooded through Aine and she felt lighter. As Hemera pulled away, Aine said, "Thank you, but I'm not sure what you mean. I'm not sure why you would even help us. We're strangers."

Hemera nodded and granted her that. "Strangers, yes, but not evil. I helped you because you needed help. If I hadn't, your partner would have most certainly been consumed in grief. That grief would've spurred the evil inside him and he would have become gray."

"'Gray'?"

Hemera nodded. "A shaded white. A tinted black. Either way, he would have become tainted." She shook her head. "I could not allow such a good soul to become tainted and I could not allow you to be the accidental cause."

Aine understood the severity and nodded. "Well, you have my thanks," she appreciated. "So, uh…" Eyes glanced around to gather more information, but there was nothing to gather. They were within a decrepit temple with dirty pillars, puddles on the floor, but nothing eye-catching. "Where exactly are we? Or the better question is… Why are you being held prisoner here?"

A self-deprecating smile caught onto Hemera's face. "To put it lightly, I'm not a prisoner."

Aine's eyebrows shot up. "You're not…"

"That's what I want to say," Hemera supposed. "You see, long ago, I took my life so the Demon Bael could not take it from me. From what I was told, I was the longest conquest and most valuable possession he believed he owned."

"A…'possession'? A 'conquest'?" Aine shook her head. "How could he do that to you? How could you—?"

"How could I kill myself?" Gold swam with sad memories. "Once you've experienced the torment I had endured, death is a better option. He used a fertility goddess to ensure the next time he forcefully took me, it would guarantee a child."

Horror scarred dark chocolate. She was… She was raped?

"When my daughter was born, he allowed me to nurse her and love her," Hemera explained. Despair veiled her words. "At the time, it did not feel like I was a prisoner, but I was always on edge. And I was right to be on edge. Bael would soon try his hand at manipulating me and would do any means to do so. The amount of pain I felt made me selfish. I contemplated death. But what solidified my death was seeing my own daughter trigger the Curse within her and kill another life…for sport." Emptiness was in her words now. No emotion. Nothing. "I took my life. I committed one of the ultimate sins."

Aine opened her mouth to add something, but she was stopped.

"Or so I'd like to say…" Hemera closed her eyes. "I say I'm not a prisoner because I'm not Hemera. Not fully. Hemera was a graceful demigod with an unimaginable will. She died that night without fail."

Aine's eyes narrowed as she slowly moved to defend Lance. "Then what are you?" she demanded to know.

"I am the after-image of Hemera."

Aine's eyes widened.

"Hemera was a demigod, but the god in her controlled light, starlight to be more specific," Hemera explained. "The light stars project can take millions to billions of years until you on your planet see their true result. Some stars that have died are still seen in the skies. I am the light you still see after the star has died, an after-image of something so great and powerful." She looked at her chains. "I was only brought into existence through the Demon's want. He knew Hemera would never physically live, but he would settle for her after-image. These chains keep me from fading from existence."

Aine got up and steadied herself. "Well, I'll save you," she decided. "Those chains don't look that tough. I can—"

"You can't."

Aine shook her head. "Look, I know I don't look strong—"

"You don't understand." Torn gold clashed with stubborn dark chocolate. "You can't," she stressed. "You see… When Bael brought me into existence, it wasn't because he willed it. He struck a deal with a condition."

"A 'condition'?" Aine repeated.

Hemera nodded. "Yes. The deal permitted my existence, but I would never be considered organic life meaning I could never reproduce. My function had to be elsewhere. It drove Bael mad at first. He wanted Hemera back to claim her, possess her, and gain more heirs. The condition was my purpose had to be elsewhere in order for me to exist. He looked into my eyes and told me, 'I wonder how my little girl is doing'."

"Wait." Aine moved back. Everything was making sense. "So when you said, 'I can't'…?"

"I wouldn't serve as Hemera's replacement," Hemera continued. "I would serve bait, as a means to a downfall. If I cease to exist, all life in the meadow will return back to their original bodies. I can't help those gone and the ones being drained means memories and powers may be erased or be obliterated to leave only their personality left. But in order for me to cease to exist"—CLINK—"only Hemera's daughter can kill me and break my chains."

Hands clenched into fists. He would be so cruel to make his own daughter kill her mother? Aine closed her eyes. "I see. Tell me, Hemera. Who exactly is your daughter? The one of both demigod and Demon blood?"

"Hemera's daughter?" Hemera turned away from her and back to her potions. "To Bael, Hemera called her 'Mirella', so he thought he knew her name to have power. But when it was just her and Hemera, she would call her Talia."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 51

Moving Mountains

生と死が彼らの手を選ぶ! 苦痛や苦しみは山々へと続く

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

WHOOSH...

Flying was not Mirella's forte. She was a little rusty, but she considered herself still at least intermediate with her wings, if not still an expert. She soared over the meadows with her eyes constantly scanning below. How far does this field go? How many Shades has that bastard collected?

A small whimper.

Mirella glanced down to see Talia still in her arms. The young girl had been quiet until now. Flying is my only option that won't jostle her too much. I need to get her as far as possible…but Shadow Travel might not be an option without a destination. A memory hit her.

"Kyler's shop leads to the outside world. We need to get back and hurry."

Mirella gritted her teeth. I've been wanting to get away from him…but it looks like I have no choice anymore. Her wings flapped even harder.

"Your room is still intact. I…couldn't get rid of it."

"He really didn't take anything down."

If his place really hasn't changed, then…—Mirella closed her eyes for white steam to come off her; when she reopened her eyes, her sclera were swallowed in black and white took control of her irises—I should be able to portal jump into the house. She opened her mouth and a soundless wave came out of white rings refracting light. Those waves turned into a portal teeming with a soft rainbow.

I can only hope this works.

Mirella used one more flap to propel herself into the portal as her wings disappeared. Tucking Talia under her chin, her eyes shut as she passed through the portal. The moment she was through, she opened her eyes and felt softness bounce around her. Her hands refused to release Talia, but her eyes were permitted to wander.

They widened.

No…she whispered. This isn't possible…

DRIP.

One tear came.

DROP.

Then more.

The room was hand made from top to bottom without fail. The work was intricately detailed and the artist knew what their employer wanted. Even the cloth was freshly made off a loom and maintained its youth. Everything was pristine as it had been before, but it looked more like a museum, a shrine. Nothing had been touched or used. Everything was there and cleaned, but the scent of their owners had faded away.

Is this…? Mirella sat up and let Talia rest on the bed. No… No, this should've been left on Sylvgard. Unless he…

A small sigh.

Mirella abandoned her thought to tend to her daughter. Talia was in no trouble. In fact, the young girl turned onto her side with a peaceful look on her face. Mirella breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. She's still sleeping. It'll take a while for her body to recover from the psychological stress of a ripped and broken binding." She got off the bed. "Once we escape this shit show, we'll need supplies. I don't have enough energy to dimension jump and I have no currency to get us by." She began to look around the room, opening and closing drawers.

Come on. He used to have currency from every realm imaginable for emergencies. Mirella knelt to Kyler's side of the bed and to his bedside table. She pulled it out and her eyes narrowed seeing the Bible. "Ugh. Could you be any more cliché, you stupid cupid?" She tossed aside the Bible and was ready to slam the door when—

RATTLE.

Gold caught a flash of silver.

Mirella slowly turned her head to the glint. She swallowed as her hand dipped into the drawer. Up to her face, she held up a silver ring. Gold rounded as silver glinted in the reflection. But how—?

"I couldn't"—STEP…STEP…—"throw it away. Even after all these years."

Fingers curled around the silver band as they shook. "Why?" came soft whisper. "I left you. I told you I cheated on you. Talia might not even be yours and you—!"

"So her name is Talia."

Mirella whirled around to look up at Kyler. Turquoise stared lovingly onto the little girl. "A beautiful name," Kyler murmured. "I remember the story of Talia. A fearsome assassin, daughter of a Demon, who learned value in friends and family. Did you name her from the story?"

Mirella swallowed. Why did her throat suddenly feel dry? Where was that fire she kept inside her? "I don't know," she murmured. "I… The name always was in my head. Seeing her… It just fit."

"Honest."

Mirella blinked as Kyler swept his gaze to her. He said, "That's the first honest answer you've given me since you've come back."

Mirella looked away from him. His stare was too wholesome, too pure… She did not deserve that. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it," she grunted. She got up to watch Talia and shift her hair away from her face. "We won't be staying long. I just need to get her a bath and a change of clothes and we'll be leaving."

"I see."

Mirella paused. "That's it? Not going to stop us?"

She turned to see Kyler shaking his head. "Mirella, I'm not your father. You are not my prisoner. I am not your owner. Do what you want to do." He headed to his bathroom. "I'll draw her up a bath and get you some food for your journey."

"Wait."

Kyler stopped. "Mirella, I can't tell you what to do." Words spoken with quiet care. "You have to make your own choices. And the choices you make aren't with me in the picture. I understand that. But I have a duty to these people, to protect them and kill the Demon. I have a duty to Nashi and her friends. I have a duty to Muta. And I will not fail them." He turned his head so steely turquoise met taken back gold. "Get out of here before it gets ugly. Be safe wherever you go, Mirella." He went into the bathroom.

Mirella lowered her head. "Dammit," she whispered. Why…? Why does he have to do this to me? Is he trying to guilt-trip me? I have a daughter to protect. I can't keep playing 'hero'. I got what I wanted. So why didn't I just run away? Why the Hell am I here?

Gold drifted over to Talia, but she saw a flash of a man and the resemblance annoyingly uncanny. Mirella shut her eyes. No. This is better this way. After all the lives I've taken… The amount of sin I've amassed… He deserves better than this… Better than me…

"Da…"

Gold widened.

Talia curled in on herself, shivering. "Da…ddy…"

Gold welled up with tears. What am I doing?

Kyler poked his head out of the bathroom. "I know your nose can be sensitive to lavender, so I have a couple of—Uh!" He stumbled back and hit the floor when Mirella tackled him in a hug. He hugged her back, but the confusion was evident on his face. "Mirella, are you okay?" He noticed her shaking. "Mirella?"

"Don't call me that."

Kyler raised his eyebrows at the quietness of Mirella's insistence. "Okay…? What should I call you, then?"

Mirella buried her face in his chest. "Please, Kyler," she begged.

He knew. He knew what she meant and it made him relax. A hand rose to stroke her hair as a smile laden in wistful sadness wove onto his face. "Whatever you want, Arezodi."

A loud cry. Kyler did not mind as the wailing and tears went to his tunic and her hands clung to him. He closed his eyes as he held her and let her sniffle and sob. He would let her stay like that for however long she wanted and he would not say anything. He was just there, letting her go through the motions. That was all she needed.

"I k-k-killed"—SNIFFLE!—"so ma-ma-ma-n-n-ny peop—!" SOB! "I-I-I-I'm a mon"—SNIFFLE!—"ster!"

"You're no monster," Kyler calmed. "Arezodi, I know you have killed. You have lied, you have caused pain, and you've shed blood… But you have also suffered greatly at evil hands. You've sinned, but that doesn't make you a monster."

Mirella shook her head. "It does," she hiccuped. "H-How can you"—HIC—"say that?"

"You sent a prayer to the lives you've killed," Kyler said knowingly. "You've guided their souls to their proper places. You've killed, but you've shown empathy and remorse."

Mirella sniffed. "That makes me a sociopath," she blubbered. She lifted her head for watery gold to meet affectionate turquoise. "How can you still love me after this?" she whispered. "I was such a bitch to you. I left you. And I—!" The sob bubbled out. "I didn't even tell you when I left that I was—!"

"Arezodi." Kyler stopped her as he rubbed away her tears. "None of that."

"No, Kyler, please, you need to know she's—!"

"Mine or not," Kyler cut in, "I love her. She's your daughter and I love you. Any child part of you is one I will love unconditionally." He dipped down to kiss her forehead. "Come now. Give Talia a bath. I'll get everything ready for your departure."

Mirella shook her head. "No," she croaked. "I'm not going anywhere."

Kyler sighed. "Arezodi…"

"No, Kyler, this isn't just your fight." Her voice grew strong as she wiped away the last of her tears. "It's mine too. Bael, Lynn—they're my problem too. They need to be stopped here and now. The Devil and the princess—they need to be saved. All these people here need to be saved. And I hate to break it to you, Enoch, but you're gonna need some demigod powers to help you out," she added with a weak smile.

Kyler was not convinced. "Are you sure you can do this?"

Mirella looked off to the side. "I have to do this." No certainty, no uncertainty. A statement; a fact. "It's not a matter of heroics, Kyler. We have to do this. We can't fail. We're the last line of defense for these people." She looked up at him. "We've fought side by side for centuries."

"We've had a lot of victories," Kyler added, "and a lot of losses."

"We've lost friends," Mirella put in.

"And we've lost family."

Trying to swallow the inadvertent sting of that comment, Mirella confessed, "I'm a little rusty at having someone to rely on in a fight."

Kyler kissed her temple. "I'll help you remember." He pulled back for a frown to overtake him. "There's something you should know." When Mirella prompted him with a nod, he continued: "I saw my mother."

"What?" Mirella got up at that. "But how…? Isn't she—?"

Kyler shook his head as he got to his feet. "No, she's still alive. She's just back where she came from. She came to give me a gift and a warning. The gift was the Staff of Miracles. Whatever power it has, it can be used in the fight against the Demon."

Mirella slowly nodded. "But what was the warning?"

"We are not to interfere with Nashi or her life's plan."

Gold widened, taken back. "What the Hell? Why?" she demanded to know. "Kyler, she's in danger! We can't just not—!"

"Mirella—"

"No!" Mirella barked. "Kyler, she's just a child! She's the princess!"

"I know," Kyler cut in like melted butter. "I know, Mirella. But as I said, we cannot interfere."

"But—!" Mirella finally understood and relaxed. "Okay. Then, we won't. Either way, we need to worry about the Devil and Bael. If Bael takes control of the Devil, there's no hope of him returning. We also need to go to Asphodel." She poked her head out of the bathroom to soften her stare on her daughter. "I got the feeling she wasn't just there to protect Lynn. All of those Shades have to be protected by someone. I think Talia was there as a defensive measure." Her eyes narrowed. "Knowing how twisted Bael is, he must've expected I'd come to Asphodel. Lynn planted Talia there and knew I couldn't hurt my own little one."

"Something doesn't add up."

Mirella looked back to see Kyler passing her. "What?"

Kyler's eyes were thoughtful. "Not that I don't disagree with you, but you told me Lynn was nothing to Bael, right? He most likely knew you would kill Lynn without hesitation and take your daughter back. But if that's the case and Talia's gone, why are those essences still there? I think you're right that Talia was a defensive measure, but for what?"

Mirella crossed her arms. "Bael likes games and making them challenging. Anyone would think he's the only thing rooting those Shades to the meadow, but he's just a decoy. Something else is keeping them there." Her jaw clenched. "And I have that odd feeling I'm going to have to be the one to face it. Like a final test to see if I have what it takes to be just like him."

Kyler turned to her. "You don't—"

"Kyler." Gold clashed with turquoise. "I do." She pushed herself into walking towards the bed. "But first thing's first… I need to make sure Talia is safe."

"She'll be safe here," Kyler assured. "Not even Bael can break the seal of an Angel and a Demigod, no matter how old he is."

Mirella sat on the edge of the bed to watch Talia. "She won't know much when she takes up," she murmured. "She herself broke the chain Lynn had on her. Killing Lynn will solidify that. I… I don't even know if she'll recognize me."

Kyler sat beside her and brought her into his hold. "If she doesn't, we'll give her new memories to cherish. We have a long time to spend with her and raise her to be who she wants to be. We can even go back to Sylvgard, if you'd like. Raise Talia there as a…"

Mirella let her hand rest on his. "As a family," she finished for him. "I…like the sound of that. 'Family'… It's not a concept I've gotten used to over the years." Her smile dropped. "There's no excuse for what I did—"

"Maybe, maybe not," Kyler cut in. "But we'll work on repenting for our sins and raising Talia together, Arezodi. You have my word." He let her go to get up. "Come. I still have both of our battle armor. I've had a very kind smith who has taken care of them over the years. I think you'll even like the upgrades."

Mirella grinned. "'Battle armor'? Is that what the kids are wearing now?" She dipped down to kiss Talia on the cheek. "I love you, little one," she murmured. "Mommy and Daddy will be home soon for you, okay? Please wait for us." She shifted off the bed to follow Kyler. "I better have my wing armor still," she called. "And it better be clean!"

"Nothing but the best, Arezodi!"

As the door closed, Talia sighed and shifted. "Mommy… Daddy…."

---

X – X – X – X – X

RAAAAAAAAAAAAW!

Mammon stood by dutifully without a smidgen of blood on him.

He could not say the room was unscathed, however.

The throne room was a massacre of torn up bodies, scorched muscle, and puddles of blood, urine, and vomit. No mortal life would be without death. Another scream came from a man as he cried for death, nails scraping the floor. Bael stood behind him as half-man, half-feline as he pounded into the man's ass with fury in his eyes. Claws came down to tear into the man's shoulder, taking out a chunk of flesh. The man spewed vomit and cried blood as he begged for his life to—

SLASH!

Bael pulled out with blood on his cock and the mortal man's body severed from his head. Claws extended, he roared and the entire throne room shook with his wrath.

X – X – X – X – X

Mammon dipped his hand into the shadows to pull out a girl of darkened and scaled skin and translucent butterfly wings. Tears were in her eyes as she squirmed, but she had been bound and gagged for the sake of her role. Mammon offered her. "Another mortal, My Unholiness? I noticed you have yet to release and…" He shook the mortal for good measure. "She's of Dark Fae blood. I know you enjoy them."

Bael sunk down to all fours to pace. "I don't want to fuck them, Mammon," he snapped. "I thought I told you I wanted the Etherious princess and the Ice Devil!" Another spike of his wrath had him tearing into a mortal's head and throwing it in disgust.

"They have yet to mate, My Dark Lord," Mammon reminded helpfully. "She Named him, but they have only bonded mortal to mortal. They have yet to mate as their darker versions."

"Oh, but they will." Bael thumped his tail as his front claws sunk into the chest of an extinguished fire man. "We both know it, Mammon. Ymir won't stop until he possesses her. I was supposed to be the one to fuck her and now, I'm surrounded by idiots who can't do their job right!"

Mammon dropped the mortal as he caught the chewed off arm of an aquatic creature.

"I don't like games I don't win, Mammon," Bael snarled. "That stupid fuck-up of a female ruined everything!" He turned to his servant. "Have a hit on Lynn," he ordered. "I don't care what anyone does, but I want her dead and I want her dead yesterday."

Mammon nodded. "And your heir, sir?"

Bael let out a thunderous growl. "Bring Mirella to me. I will personally deal with my daughter."

Mammon nodded and bowed. "Very well."

"And Mammon?" Bael went back to two legs and considerably humanized himself. "Bring her to me alive. I need to teach Daddy's little girl a lesson."

Mammon sunk into the shadows as he murmured, "Of course, My Dark Lord."

With Mammon gone, the Dark Fae female gathered herself the best she could in her restraints. Her experimentally flapped her wings, but she found it painful to fly and landed in a heap. Tears muddled her vision, but she knew anywhere was better than here.

"You know…"

Her eyes widened as a shadow cast over her.

"Mammon was right."

A muffled squeal escaped her when a large hand shoved her onto her back. Terror drowned her eyes as glowing gold tried to mesmerize her. Fear melded into something from a dream. Her eyes glossed over and she did not even realize her legs were being spread.

A vicious smirk. "Dark Fae are my favorites."

°•°•°•°

Endless panting left Lynn as she hauled herself through the Asphodel Meadows. Black blood left scars as her hands dug into the earth with each time she dragged herself. Haunted umber gazed distantly with no destination in mind. Just away, away, away.

"Get…away…" Lynn mumbled like she was in a trance. "Get…away… Get…away…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"You'll die if I fight you."

The focus was on a half-naked Mirella as she circled the ring, only in her battle bustier corset and loose pants. Wound in her hands were nun-chucks cloaked in darkness. She tossed them expertly as she looked down at the focus with emotionless gold.

"Get away, Lynn," Mirella murmured. "Get away from here…while you still have the chance."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Lynn blinked into the present as she kept her pathetic crawl. "Get…away… Get…away…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Go 'way!"

The focus looked down to see a child squirming in her arms. Matted dark hair flung across her face, but that did not stop the child from clawing where she saw fit. "Stay still!" came bark. "Stupid girl! I'm your mother now, so you will listen to me!"

"No! I want my mommy!" came indignant screech. "Go 'way! Get away!"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Get…away…"

DRIP.

DROP.

Black blood splattered onto an Asphodel and withered it.

"Get…away… Get…awa—"

She stopped.

Dark creatures surrounded her at every angle with their chops frothing with saliva and their lust tainted the air. No one seemed to care about the shells of mortals turning into Asphodels. All eyes hungrily turned to the half-dead half-Demon female with empty eyes and third-degree burns eating away her skin.

"Get away from me," Lynn breathed in a near inaudible whisper. "Get away."

And they descended upon her.

There was no time to scream as teeth found Lynn's skin and muscle. She shed no tears. She breathed not a word. Skin and muscle pulled back and flesh was leaving her. Something was shoved into her mouth and she felt an intrusion below her waist as well. She could feel them working to rip apart her other arm, but the pain had numbed her. A blessing and a curse. She was saved from Death's agony.

But she still had to die.

Blank amber looked into the soulless sky. Is this what you want, Sister? she breathed within her mind. Is this what you always wanted? To have me killed so you could be Father's one and only?

RIP!

SPLAT!

He'll come for you like he came for your mother, dear Mirella… He won't stop until he has you and when he does…

RIP!

Amber watched as her heart wrapped a Curse was being ripped out of her body. Veins and darkness was the last thing that connected her heart to her body.

…one day, you'll end up like your mother.

SLASH!

°•°•°•°

Mirella paused.

Kyler had busied himself as he took off a helmet from a mannequin. It had been crafted in crystal, but it was not wholesomely round. It had its edges and refracted light like a prism. Its helm were detailed wings with jewels encrusted, each taking a color of the rainbow. He went over to her to see the look on her face. "Everything all right?"

Mirella blinked out of her daze. "Yeah… Yeah, sorry." She stood tall with her hair starting in two braids that wove together and carefully wrapped. Her armor fit her well and took the same theme as the helmet, though looked heavily reinforced. Her wings were exposed in their crystal armor and already beams of light flooded through it. "I just…" Her eyes flashed down. "I don't know. I just had a feeling."

Kyler stopped before her. "Is she…?"

"Yes." Gold steeled. "She's dead."

Kyler tucked the helmet under his arm to frame her face with his hands. "And Talia?"

"She broke the bond to protect me," Mirella murmured. "The worse Lynn's death will do now is give her a headache."

Kyler tried to catch her eye. "Hey. It's okay if you—"

"I don't." Mirella stopped him right there.

He refused to give up. "Mirella, she was your sister and you cared about her."

"I did." Mirella stole her helmet from him. "Once. But when she kidnapped Talia and turned me into a murderer, things changed." She slid her helmet on and turned away from him. She was close to storming off, but she held herself back. Things were different now. She was different now. "But thank you…for worrying about me, Kyler." Her head turned for soft gold to connect with surprised turquoise. A small smile offered in timid truce. "Come on. If I know you—and I think I do—your armory should be on the lowest level."

An offered hand.

Kyler looked at it, then back up at Mirella. His smile was small too as he took her hand. "Yes. I kept the weapons you left behind in mint condition. Come." He led her away, taking the lead. "I'm sure you'll find something you'll like."

Mirella nodded as she wiped her cheek. "Right." And her lone tear dissipated back into Ethernano.

---

Please, let me leave! I'm not worthy of knowing his secrets! Please. Please! Let me out!

Hickory snapped open and gasped for breath, startling Muta. She flailed as she tried to breathe, but everything, every sensation, was overwhelming. She heard a rumbling purr try to calm her and something furry surrounded her. A cat. More than a cat. A white lion. A large paw curled her onto her side and into the belly of the beast. Her breathing was loud, but it was evening out with time. The numbness faded for cold and she leaned into the warmth of the lion on instinct. She could trust this creature.

"Where am I?" she croaked when she had the strength to do so.

"We're in a world called Morozko," Muta rumbled to her with a yawn.

Nashi closed her eyes. Stressing over things was hard to do. "We're on another planet?"

"Indeed, kit," Muta affirmed. "From what I was told, it's a barren world trapped in an eternal snowstorm. Few creatures can survive here. It's the perfect place for death by cold." He dipped his head to nudge her. "Up ya go, kit. I hate to rush ya, but we've got some things to cover and little time to do so."

Nashi let Muta guide her to her feet. At first, like a newborn deer, she was shaky on her feet. But the more she stood, the more she remembered her balance and the more things made sense. She covered herself with the ripped kimono as she looked around the cave. She recognized a pit has been made for fire and something brewed over it in a worn pot. Makeshift bowls had been crafted, but there were no other supplies. "What's going on, Muta?" Nashi whispered, seeing her breath before her. "What's happening? Why are we on a different planet?"

Muta got to his paws and shook out his fur. "What do you last remember?"

Nashi thought about it, eyes lowering beneath her lashes. "Everything," she replied in hushed tones. "I remember turning into an Etherious. I remember Lynn and Pazuzu. I remember Skade. I can remember feeling confused about everything of being human or Etherious and opening a door. But then…" She shook her head. "That's it."

Muta transitioned into his Battle Mode Shift with ease. "Good. Then, I don't have to explain much." He went to stir the brew. "Have a seat. We'll get'cha somethin' in yer belly to warm you right up."

Nashi did so, shivering when she sat on the ground. "Care to tell me why I'm barely covered in anything?" Not an accusation, just a dry remark. "And how I'm not an icicle?"

Muta brought up the ladle to pour the brew into a bowl. "The story's long, so you'll have to listen." He passed her the bowl. "Some of what I'm about to tell you isn't all good."

Nashi took the bowl into her hands and stared into the brew. "Muta… I'm part Demon. One of my brothers tried to commit murder. Another one has a record in arson and near kidnapping. And my little sister was almost lost to me in the past." She took a sip of the brew. "Don't hold anything back. If I need to hear it, then tell me."

Muta sat back on his haunches. "Very well then," he muttered. "Kit, we'll start with this. When Kyler knew devised a plan to involve you in our operation, we sought counsel on Mildian and spoke with the Time Oracle. She works close with Fate and Time, Life and Death… And I remember her words very clearly."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The focus watched as a pretty woman with hazel-red eyes gleaming as she watched her pai sho board. Her home was filled with clocks, each one vastly different than the last. She was alone which meant she was more powerful than her visitors. The focus looked to see Kyler studying the pai sho board and debating where to set his next tile. The woman spoke, "You're a remarkable player, Kyler. So many possibilities of winning and losing."

"Games come easy to me." Kyler placed his jasmine tile near his rhododendron to form a harmony. He sat back. "I picked this game up from another dimension by a Sho Master. I'm not surprised a Time Oracle would have it in her home."

She studied the board, but her interest was in him. "You have already beat me in hanafuda," she reminded. "Why continue the games? I shall answer your question."

Kyler smiled slightly. "I enjoy your company, Xiaomei. You are one of the more friendlier Time Oracles, if I remember correctly. No harm in playing with conversation."

Xiaomei smiled back at him. "Very well." She set down her rose for a harmony between it and her chrysanthemum. "I'm surprised you went with the choice of the first princess," she told him. "Easily, the youngest would be your best bet."

Kyler shook his head. "She's too young. I believe the first princess can handle this. Especially with that Devil, she's the only option to tame him. I'm aware you can't see the outcome of all battles. Your gift lies in the potential timelines, the possibilities of what could come… But I have to ask. Does she have what it takes to tame the Devil before he turns into true chaos?"

Xiaomei paused, her smile sly. "Oh, she has what it takes," she assured. "Nashi Layla Dragneel is more than capable of harmonizing the mortal and the Devil."

The focus sighed with Kyler in relief. "Well, thank goodness for that," Muta muttered. "Least we don't have to worry about that."

"Yes and no."

The focus looked at Xiaomei as she lost her smile. "What's that supposed to mean?" Muta groused.

Hazel-red zoned out. "Nashi's many potential futures come short," she prophesized. "As I look through her life, it ends so abruptly."

"What?" Kyler tensed. "That's not possible. She has the blessing of the Creator to harbor divinity and light despite the Demon blood. She's too young and too powerful to die so suddenly!"

"It's just what I see," Xiaomei said, voice soft. "Not all her futures end in death. Some end in life, but death is just around the corner. She loses the blessing in her efforts to tame the Devil and, in turn, her divinity and Demon's blood consume her and tear her apart."

The focus growled. "So if we rope her into this, we're basically asking for her death? Is that what you're saying?"

"Muta, please." Kyler leaned forward. "You said she loses her blessing. Is it possible for her to gain another to prevent her death?"

Xiaomei thought on it as though flashing through endless possibilities. "It is possible," she conceded. "I understand your question now. Kyler, the Angel blood in you is more potent than the mortal you have. Yes, if she consumed your blood, she would regain that blessing to retain divinity while being part Demon. But that's only one part of the puzzle. Even with the blessing, she very well will die. Too many possibilities point to her dying on the planet Morozko at the hands of a Snow Woman." She looked up at Kyler. "Just remember. I can't see what will happen until it happens. I just see potential outcomes."

Kyler locked his jaw. "And hers is always towards death."

Xiaomei nodded.

Kyler was silent for five beats before speaking again. "Thank you for your time, Time Oracle." He rose to his feet. "We understand the parameters." He bowed to her. "I know we'll meet again." Pivoting his feet, he headed for the exit. "Come, Muta."

The focus rose to his paws too when Xiaomei stopped them both with her words, "But… There are a handful of possibilities of her life spared through an external means." The focus looked back to see Xiaomei having her hands folded before her. "A key is the only thing that stands between her and Death. If she has the key, I can foresee her string of life extending for many more years. But she must have that key." Hazel-red pierced into turquoise. "I can't give you much more than that."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Muta looked down. "I didn't know what she meant by that, but I had the feeling Kyler might have or else he would've never involved you with us. I'm so sorry, kit. I know this is a lot to take in."

"What do you mean?"

Gray clashed with muted hickory.

Nashi hid her mouth behind her bowl. "We all die someday, Muta," she told him. "It's not that big a deal. So my death's day is coming up. It happens."

"You can't afford to let the environment or circumstances invoke fear. You have to be prepared for any event and its outcome, even death."

"You have to realize death is a big part being an S-Class Mage, bigger than it is being just a Mage. We're forced to sign a waiver before each official S-Class mission and above under the pretense we could very well not come home."

"As a Mage, I thought I knew what I was getting into," Nashi carried on. "But a friend showed me I didn't really know what I was doing."

"You're talking about this you clearly don't understand and clearly aren't ready for!" Furious dark chocolate. "You can't even fathom what it takes to make that call on your own life and here you are, insulting us who understand the implications and accept them!"

Fingers tightened around the bowl. "Now I understand death is inevitable. It comes with the territory as you get stronger. You never know when your last battle is. That's why you cherish those around you with everything you have because, one day, you may not come home." She saw her parents, how her mother clung to her father before he left for an assignment. She saw her uncle Laxus deeply kissing his wife before boarding the train. She saw how Aine rushed to hug Lance upon his return. She saw Gary and his sunny smile.

Fingers shook.

Muta blinked in surprise when Nashi smiled when tears rushed down her cheeks.

"I did some crappy things in life," Nashi told him. "I've lied to my parents to go to parties. I fought with Igneel. I wasn't there for Luke or Luna. I screwed up a friendship. And I didn't get the chance to tell someone how I felt. I've been wrapped up in my own pain that I forgot about everyone else's. But at least…"

Warm cerulean. Loving icy-blue-silver.

Nashi rubbed her cheek with the butt of her wrist. "At least I did something good before I died, right? I met you and Kyler and Mirella. I helped Skade and Gary. Yeah. I did some good." She nodded over to Muta. "So it's okay," she promised. "I'm ready."

Muta regarded her in silent amazement. This kit… "You've got the heart of a lion, kit," he muttered to her. "Don't go thinkin' I'm lettin' ya die on me, okay? I'm fighting at your side every step of the way. My people might've gone soft, but I haven't. I still remember how we used to fight and I intend to use every ounce of Magic I have defending you."

"Stupid cat," Nashi laughed through her tears. "Don't go sentimental on me now."

Muta purred his amusem—

AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…!

Nashi sniffled as Muta stiffened. "What, Muta? What's wrong?"

Muta had to think fast. "That noise… That's not just a regular horn. That's the call for battle." His ears flattened. "She's here…and she brought an army."

"Who's here?" Nashi was on the alert. "What's going on? Recap for me what happened."

Muta swallowed. "Long story short, Lynn has her own right-hand, a Snow Woman named Yuki who has a steed called Onna. Legends say Yuki was the one to create Snow Women. Many call her the Snow Queen or the Winter Witch. She has powers and now the numbers far greater than you've ever seen. Mirella broke it down to me that Yuki can't stay in warm places for long."

"Which means this planet is perfect for her," Nashi finished. She had to know. "Is the battle where I die?"

Muta hesitated.

Nashi closed her eyes. "I see." She sat down the bowl to stand on her own two feet. "Kyler gave me some of his blood, right? Then I should be ready." Seraphim, she called, we're going to push ourselves to the limit. Are you ready to fight? Are you with me?

To the end, Seraphim replied, grave.

Nashi closed her eyes as she let her Magic swirl around her, breezing through the cave. "Muta, stand back," she commanded. Magenta wafted from her body as she dropped the kimono, but there was tinges of turquoise intermingled. She inhaled as this new sensation warmed her and fed her. I can feel Kyler's power with mine… It's subtle, but it's there. It's like he's telling me he'll fight with me. Her hair danced in the wings and began to light up in cherry blossom. Even her own guild mark brightened as this power fed into her being, her existence, her soul. I feel so much close connected to you, Seraphim, she remarked.

As do I, Little One, Seraphim told her. Our resonance has strengthened.

Can we do it? How long will I last?

As long as you can give us.

Nashi grinned. Sounds like a plan to me. I'm all fired up.

Her Magic Circle blossomed beneath her feet and took up the entire cavern. Ancient Language interwove her Magic Circle, but a new language, the written language of the Angel, was mingled into it. The symbol at the Magic Circle's core had changed. Six burning wings cupped the face of a Dragon. She clasped her hands in prayer and chanted: "Gabriel, I ask of thee for your assistance. For I am your faithful servant and the protector of justice, grant me my wish. I invoke your name, O Gabriel, allow me to ascend. Come forth and grant me my wish!"

The Dragon's eyes glowed pink as it opened its mouth to roar.

Muta shielded himself as the entire world around him turned pink.

°•°•°•°

The blizzard was no match for creatures fashioned to thrive in it. Beasts and cretins of all shapes and sizes banded together in the harsh winter with their teeth bared and bloodlust on edge. Amaroq took their place in their wolfish and wolfman forms with armor forged for them. Wechuge stood in the crowd but with blank stares. When the command came, they would overtake the frontlines to kill their target. A few Tizheruk—they were Dragon-like serpentine who waded through the snow like the ocean—were poised with their heads curved and eager for a bite. Wendigos snorted impatiently, icy steed-like creatures with an appetite for human flesh. Most of the army was made from barbegazi, short men with white fur and large feet with a strong resemblance to dwarves and trolls. They donned swords and battle axes or some went with their own fists. But their leader looked cold as ice with little interest in her army. She rode saddle on the back of a creature that had the front physique of a bear, but its other half was akin to a reindeer, even with antlers. It pawed the ground in a deadly snarl as all saw in the distance a long flash of pink.

"Careful, Onna," Yuki sighed. "She will be here soon enough."

But the soon part surprised the many.

Without warning, a meteor shower descended upon the winter forces. Fire and light rained down with shrieks and roars penetrating the air and lost to the howls of the blizzard. Three Wechuge stood still as fire consumed them and turned them back into water. An Amaroq burrowed in the snow, but it could not avoid death by overwhelming light. Wendigos reared as they galloped away, scattering. None wanted to die. But death was surrounding them.

Yuki did not bat an eye. She did not care how many were lost. She looked into the distance to see a soft glow approaching. She raised a hand. In her silent command, five Amaroq abandoned their posts to zoom into the blizzard. They raced through wind and ice and snow with clear eyes locked on the ethereal glow. As the distance closed, they grew in size until they were hulking monsters of ice. With howls, they descend on their—

SLASH!

A scaly tail lashed.

Boots marched in the snow, leaving burning footprints.

Yuki did not smile. "Well, well…" she drawled. "I should've expected you would go back to the light when the darkness became too much for you, Cleric. I'm not surprised. You don't have the stomach for Curses."

A sharp grin showing fang. "No, Yuki… You don't have what it takes to have light."

Yuki looked up and into the blizzard. Nashi had no trouble keeping herself in the air. The wind would not bother her and the blizzard was laughable. Her burning wings kept her afloat as she looked down at Yuki through her Dragon head helmet. Her weapon had changed from staff to a double-ended sword glittering in gold and with each end topped with a crown of blades looking almost like a Dragon's antlers. She pointed her weapon at Yuki. "So you're the one who's come to kill me. Thought you idiots needed me alive?"

"They do. I don't. You're nothing more than a game piece. I'm doing you a service. Death is a better alternative to being a puppet."

"Thanks for the favor," Nashi sneered, "but I'm not interested. I'm the only one who gets to pick and choose, got that? I'll give you one chance. Move aside."

Yuki cocked her head. "Did you really think I'd fall for that?"

Nashi smirked. "No. But I got your attention, didn't I? You didn't think I was alone, did you?"

Before Yuki could respond, she felt Magic surge. She did not glance back as teal exploded within her forces, killing a portion of her army. At the heart of it stood Muta in his Lion Form. He shook his thick mane and unsheathed his claws. "Didn't think you'd let a cat into the heart of your ranks," he sneered. To Nashi, he called, "I've got this, kit! Don't worry!"

Onna snarled, but Yuki stroked her pet. "It's okay, Onna," she soothed. "The Cleric wants to play? Fine." She twirled her hands for icicle sharp as knives to point up at Nashi. "We'll play along."

The icicles shot for Nashi without fail. She batted them away, shattering most of them, or evaded them with her flight. Her teeth gritted as she headed straight for Yuki and Onna. This is it. This is my last battle. And you know what? I'm not afraid. She barely evaded a large icicle and ran on its edge before jumping back into flight. Because if I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die fighting.

Fairy Tail flashed before her. Orochi behind the bar and smiling at a customer. Mira serving Laxus a drink. Amber and Dash getting into another argument. Cane running away from a furious Julia. Cana and Macao sharing a keg. Justin and Ellie fawning over a new make-up palette. Lance and Aine exchanged longing glances with Mystogan separating them. Dazzler pulling a rabbit baring a similar resemblance to Cade from her hat and T'oree clapping along. Thirteen and Coeus speaking with Freed as they showed him something on Coeus' L-Pad. Liberty and Eloise playing with Elvin's hair. Erza punching Gray and Gajeel for starting another brawl. Elfman drunkenly ranting about manhood as Evergreen tried to get his next drink away from him. Paige hiding behind Penelope as Silver tried to offer her tokens of his affection. Juvia and Levy giggling as Levy shared a new book with her friend. Galileo arm-wrestling with Olivia and losing. Lisanna teasing Bixslow with her cat ears. Gale groaning about his next assignment.

Nashi shattered another icicle as she split it down the middle with her weapon. I'll miss you, Mama, Papa…

She could see her parents. She could see her mother tabbing cleaning solution via cotton ball on her father's wounds and how intimate they look.

I'll miss you, Igneel…

She could see Igneel finally noticing her watching him fawn over his manga collection to blush and yell at her to get out.

I'll miss you, Luke…

She could see Luke snoring away at his desk with his document still open on his essay. She could see herself placing a blanket over him and removing his glasses so he could get some true rest.

I'll miss you, Luna…

She could see Luna getting giddy as they snuggled up on the couch to watch another YouView video and how smiley her sister became.

I'll miss you…

Cerulean sparkling. "Angel…"

Icy-Blue-silver intensifying. "Malã'ika…"

DRIP. DROP.

A tear sparkled as Nashi whirled to avoid another icicle. But I'm not afraid anymore. She flew over the last icicle with Yuki in her sights. Weapon raised and blazing in holy fire, she gave her battle cry as Yuki conjured her own weapon of ice. I'm ready!

CRACK!

---

Pants.

Confused whimpers.

"Get him! He's trying to escape!"

The focus did not stop running. Everything was too dark and smelled too sharp. There were odd glowing lights and wires, but nothing was making sense. The focus turned down another hallway to see a bright light. Hope filled him as he ran for it, ready for freedom. But when he burst into the light, all he saw was a man bay filled with things he did not understand. Screens lit up with foreign words with humans all around in their lab coats and muttering things he was clueless about. But the focus swiveled onto the creatures and mortals placed on pads.

"AAAAAAAAAh…!"

Horror filled him as he watched mortal become electrified with wires attached to them. As the mortal screamed and screamed, scales burst from her skin and fangs elongated from her mouth. Overwhelmed, the mortal fought back at her wires with a roar. She ripped off the cords, set to attack the ones watching her, when another mortal dressed in a lab coat pressed a button and a dome captured the scaled mortal. It spat acid, clawing at the shield, but it was to no avail. Another button was pressed and a gas flooded the dome.

The focus widened as the scaled mortal's fight slowly left her until she was on the ground, tears of blood pooling from her eyes. Hands came up, but glass stopped them from moving forward. The focus looked at its claws and how icy his skin was. Looking up quietly, the focus concentrated on the reflection in the glass. Something looked back at him with haunted icy-blue-silver eyes. It was a little creature with a curled tail and its wings coming in. Its horns were nothing impressive with its silvery-white hair covering it. But the wounds covering the creature were truly terrifying to witness.

"AAAAAAAAAh…!"

Fearful, the creature turned away and the focus was back to running. He needed to flee. He did not know what was going on, but he felt something wrong. These people, these…humans… They were going to hurt him. No, they would kill him. With all he knew, he knew death was not something he wanted to encounter.

The focus was about to turn down the hall when he paused. He backed up and the focus took a peek. Someone was there, a mortal woman in a lab coat with her bobbed black hair. She chuckled. "Come on, Mister Fullbuster," she sang sweetly. "Please behave. This could all be done quicker if you just listen."

The focus glanced away.

The mortal woman looked off to the side. "I promise your next meal will have all the meat you want?" she offered. "Wouldn't you like that? Fresh meat filled with…"—she licked her lips—"fresh blood?"

The focus leaned down and a whimper accidentally came out.

The mortal woman smirked. "Oh? Are you close?" She walked close to him. "Come out, come out, wherever you are? I have a surprise for you!" She crouched down and extended a hand. "Come now, little boy. I know you like meat."

He tried to back away quietly when a hand gripped his neck. He let out a hiss with how roughly he was being treated. He squirmed and slashed his claws, trying to get away.

"Aw…" came male coo. "The Ice Devil looks so cute when he thinks he has a chance." The hand turned the focus to the mortal who picked him up and the focus widened. Cruel violet stared down at the focus with a syringe in his hands. A syringe filled with something black. "Don't worry," the male teased. "Just a little dose this time." The mortal man stuck the syringe into the creature. When it was drained, he was dropped to the ground and everything felt slow. Nothing felt like it should. Everything felt off.

"Take it easy, Ice Devil."

The focus sluggishly blinked up to see violet. He felt so tired…so, so tired… He knew a mouth was moving, but all he could see was darkness and then…nothing.

TINK…

A little mouth. "Hey…" Had there ever been a more pleasant voice?

White feathers.

TINK…

"Are you okay?"

The focus widened slowly. Brightness flicked through leaves. A warm breeze washed over him.

Clear hickory.

"You're bleeding. Here, let me help you."

Pink hair flowing in the winds.

For what felt like the first time, comfort eased him. He felt nothing but softness. Delicate fingers worked on him, but he flinched. When he did, the fingers would so even slower.

TINK…

"I'm going to use Magic to heal the rest of you," came warning. No threat. Just…kindness.

He sensed her Magic before he felt it. It felt never-ending and so…beautiful. Alluring, even. It was like her own presence was that of a Siren. But feeling her Magic did wonders. Ease and light warmed his soul, his very existence. All the hatred and fear he felt melted away without a second thought. It was almost like a miracle to feel such a way he had not felt in months. The focus fluttered shut to greedily take in all he could get from what she offered.

A smile. "I'm all done. You're all better now."

The focus opened and the world was righted again. A bit lightheaded, but he felt no anxiety or hunger. Freedom took the reins. He slowly sat up to look around him. Ice had trampled the life around him and it was obvious he took a fall from how the branches were broken off. Nothing felt familiar to him. He could not remember how he got there, only that he left.

That he was…free.

"Hey!"

He jerked, startled, to find a finger on his chest. The focus looked up to see hickory glaring at him. "U-U—"

A smile near blinded him. "Hey, it's okay," came soothe. "Fairy Tail is here to help." She tucked her pink hair behind her ears as she held out a hand. "I'm Nashi Dragneel of Fairy Tail!" she greeted. "What's your name?"

The focus blinked. "Mah… Mah… My…na…?"

She frowned and lowered her hand. "Oh. Well, you were pretty hurt," she reasoned. "That's okay." She beamed at him. "No need to worry, yeah? I'll make sure you get home because Fairy Tail never leaves a man behind!" She stuck out her hand. "Come with me! I promise I won't leave you behind, okay? From now on, you're gonna be my friend! And we'll be together no matter what!"

Winds tickled white feathers.

The focus stared at this girl…this… This savior. The light loved her and brightened her in ways too pure and too good. Her wings were smaller than his, but they were out and wide and as white as could be. Her dress looked a little worse for the wear with rings made of gold around her hips and glinting gemstones on her hands. But she still smiled at him. A real smile. The first smile he had ever seen. The focus went to her hand and how inviting it looked. For a moment, he saw a different hand before him. An older hand. One that would harm him. But this girl… She looked harmless. She looked so…perfect. She looked like one of those things he had heard about from another one at the facility. It was called—

"A… A…"

She blinked at him.

"A… An… An…gel…"

She blinked again. "Is…that your name? Angel? Is that it?"

The focus shook itself negative. He lifted a hand to point at her. "An…gel… Angel…"

She blinked at him again. "I'm…'Angel'?"

The focus nodded.

"But I'm…" She shook her head and smiled again. He liked that sight. Her smile. "Okay. I'm Angel. That works. Now come on." She lurched forward to grasp his hand. But she did something he had never witnessed before. Their fingers laced together. She was not just gripping onto his wrist and clamping down on his hand. She helped him to his feet and set them off on her path. "I'll take you back to Fairy Tail with me! Don't worry though! Everyone there's so nice! You'll meet my mama and my papa and my…!"

He could listen to her voice all day. It sounded like a lullaby to him. Never had he heard a voice so cheerful. Never had anyone told him something in happiness. This was…nice. The focus went down to their connected hands. Yes. He liked this. He liked this a lot.

A cruel smirk.

Lifeless hickory.

SPLAT!

Gary started with a gasp when he realized he was within the comfort of a cabin. Nothing was displaced. Everything was as it should be. He clutched the material over his heart as he panted. "What was that?" he whispered to himself. "I haven't dreamed about that in months."

"I have."

Cerulean widened. Gary was slow to turn around as the scene changed. He stood in the frozen tundra with Skade a distance away from him in his true form. "Skade," Gary breathed.

Skade nodded at him. "Gary."

Both stood still.

Gary swallowed. "I didn't realize you could dream," he confessed.

Skade looked away. "Not conventionally," he supposed. "I have memories that overlap if I decide to rest. I play that memory quite often."

"Why, though?" Gary had to know. "She doesn't remember it. After we tried leaving with her… The ambush…" He locked his jaw when he remembered her terrified screams. "It's better she doesn't remember," he said with finality in his tone. "She told me what's been going on."

Skade smirked humorlessly. "But I'm sure you saw it as well."

Now Gary looked away. "Yes," he said in a shameful breath. "I don't know how to feel. I don't know how you feel. We share memories, but not always the emotion behind them. Seeing us being…violated like that. But it was you and not me… But it was still my body… I don't know what to think." Something clicked for him as he looked at Skade. "But you hid this from me…to protect me, didn't you?"

"Humans are fickle creatures," Skade said offhandedly as though he did not want to get into it. "Your reactions are quite dramatic. It was best for me to experience it instead of listen to you panic and feel your fear."

"Listen to my…? Are you serious?" Anger burst through Gary. "How are you just so…okay about this? He did that to you! To us! Both of them did! They raped you! Us! How can you just stand there and not feel anything for it?" Tears sprung from his eyes and he was quick to wipe them away. "Fuck, I wasn't even conscious for it and I'm still trying to sort out how to feel! You liked him, but he was forcing himself on you and I don't even like men and she forced her mouth on you and just…!" He shook his head as he tried not to crumble. "How are you so calm," he croaked, "after all this?"

"Because I am not human."

Gary's eyes widened.

"You fail to remember I am not human," Skade pointed out matter-of-factly. Nothing cold in his tone. "I do not have the same feelings you do. I do not have the same reactions you do. I am something made from a Curse." He looked at his clenched fists. "Lust, greed, sloth, pride, envy, gluttony, wrath, and despair… These are the principles my existence follows. Criminal acts to you are just common to me."

"That's not true," Gary whispered. "If that was true, why didn't you take Angel by force?"

Fury welled up in Skade. "I would never—!"

"Why didn't you kill her, huh?" Gary goaded. "Why didn't you just fuck her and kill—?"

"Do not speak about Malã'ika that way!"

Gary judged Skade from the heaving of his chest to the darkness that threatened the tundra. For some, they would stop pushing. But Gary refused to stop. "You act like your tough shit, like you're this badass…thing, but guess what? You're just like me, a human."

Skade growled frost as darkness thundered across the tundra.

"You have feelings outside of those sins just like a human," Gary snapped as he stalked forward. "Open your fucking eyes, you stupid Devil! You're not as above it all as you think! Things affect you just like they do me! I was in that laboratory right there with you! You felt confused and scared."

Ice crawled up Skade's sides. "Human, do not test me," he snarled.

"You felt betrayed when Lee did that to us," Gary taunted. "You felt fear."

Skade hissed as darkness closed around them. Wind picked up as a blizzard storm was on its way. "Human… I am warning you…"

Gary was not finished. "And when Angel saved us that day, you felt it. You felt safe for the first time in your life. You cared for her. You felt happy." Cerulean sharpened. "You felt love."

Skade gritted his teeth. "ENOUGH!" A howl escaped him as darkness crashed around the tundra the moment the blizzard hit. Lightning and thunder rolled their punches as snow and ice banged onto the tundra floor. Eternal darkness would saturate this earth and none would be able to stop it. None would be able to live through it.

But then…

…it faded away.

Gary coughed as he tried to regain his breath.

"I…cannot feel that."

Gary drew himself up to see something he had not seen in a long time: Skade as a child. The little Devil looked confused and sad at the same time with his tail curled around him and wings tight on his back. Big icy-blue-silver had watered with no tears present. The little Devil looked up at Gary as though he held the answer. "I cannot feel such emotion." It was like he was reciting a mantra. "They told me… They said…"

"What they said was wrong." Gary looked different as a child. His black hair was messily against his forehead and his skin was paler. But his eyes never changed. "You're not a pawn, Skade," Gary told him as he approached the Devil. "You're not someone's weapon. You're not evil."

"But…" Skade looked even more confused. "What am I?"

Gary stopped before Skade with a grin. "What do you want to be?"

Skade blinked. "What do I…want?" he repeated. The question sounded absurd. He was never asked that before. He thought hard on his answer. "I want to be you."

Gary was taken back.

"You have…so much." Skade's bottom lip trembled. "It is…not fair. You can hold hands with Angel and kiss Angel and no one thinks you are scary or a monster. You can smile and you can cry. You have freedom. You have…family."

DRIP.

DROP.

"Why can I not have that?" Skade asked as he looked at the snow. "Why do bad creatures want me? Why am I just a weapon?" He blinked in surprise when a drop landed on the ground. He touched his cheek in befuddlement. "What is this? I have never done this before…"

"They're tears," Gary said softly. "You're crying."

"'Cry…ing'?" Skade wiped his cheek to see his hand was wet. "I do not understand. I cannot cry. It is weakness. Things like me are not allowed to have weakness."

"Everyone's allowed to have weaknesses," Gary explained patiently. "Everyone's allowed to think for themselves and do as they want."

"But why do humans reject me?" Skade questioned. "Why am I…a monster to them?"

Gary thought about that. "Because…humans don't like what's different from them," he believed. "A lot of people think if someone looks and acts different than them, it means they're a horrible person and they should bully them. My dad told me…it's the reason a lot of people die and why people go to war. When people can't understand something, they want to destroy it." Cerulean darkened. "It's not right," he conceded. "People shouldn't do that. But my dad says the world isn't perfect, so it's up to people like us to keep the balance and help those in need. So that way, one day, we can all understand each other." Cerulean looked at the Devil before him and how sad he looked, how full of sorrow and pain. "Don't worry. People like me will work to make the world a better place so you don't have to hide anymore," Gary promised. "That way you can be free too and be whoever you want to be."

"Is that what Fairy Tail does?" Skade wondered.

Gary shook his head. "No, not just Fairy Tail. That's what good people do."

Skade looked down again. "Am I…good?"

Gary softened. "Yes."

Icy-blue-silver watered. "Can I be good for Angel?"

"Is that what you want to be?"

Skade nodded without a second thought. "Yes. That is what I want to be." Icy-blue-silver and cerulean clashed. "I want to be good for Angel. I want to be like her. She makes people smile. I want to do that. But I…" He pointed at Gary. "I want to be like you."

"Me?" Gary echoed, surprised.

Skade nodded. "Yes. I want to hold hands with Angel like you in front of humans. I want to kiss Angel like you do in front of humans. I want to show humans she is mine."

Gary looked up Heavenward, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Well, that's not really the point, but…" He sighed, then shrugged.

Skade blinked when a hand was extended to him.

"It's definitely a start."

Skade looked up. Gary was fully grown before him with the same grin was his father and eyes like his mother. Gary shook his hand. "Don't keep me waiting there, bro. We've got some serious work to do."

Skade looked back at the hand, grown into his wings, his horns, and his skin. "Yes…" He reached out a hand. Nashi's own flashed before him before he grasped Gary's hand. He offered his own toothy grin. "Let our work begin."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Cerulean flashed as Gary got to his feet. The cold never bothered him and it would not start now. He looked at the blizzarding tundra with squinted eyes. "Where the Hell am I now?" he muttered. "My sense of direction is all messed up. I can't tell north from south. But I feel immense power coming from that direction." He looked to his left.

It's just a gut feeling… But Angel's out there. And wherever she goes, I follow. After all—he grinned—what sort of stalker would I be if I didn't?

He placed a palm in an open hand. "Ice-Make: Snow Mobile!" The vehicle looked ready to glide across the dunes of ice and snow and he mounted it like an expert. Revving the engine, he took off and used the wind to propel him. "Woohooooooo…!" he howled. "C'mon, baby! We've got an Angel to find and we're revvin' at full throttle!" As the snowmobile climbed up a tall dune, it launched itself into the sky with Gary's howl disappearing into the wind.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

On Earth Land…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna clapped her hands in excitement. "Oh, my goodness, I totally knew it!" she claimed from the bed. "They just released the tour dates for EMPHASIS and Young Nation and they're coming to Fiore!"

Ena put the finishing touches on her dressed mannequin. "Did you put us in for the contest?"

"Duh!" Luna told her. "We have until March to prep! And then Hexagon is in Minstrel! E, we have to go! Nashi is cool with ICY, right? You think she'd be willing to get us in?"

Ena considered jewels or no jewels. "Ask her," she said simply. "Couldn't hurt. But, L, do you really think your parents would let you go to Minstrel for a concert?"

Luna frowned as she flopped over to rest on Icarus' side. "I hope so," she grunted. "I mean I'm doing well in my studies and in my martial arts…" She blew out a breath. "I don't know. I just wish things were different."

Ena glanced at her friend. "They'll get better, L," she promised softly. "You just have to be patient."

Luna groaned. "Ugh… I'm starting to hate that word," she lamented as Ena laughed.

DING-DONG!

Luna sat up for both girls to exchange confused looks. "Did you invite anyone else over?" Luna asked her, getting up.

Ena shook her head, troubled. "No… I don't think so?" An idea came to mind and brightened her. "Oh! Maybe it's our Postmate with my food!"

"I'll get it then!"

Ena chuckled as she walked over to her bag. "Of course food gets you up." She took out some jewel. "Give this to the Postmate to tip, please and thank you?"

Luna took the jewel and dramatically bowed, Icarus stretching as he got off the bed. "Why, of course, My Liège." With a cheeky grin, Luna made her way out of the room with Icarus padding past her. She tittered at her Spirit. You must really like human food, huh?

This realm has the most delicious spices, Icarus told her. They smell so divine and taste so wonderful!

Luna frowned. Aren't dogs not supposed to have human food though? I thought I read an article on all the food dogs can't eat?

Icarus puffed his chest, nudging her. I am a Spirit, little one. Need not worry about my stomach.

Luna giggled. "Okay, then." Another ring had her yell, "I'm coming!" She jogged to the door and swung it open. "Hi, thanks for—! Silver?!"

Silver grinned. "Yo! Hi, Lulu!"

Luna furrowed her brow. "Silver, hi… What are you doing here?"

Silver rocked on the balls of his feet. "Just in the neighborhood. Thought I'd hang out with you and the wicked witch of the west."

Luna shot him a flat look. "Paige rejected hanging out with you, didn't she?"

Silver burst into comical tears. "Lulu, don't bring up such painful things!"

Footsteps came from inside the house. "L, I heard all the noise. What is…?" Ena joined Luna's side to glare coolly at Silver. "Hello, stalker."

Silver stopped his tears to lift his chin. "Witch."

Luna looked back and forth, waiting to intervene when more insults were hurled, but… There were no more. She opened her mouth to say something when a vibration ruined it. She checked her Compact and blanched. "Papa texted he and Mama are on their way home."

Ena snapped out of her glaring contest to gasp. "But—!"

Another text came in and Luna's eyes widened even more. "And Bleu is on his way to come get me!"

Silver blinked his confusion when Luna and Ena started screaming and jumping around. "Uh… What did I miss here?"

"A lot," Luna admitted. "E, I need to prep now!"

"Right, right, we'll make you look fabulous!" Ena shoved her inside with Icarus whining, wanting attention. "Come, come, come! We don't have a moment to waste!"

Silver glanced back out to the street before helping himself inside. "Guess I'll come in now…" He shut the front door behind him to kick off his shoes. He could hear Ena and Luna before seeing them in Ena's bedroom with clothes on mannequins for display. "What's going on?"

"I've got a date!" Luna told him with a silly grin.

"No."

Luna's grin dropped. "What?"

Silver vehemently shook his head. "No. No way. No guy is good enough for you, Lulu," he insisted stubbornly. "I don't approve."

Luna rolled her eyes at him. "Oh, stop," she laughed. "Thanks for looking out for me, but if E can approve him, you can too. He's a really good guy. He was the one I was telling you about from the Harvest Festival?"

Mayan blues widened. "Oh, that guy?" Silver pouted at her. "How could you keep a secret like this from me? We're supposed to be best friends!"

A blush dusted on Luna's cheeks. "Well, when it comes to talking about boys…"

"And kissing," Ena added with a wide grin. "L and Bleu already kissed last night."

"What?!" Silver shook Luna with comical tears down his face. "Lulu, how could you? How could you kiss a man I don't approve of? I am your love confidant!"

Luna shoved him away good-naturedly. "I'm sorry. How about this? When I get back tonight, the three of us can FaceCall and I'll tell you both all about the date, okay?"

Silver sniffed. "Fine, I guess." He dropped the act as Ena primped and prepped Luna. "But what are we going to do about your parents? I thought you were grounded?"

Luna grimaced. "Well, I am, but E's covering for me."

"Right." Ena glanced at Silver. "Now get out. She needs to change and you don't need to be in here for it, pervert."

Silver rolled his eyes, but he left the room. He shut the door and leaned on it, asking, "She's just covering for you? Doing the Com switch?"

"Yup!" Luna replied from beyond the door. "She'll use my Com as me and I'll use hers as her. If we get anything too tough, we'll just text each other and reply with the answer."

"Okay, but what about Com calls? What if someone wants to see Lulu?"

"Simple." It was Ena this time. "I'll just change my voice. Transformation Spells aren't hard. You should know."

Silver gritted his teeth, blushing in embarrassment. "Damn witch," he muttered. Louder, he called, "Fine, but that means I'm staying too."

"Excuse me?!"

Silver crossed his arms. "Listen, Fernandes, you're going to need someone to proofread those texts and make sure you sound just like Lulu. No one knows Lulu better than me."

A rough sigh. "L, you're lucky I love you."

A warm laugh. "Thank you. Both of you. I really appreciate it."

Silver grinned to himself. "Yeah, well, just make sure you keep your word. You owe us."

"Yeah, yeah… E, are we done yet?"

"Do you want to look imperfect? I didn't think so. Now, stand still…and…voila! Beautiful! Wonderful! Stupendous! Sensational! My best work yet!"

A giddy giggle. "Silver?" came trill. "Ready to see the final product?"

Silver pushed himself off the door to let himself in. "All right, what's the—?" His jaw dropped when he saw Luna. "Whoa…"

Luna giggled, fluttering her eyelashes. "What do you think?" She took a slow spin in her new dress. It was obvious Snow White influence it with it being dark blue and gold. It had thin straps on the shoulders, but the sleeves were pushed on her arms, looking like a flower blossomed. A ribbon was on her front and nearly wrapped with it looking like a tailcoat dress split open to reveal a gold dress. Her thigh-high socks were solid dark blue with petals tipping them and her shoes had little wedges with the symbol of an apple on each shoe. She was even given a red headband covered in an apple design.

"Lulu…" Silver shook his head. "Are you sure this guy deserves to see you this beautiful?"

"Hey!" Ena shifted in front of Silver. "I'm the one who made the look!"

Silver cast her a disinterested glance. "Sure, yeah, you did okay." He beamed at Luna, ignoring Ena's heated glare. "If he doesn't drop at how gorgeous you look, I'm punching him in the face! Just wow! Look how you glow!"

DING-DONG!

"Eeeeee!" Ena and Luna squealed with Icarus howling at the noise. "He's here…!"

Silver grinned with mischief in his eyes. "I'll get it!"

Luna's eyes widened. "Silver—!"

Ena chased after him. "No, I will! I have to interrogate him!"

Luna rushed after both of her friends. "Wait! Guys, stop it! No fighting, please!"

Silver was the first to the door and yanked it open for a nonchalant Bleu to be on the other side. He was dressed in ripped jeans, lace-up boots, a turtleneck, and a long black coat. A smile was on his face to welcome. "Hi, Tr—"

"What are your intentions with our Lulu?" Silver burst, shoving Ena behind him. "You're taking her out on a date, right?"

Bleu raised an eyebrow, smile gone. "I am," he answered, though puzzled. "Are you Silver?" He nodded over to an angered Ena. "And you're Ena. Both of you are Luna's best friends, right?" He stuck out a hand. "It's nice to meet—"

"You can't just answer the door and start questioning people," Ena hissed at Silver as she pushed him with a glare. "Where are your manners? You didn't even introduce yourself! How dare you start interrogating someone and not even in your own house!"

Bleu's hand dropped. "Nice to…meet y—?"

Silver sneered at her. "Oh, because you weren't going to do the same thing. Don't act so high and mighty, witch."

Ena flexed her hand for her sword to come to her side, home in its sheath. She grabbed the helm and braced herself for a battle. "I can show you high and mighty, stalker," she growled back.

A tick mark. Clenched fists. "I said…"

Two fists pounded on Ena and Silver's head and knocked them to the ground.

"…no fighting…!"

Bleu had comically flinched back as his wide eyes watched Silver and Ena on the ground with swirling eyes and drooling mouths, barely twitching. He glanced up to see Luna, frazzled, red-faced, and chocolate glaring down at her two friends. When their eyes met, he stilled and Luna froze.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Wow…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna's eye twitched. Oh, crap. He probably thinks I'm a total freak!

A throaty chuckle invaded her mind. Hold on, Pup.

Luna cocked her head to turn to her Spirit. Wh—? Her thought was cut off when a snout hit the back of her legs, right on the back of her knee, and she toppled over it. "Oh, my!" She stumbled and Bleu caught her with ease, her face planted in his chest. "Wha…?"

Light eyes cast down on her in amusement. "Isn't this a scene from Wet Side Story?" he teased. "And now you're fallin' for me…! Did I get it right?"

She tried not to blush, but it was too hard for her to control. "You really must be too good to be true if you're quoting an MCOM movie," she jested back. She tried to pick herself up from him, but he held her close like he was not going to let her go. Her blush darkened as she looked at him, nervous and excited at the same time. "So, um… Hi."

Bleu laughed. "Hi. How are you doing today, Treasure?"

"Okay." Luna found Bleu's disarray hair disturbing and tried to fix it. "How's your day been? How was your meeting?" She noticed Bleu's frown and the way his eyes shifted. Fingers drifted to his cheeks. "What's wrong?"

The heavy sigh was exhaled before he could take it back. "Nothing. It was just…a long meeting. Negotiations, presentations, and a reminder from my dad of my responsibilities to his company."

"Wow. That does sound like a lot. Really exhausting." Luna guided his gaze back to her own. "I don't mind if we put this off," she let him know, timbre soft. "I don't want you tired—Mmmph!" Chocolate closed as she sank into the kiss given to her, her whole body sinking and sated. When Bleu pulled away, she felt her knees buckle and she was grateful this time for Bleu holding her. "Wh-Wh-What was that for?"

Bleu's grin was up to no good. "Just wanted to kiss you," he replied cheekily.

Luna puffed a cheek in feigned annoyance. "Dummy," she scolded. "You can't just kiss me whenever you want to. There's rules, ya know."

"Oh, really?" Bleu chortled. "Well, you can tell me about all the rules in the car. We have a predate to start."

Luna blinked. "'Car'?" With Bleu's guidance, she peeked to see a different Lacrima Car than the car she witnessed last night. A matted black hood, acute eyes, two doors, and a dark blue ceramic shine on it. It took her a couple moments, but she gasped. "Wait a second! Nashi wants a car just like this!"

"She's a car junkie?"

Luna nodded, beaming at the thought of her sister. "Totally! She—!"

White snow turned crimson.

"Give it up now, Cleric!"

Lifeless hickory.

"Treasure?"

Luna snapped out of the sickening horror she was facing to see Bleu's concerned gaze. I have to stop thinking about it, she urged herself. They're just… They're just dreams. Nothing more. Nashi's safe and on a job. There's nothing wrong. Just a dream.

She smiled up at Bleu. "Sorry. Zoned out there. I'm ready to go when you are! Oh!" She turned to rush back into the houses, stepping over her unconscious friends. When she got back out, the bag designed for her (mini-backpack with different color apples with an apple-shaped wallet) and her cloak (it was to emulate the evil queen) were in her hands. "Now, I'm ready!" She swooped to exchange her Compact for Ena's before grabbing Bleu's hand. "Let's go! Icarus!"

Icarus barked and disappeared back into the Celestial Spirit Realm.

As Bleu and Luna laughed and spoke to each other, Silver and Ena regained their unconsciousness, both ready for a fight. But when they realized Luna was being helped into the Lacrima Car, they watched with soft smiles on their faces.

"There she goes," Silver sighed as he leaned against the porch railing. "Lulu finally found her beloved. About time!"

Ena rolled her eyes. "Not everything is about love, stalker." Her eyes brightened when she saw Luna waving at them both while Bleu backed out of the driveway. Both Ena and Silver waved their farewell and shouted their wish for luck and fun as the car zoomed down the street. As Ena lowered her hand, she wondered, Is she still thinking about Gale? Or is he completely out of the picture?

VRRRR.

Ena frowned as she took out the Compact to see Luna sent a message.

⌜MESSAGES

FASHION QUEEN

Thanks for doing this, E! See you tonight! No fighting! Love you!⌟

Ena smiled softly. Oh, L… Please be careful. Her smile disappeared when she saw a recent notification. "Looks like Uncle Loke left her a voicemail," she muttered aloud.

Silver crowded around her. "What's it say?" he pestered. "Is he coming to get her?"

Ena tapped on the voicemail, but instead of the voicemail playing for it, it displayed another voicemail. Both Silver and Ena could not hold back their surprise. "It's from…Gale?" Ena realized. "This is from last night. But why would he leave her a voicemail?"

Silver frowned. "Huh… I could've sworn they were hanging out yesterday. Maybe a joke?" He glanced at Ena. "Should we listen to it?"

Ena pursed her lips. "You know we shouldn't invade someone else's privacy," she chastised.

Silver grabbed the Compact and kept his back to her when she protested and made grabs for it back. "Yeah, well, Lulu isn't just 'someone'. It's our duty to guard her heart as her best friends." He grinned evilly when it finished loading. "Here goes nothing!"

"Wait!"

Bewilderment knocked Silver over when Ena got the Compact back. "Hey!" Silver protested (more like whined) as Ena stomped into the house. He followed her and shut the door. "I was about to listen!" he tried to explain as he chased after her. He had to stagger back when Ena abruptly whirled on him.

Ena shook the Compact in front of him. "This is L's Com, not ours! We can't just listen to her voicemails!"

"But it's Gale!" Silver stressed. "Gale, the one we both knew liked her? What if it's a love confession? No, no, I'm serious!" he insisted when Ena scoffed. He grabbed her arm to keep her from stalking away. "Think about it for just a second, Fernandes. C'mon. Doesn't it make sense the more you think about it with all the intel you have?"

Ena's scowl softened into a contemplative frown. "Well… We sort of know Bleu from the Harvest Festival, but she didn't mention them talking. He was on her story though."

"Weird, right?" Silver suggested. "Wouldn't Gale be on it since he took her out?"

Ena saw the pieces to the puzzle and the corners all fit. "Which means something happened between them," she deduced. "Gale would never let another guy be on her story"—she grimaced—"as much as it pains me to say it. He's too…possessive."

"Right?" Silver snapped his fingers when he found another piece. "And Julia was at a party last night and Gale was over this morning!"

Both of them gasped.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ena whispered.

"That my beloved Paige is out there all alone without me—Ow!"

"No, you idiot stalker!" Ena seethed. "That Gale must've gone to the party while L and Bleu got better acquainted!" She turned around slowly as thoughts came rolling in. "Since L never brought up Gale, it can be assumed something happened. Something big if she didn't even tell us. Normally, she would gush about her night with Gale, but she was radio silent." She stopped and turned around, nodding. "I've made a decision," she announced. "We need to listen to the voicemail."

Silver heavily rolled his eyes. "What gave you that idea?" Ena's glare snapped all the sarcasm out of him. "A-Aye, sir!"

She took a deep breath and a long exhale. Reaffirming herself, she tapped on Gale's voicemail with Silver coming to listen to it too. Once it reloaded, they glanced at each other. With a nod from Silver, Ena pressed the play button.

---

Loke was on the porch when the Lacrima Car pulled into the path. He stepped down automatically when a guard came out of the passenger's seat to open the back door. Natsu barely made it out on two feet and looked like he broke a sweat, jaw taut. Trembling from the sickness, he still went to help Lucy out from the car, snapping when the guard tried to touch her. Loke rushed over before the guard could grow offensive and went to Lucy's other side. She seemed a bit lucid with droopy eyes, but she greeted her Lion Spirit with a smile. "Loke…"

Loke smiled back, though pained. "Princess," he chuffed like the lion he was. "You've made me worry."

Capricorn stepped out and finished speaking with the guard. He nodded at Loke. "I shaaaaaaall leave you both to it," he supposed before poofing back into the Celestial Spirit Realm.

Loke and Natsu helped Lucy, but she needed no help for the main part. She could walk on her own, just slower. The steps proved a bit of a challenge, but Natsu swept her into his arms and she, surprisingly, did not protest his decision. She let her eyes close as Loke opened the door for them. He followed the pair as Natsu climbed up the steps and headed straight for the master bedroom. Natsu tersely said, "Doc says she needs to be put on bed rest and that's what we're gonna do."

"No…" Lucy weakly protested. "I'm okay, Natsu. Please don't worry."

"Shut up." Natsu cast her a hard glare as he entered their bedroom. "Stop fighting me on this, Lucy. Just let me help you."

Lucy sighed as Natsu set her on the bed like she was more delicate than a newborn babe. "Idiot," she threw at him in feeble insult. "I'm fine, really. I don't need rest." She tried to sit up. "I need to see my children."

Natsu pushed her down with gentility in battle-worn hands and sat beside her. "You need rest," he told her, stern. "Doc's right. You're too weak to be out of bed yet."

Something flashed in milk chocolate. "I'm not weak," Lucy fought.

Onyx glowered into chocolate. "Right now? You are," Natsu retorted. "Don't be such an idiot, Lucy. You're smarter than this. Just chill out and relax until you're up to actually fighting me." When Lucy imitated a growl at him, indignant, Natsu brushed his knuckles on her cheek. "Rest," he pleaded, "for me. For the kids."

Lucy swiftly paused. She relaxed herself into the bed and nodded. "Okay."

Loke glanced between them and cleared his throat for their attention. Ignoring Natsu's glare, he spoke to Lucy, "Princess, if it's okay, I'd like to know what happened. We're all rattled you didn't call us out. Rasalas was the one you turned to and I'm more than grateful one of my Estrel could help you, but Princess… Chase nearly kidnapped you."

Lucy could see the fear storm in Loke's eyes. She raised a hand for him to come to her, a soft smile on her lips. When he nuzzled her palm as though trying to quell his worries, she murmured, "I'm sorry to have worried you all. Aquarius and Capricorn already gave me a big speech. I tried to explain to them I didn't think I'd be attacked in the bedroom with my husband, but they wouldn't listen."

"You were there." Hardness etched his words as Loke cut a glare to Natsu. "Why didn't you prevent this?"

Natsu's hackles raised. "Hey, four eyes, I didn't see any of you coming onto Earth Land when you sensed she was in trouble," he sneered back. "Talk about useless."

"I had a duty to your children," Loke retorted scathingly. "We can only appear where our keys are. By the time one of us was out, both of you were gone. So I ask again: where the Hell were you?"

Growls reverberated the room of the agitated Dragon King and the furious Lion King. Onyx exchanged for wild jade while hazel darkened. Fangs present, no king would back down from an issued challenge.

"Stop. Please."

Both men turned to see chocolate pleading at them. "No fighting, okay?" Lucy asked for. "I'm alive and okay. There's no need for you two to fight." Her gaze slid to Natsu. "You didn't lose me. I promise. I'm not going anywhere." She embraced Natsu when he lunged to hug her and snuggled his nose into her neck as though for his own reassurance. Her smile went to Loke. "You didn't lose me either, stupid kitty. I'll be your princess for a long time before you have a new Heartfilia to serve."

"Don't say that," Loke murmured harshly as his eyes stung. "Never say that to me. It's not just because you're a Heartfilia, Princess, it's—!" He bit his lip to stop himself.

Lucy understood. Her fingers reached to wipe away an unnoticed tear. "I know." And she did. No other words needed to be spoken for him to know what she meant. She released both men as something serious crossed her face. "But listen… There's something both of you should know. When I was unconscious, I met with Faven."

"That dead lady with the cat and the bird?" Natsu questioned.

Lucy nodded. "Mmm-hmm. She came to me and told me about something…horrible that would come to pass." Her eyes cast to the side. "I almost don't want to believe her, but she wouldn't lie to me."

"What was it?" Loke urged. "What did she say?"

"She said…"—a shadow cast over her eyes—"Nashi is going to die today."

Both men froze. Their eyes widened at the weight of Lucy's words.

Natsu snapped out of it first while Loke withdrew himself. "That can't be right," he growled. "My princess ain't dyin' any time soon, you got that? She's going to come home and train and go on adventures—!"

"Natsu."

DRIP.

He stopped when he saw the endless tears stream down Lucy's cheeks.

DROP.

"She can't die, right?" Lucy whispered, shaken. "She can't. She's our daughter. She can't die."

Natsu's reaction was fast. He climbed into bed to curl around his wife, his mate, his whole world. He held her as she shivered and cried quietly into his chest, fingers grasping onto him as though anchoring her from the pain. "No," he grumbled. "She won't die. I promise, Lucy. Nashi won't die, okay? Don't cry." He brought her even closer. "She's not allowed to die anytime soon, so cheer up. She'll come home; you'll see. She'll be home."

Loke felt himself drift farther and farther from everything as memories caught up to him.

"I think I saw Nashi…die."

"Seeing Nashi die like that… It felt so real."

"There was something in the snow. I couldn't get a good look at it, but there was this…silver thing in the snow. Or was it bronze? Bronze, then silver?"

"I think Nashi summoned it."

Loke clenched his jaw. "Princess," he said in an even tone, "I'm going to need you to very carefully tell me how this vision with Faven went on."

Lucy sniffled and let go of Natsu. She rubbed an eye to get rid of her tears. "Well, she… She brought me over to this pool to talk to me about the discord between Life, Death, Fate, and Destiny and their choices regarding our family. When she spoke about Nashi, she told if Nashi cheated Death, she'd have a worse experience in the future. And then…" Trouble caught her gaze.

"'And then'…?" Loke prompted.

Lucy swallowed. "And then she told me this riddle. It sounds a bit crazy. 'A pride will never have two males, but one will'—"

"…'live while the other survives'."

Lucy's eyes widened. "Loke?"

Facedown, he recited: "'The second prince is key. He will come between Death and Fate when both halves of a whole are ready' That is the Curse of the Lion's revive." His shoulders shook. Why? Why now? Why this century?

Chaos swirled before the focus. The bodies burning to ash. The cry of a babe. The scream of Aries. Bleary eyes making out a figure in the midst of fire and blood and ash. Fur exchanged for bloodied skin as the focus tried to turn to the palm. Something bronze glinted between the crack.

"Loke?"

Loke tightened his posture. "My princess." Tone grave, without his normal bravado. He had no use for his swagger of sweet talking. He was the Lion Spirit speaking to his master. He went to a knee and put a fist over his heart as the leader of the Golden Zodiacs would. He bowed his head low. "I have failed you and Nashi. I apologize."

A rapid snarl. Heat filled the room when Loke was knocked back. Natsu breathed smoke from his mouth as flames burned in jade eyes. "What the Hell did you do to my daughter?!" he roared as something beastly crept more and more into each word.

"Natsu, please."

Natsu stopped huffing smoke, but he could not let Loke go.

Lucy struggled to sit up. "Natsu… For me."

That was all it took for Natsu to drop Loke to the ground. Like an irate animal, he growled his annoyance and paced before Lucy. Ultimately, he chose to be at her side and kept her close. She could keep him at bay from any attacks and all three knew that.

Loke picked himself up, but he could not meet Lucy's worried eyes. "Loke?" she called again. "What do you mean by that? What happened? And how do you know Faven's words?"

Loke worked his jaw as courage tried to build up within him. "I know Faven's words because a Stargazer spoke them to me once," he told.

"A 'Stargazer'?"

Loke nodded once. "Yes, Princess, a Stargazer. They were often the advisors to the Star Queen and Priestess. While the Queen commanded the stars, a Stargazer read them and took in knowledge of the past, present, and future."

Natsu was not convinced. "You're saying they're like prophets or somethin'?"

"No," Loke negated. "Stargazers are legitimate readers of time, not a prophet. Similar to a Time Oracle." He hated that the memories surfaced so easily. "At the time, I hadn't been made the leader of the Golden Zodiacs. I was still a Leo Minor born to one day become Leo, the Lion King, Leader of the Zodiacs, guardian of the Heartfilia Clan, and confidant to the Star King."

A careless laugh. Paws hitting the earth while little feet tried to keep up.

Natsu looked adorable as he thought hard. "I don't get it," he complained. "Weren't you all that crap anyways?"

"That's not how it works, Natsu," Lucy told him. "Just like stars, Spirits can fade from existence and be reborn or replaced. Stars are shifting without us knowing."

Loke nodded his agreement. "Spirits aren't born like mortals. We don't need parents or sex or pregnancy. We can fashion a new star by will just like a God can shape another God from a thought. It's one of our gifts, even if we don't use it often. I came into existence with the previous Leo. I guess he was my father. He was strong and passionate and hardheaded. He butted heads with the previous Taurus and Scorpio and had a bit of a competitive streak. But he was fiercely loyal to the Heartfilia Clan." A self-deprecating smile. "Even fell in love with one."

Lucy blushed slightly while Natsu held her even tighter, warning in his eyes.

Loke shook his head. "He knew he'd be fading soon, so I came into existence. But unlike what most Spirits do, he brought me to life as a cub. He wanted to raise me, treat me like family. He wanted me to be a better Leo than he could've been. The one before him was an iron tyrant and had to be destroyed before he could do any permanent damage."

Lucy nodded, somber. "Yes. Capricorn told me about this during my astronomy studies. They called him 'Goliath', didn't they? He had everyone fear him and set out to kill the Celestial Spirit King. To put him down, the next Leo committed an act, but Capricorn didn't tell me what."

"He wouldn't be able to," Loke admitted. "It's not something we're allowed to mention because it's forbidden. My mentor was lucky enough to commit and not be banished. But in doing so, he lost a couple thousand cycles from his lifetime. But… Hearing what Faven told you now, it's something I think you should know." He looked at his hand and opened it. "It's an act only a Leo can accomplish. The bronze key."

Natsu and Lucy had question marks floating around their heads. "A 'bronze key'?"

Loke flexed his hand. "Yes. You see, if Lucy breaks a gold key, that key will stay gold. Just like if Natsu broke a silver key, that key would still be silver. But a bronze key is a key broken by a Spirit."

Lucy's eyes widened, perplexed. "Is that even possible?"

"Yes." The hand closed in on itself. "But only by a Leo. Leos were meant to be the strongest in each universe. We lead our team of Zodiacs as knights, defenders of our sectors. Only we have the power to break another Spirit's link to another world but at a high price. The riddle Faven told you… It was one my mentor told me. A Stargazer told him the same thing. He broke the key of Goliath when he thought the riddle was meant for him."

"But wait…" Lucy stopped him right there. "Even though he broke the key, can't Goliath appear elsewhere?"

Loke nodded. "Yes. When a key is broken, the Spirit is trapped in their realm with no way out. But when the key is broken within the Spirit Realm, the law is the same, but it takes time for the Spirit to be reborn. During that time, the key pieces back together, but it turns bronze. It becomes a forbidden key only a Spirit can use. The Spirit with no link is sent to the Void of Space to wait until the key is used to summon them. That's where all Spirit destroyed by Spirits stay. Once the Spirit is summoned, the key turns back to silver like the key itself was reborn."

Lucy took this all in. "Okay. I understand that. But what does this have to do with us and Nashi?"

"Everything." Loke swallowed. "I was only a couple cycles old when my mentor approached me with news. I wouldn't be alone in my journey to be the next Leo." His eyes closed.

A toothy smile. Little paws. Big amber eyes.

"In a way, I had a little brother," Loke confessed. "His name is Býleistr. And I think he's the reason Nashi can live."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Loke?" Lucy shook her head. "You're starting to not make sense. You have a brother?"

Natsu crossed his arms as he tried to put it together in his head. All he could see is a small version of Loke with the suit and glasses, both rubbing against Lucy. "Now I really want to beat up the bastard," he muttered darkly.

Loke winced. "Like I said, I guess you could call Býleistr that. We grew up together with our mentor, sparring, learning, fighting side by side. But as we went through our cycles, it always felt like our mentor was always watching Býleistr closely for something I couldn't figure out. We'd travel to other realms and meet other stars and their kingdoms. He was my best friend and like family to me. He understood me without us ever speaking." His smile was full of guilt. "That's why I never understood how he could turn against me."

A promising roar. A cry of help. Blood turned to ash.

Lucy noticed the anguish tearing Loke up inside and soothed, "You don't have to tell us if you don't feel comfortable."

"No," Loke disagreed vehemently, "I owe you this, Lucy. Please."

Lucy hesitated, then she nodded for him to go ahead.

Loke slackened his shoulders. "Our mentor was beginning to fade. I was beginning to take over his role. I met with the future Star Queen and we become best friends, almost inseparable. I would lay down my life for her if she asked me to. The previous Aries was still around and introduced me to the Aries we know now. Capricorn and Taurus had already replaced their mentors cycles back and Aquarius and Scorpio were just protostars. Sagittarius was about to come into leadership back then too. The Zodiacs were in the stage of the next generation and we were ready. As my final assessment to prove my worth of the Leo title, we went to a distant planet as a Stargazer sensed one of my biggest foes I'd ever face would be there. She warned me the foe would be near impossible to defeat and I didn't take her seriously. But when she told me that riddle, it felt familiar."

A shaky hand. "You mustn't forget this!" came cry. "You must remember! Remember for when an Angel cries and needs the Lion's revive!"

Loke tensed. "When we arrive, the planet was in shambles. Women, children—slaughtered without remorse. We thought we were facing an army, but there was no army."

A panting beast stood in the heat of bloodlust. Man and creature combined with bloodstained teeth and eyes sharp as hatred.

"There was just one thing that took to killing nearly an entire planet…"

Aries' distressed sob as she held a man with half a body left to him. Flames consumed a desperate woman, pleading for anyone dead or alive to kill her. The earth saturated in the dead. The focus shakily pinned on the Beastman as it finished its latest kill and dropped the mortal to the ground. As it sensing someone watched it, it turned its head…

…to show vivid amber eyes.

"…my own brother."

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!

"…Býleistr?"

Loke shut his eyes when the pain became too much. "I order my fellow Zodiacs to return. Closing their gates nearly exhausted me, but I had to do it. I had to face him by myself."

"Býleistr, why? How could you do this?" came hysterical shout. "How could you kill them? Býleistr!"

"I asked myself every day since then how could he betray me? He was my closest friend. He was my family. With Leo about to be gone, we would be the only ones left. We only had each other." The words were choked out as though telling them was a nightmare in itself. "I thought about it so often. I should've seen the signs. The cycles I spent training with Leo, Býleistr and I drifted apart until the point he was never there and I never noticed. I never noticed him because I was about to become the next Leo. I kept thinking, 'This is my fault. I should've paid attention to him. I should've noticed'—"

"Loke," Lucy said sharply.

Loke looked up at her with a sad smile. "Don't worry, Princess. Aries made sure to scold me for thinking like that," he assured. "But that battle… No, it wasn't a battle. It was a massacre. And seeing Býleistr at the heart of it… It was too much for me. He charged for me and I could barely react. He was trying to kill me. I could tell, but I didn't want to believe it. I thought he was the same annoying cub who followed me everywhere and copied everything I did. I thought he was still my family. I was so blind that I didn't see I gave him an opening to kill me."

"Look out!"

The focus widened.

Splattered stardust.

"Aries was the one to save me," Loke got out. "She took the hit that would've killed me. I held her in my arms when she disappeared back to her home. It was like something broke in me. I snapped. I put everything I had to defeat him for everything that he did. I didn't give a damn about anything else. I wanted him to feel hurt like I did. I wanted him to feel the pain of his betrayal like I felt." Eyes watered. "But no matter what I threw at him, he always would comeback fiercer. I was losing. I was blind by my rage to not fight like I should have. My sword was gone and he was gaining on me. I didn't know what else to do until I felt a key in my hand."

The focus watched as an armored hand opened for a silver key to be revealed. The symbol of the lion remained dull at the end of the key.

Lucy covered her mouth. "Loke…"

Hazel widened in hysterics. "I had to do it!" he choked. "He had to be stopped! He was about to kill me and destroy the planet! I didn't have any other choice!" He shook his head. "I broke my own family's key, Princess!" he cried. "I broke his key!" He shuddered and held in his pain even when he felt Lucy's presence surround him in soft embrace. He dared not hug her back. He did not deserve comfort. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I broke the law. I broke his key. I'm so sorry, Lucy."

"Stupid kitty," Lucy lightly chided. "I'm not angry with you. I wasn't in the position you were in and even if I was? I don't know how I'd have made that choice. You made a hard choice. I understand."

Loke lurched forward as he held back his tears, digging into her shoulder.

"Sorry if I'm not too sad about all this," Natsu interrupted loudly, "but I still don't see how this story helps my daughter."

Lucy gave Natsu a sharp glare. "Natsu!" she snapped.

"No…" Loke pulled away from Lucy. "I understand." He looked up at Natsu. "While you were gone, Luna had a series of nightmarish visions. From what Luke told me and what Luna told me, she witnessed Nashi's death over and over again."

Lucy gaped. "But…! How was it that even possible?" Onyx and chocolate exchanged worried glances.

"It's true," Loke confirmed. "But one of her dreams changed. She saw Nashi in the snow and something bronze was there. But when Nashi summoned it, it turned silver."

Natsu growled. "And you think your mass-murdering brother is that key?"

"I hoped not," Loke murmured, torn. "But I see no other way. Among all of Lucy's Spirits, I'm the only one with a bronze key." He hung his head. "I know it's a big risk. I know that. But it's the only way I think Nashi can be saved."

Natsu frowned. "All right then." He got up from the bed to stride over to Loke. Before Loke could look up, Natsu bopped the top of Loke's head with a fist. "That's for worrying Lucy," he said. He did it again. "And that's for worrying Aries."

Lucy gazed up at Natsu as his determined grin came onto his face. "Natsu…?"

"I can't say I can judge you," Natsu spoke. "I kinda had my own mass-murdering big bro, remember? And I trust First Master to him. I still do. So no need to get all sad. If you think this guy can save my little princess, then I believe you."

"Why?" Loke questioned. "How could you believe me?"

"Easy." Natsu's grin widened. "You might be a pain in the ass, but you're family. When I'm not here, I trust you with the most important treasure I've got." He stooped down to place his forehead against Lucy's temple. "My Lucy and my kids. So why wouldn't I believe you? Seems stupid to me."

Lucy giggled at Loke's flabbergasted look. "Natsu's right. You're one of my most trusted Spirits, Loke, but you're family before that," she told him sunnily. "You've protected our kids and watched over them like they're your own. We both are so grateful they have you."

Natsu's fingers slid to Lucy's stomach. "And maybe just one more will—?"

Lucy slapped her husband's hands away from her stomach with a firm glare (even if she was blushing). "Natsu, I told you!" she hissed. "I'm not having any more kids!"

"But why…?" Natsu complained. "C'mon, just one more?"

"No! We have four!"

"But I want an army! That way Gray doesn't stand a chance—Ow…! What was that for?"

"Hmph! I am not having another kid for the sake of your rivalry! Geez, what kind of woman do you take me for?"

Natsu pulled her close with his hands rubbing her stomach. "The kind who looks all kinds of hot carryin' my kid," he purred.

Red crawled up Lucy's neck. "Natsu…!" she whined. "Don't say things like that. It's embarrassing."

"Nuh-uh," Natsu sassed back. "It's true! Gets me all fired up thinkin' about it! Seeing your belly get big with my kid"—his hands traveled up as Lucy turned redder—"and your boobs were so sensitive…" He could not help but give her breasts a playful squeeze.

Lucy's eyes widened.

WHAM.

Natsu was on the ground with comical tears running down his face as a red handprint covered face. "Lucy is"—TWITCH—"so mean…!" TWITCH. TWITCH.

Lucy turned away from her husband to cover herself. "Pervert! You can't just do that to me! I have boundaries too, you know!"

As Natsu (oblivious) and Lucy (frazzled) bickered, Loke observed them both with deep thought. Honestly. Those two couldn't be more of a perfect match, but…

"You mustn't forget this! You must remember!" The focus looked down to a veiled woman with desperate brown eyes and locks of gold framing her face. "Remember for when an Angel cries and needs the Lion's revive! But beware of the Devil! Should the Angel fall, the Devil will rise and none shall be able to stop his wrath!"

At the time, Loke thought, I thought she meant a biblical sense and brushed it off. But seeing Gary and Nashi… I can only hope Gary will stay true to himself. Nashi can't just die for our sake. If she dies…no one will be able to stop him.

---

SLAM!

The doors to Fairy Tail blustered open with a furious Mystogan storming within the guildhall. Helloes and drunken greetings were there for him, but he refused to have it. He stormed his way to the staircase with a scowl and shoulders shaking.

A hand shot out and grabbed his own. "Wait!"

Mystogan glared over his shoulder to see Kinana holding him back. "Yes, Miss Kinana?"

Kinana withdrew her hand at his bite. "You just look a little upset and going to the second level… I can see what's going on, Mystogan. But the Master is in a standing meeting with HR right now—"

"I don't care." He returned to his mission. "She'll see me." Two steps at a time, he went, until he got to the second level. Offices were there for those in the Fairy Tail Guild with titles and not necessarily Magic. But none of that matters to Mystogan. He went down a hallway and his eyes instantly went to a door with the name:

CONFERENCE ROOM B

Voices were muffled, but Mystogan barged in without preamble. "Where is my sister?"

The meeting was not with too many people. Business casual was the theme, though Constantine did not follow that protocol. Freed has his hair pulled into a bun with his laptop open. Number Five had on a blouse and pencil skirt, her shackles dutifully on her ankles, and she took notes on behalf of the meeting. Everyone had looked up at the intrusion, but Erza narrowed her eyes at her son.

"Mister Fernandes," Erza started, voice even, "as you can see, I am in the middle of a discussion. Your unnecessary interrogation will simply have to wait."

"Forgive me for saying I refuse to wait when my sister's life is at stake," Mystogan retorted.

Erza lifted a challenging eyebrow, but a hand rose to stop her. "Guild Master, I believe the boy has something of importance to say," came female suppose. The woman's skin had little wrinkles and pinched eyes, but the braids in her hair were intricately woven with beads wrapped into them. Her stare went to Mystogan. "Besides, I think this standing meeting is over. We went well past fifteen minutes."

⌜FAIRY TAIL

Name: Amrita

Age: 43

Occupation: Legal Advisor

Likes: Audiobooks Dislikes: rainbows

Special Note: Amrita may not have Magic, but she contributes plenty to the Fairy Tail Guild! ⌟

"I agree," Freed spoke up, shooting Erza a meaningful look. "I'd say the meeting's adjourned. Why don't you all return to work?" As everyone got up to leave, Freed leaned closer to Erza and murmured, "He has your stubbornness. He wouldn't leave no matter what we say."

"I'm aware of that," Erza muttered, cross. She looked over at Number Five. "Five, please see to it that the notes from this meeting are presentable once I finished speaking with Mister Fernandes and I'd like you to draft up a schedule for one-on-ones."

Number Five got up with her laptop and bowed. "Of course, Master."

"Constantine," Erza commanded, "please follow up with Misses Williams. Our Communications Director will be making a visit on Monday. Relay with her secretary of our agenda about discussing your's, Ever's, and Laxus' damage control."

Constantine nodded. "Yes, Master." He followed Free and Number Five out of the conference room, leaving Erza and Mystogan alone.

"Mother," Mystogan started again in a terse growl, "where is she?"

Erza closed her laptop to sigh. "Well, Ena should be at home. She told me Luna was coming over—"

"Aine, Mother." Mystogan took a step forward. "Where is Aine? Where is my sister?"

Erza stared her son down. "Mystogan, may I remind you, while you are my son, you are an S-Class Mage and report directly to me as your Guild Master when you step into our hall." Scathing scold was on her tongue as she crossed her arms. "You have interrupted a meeting with our HR department on your own merit, knowing your rank. Do you know where I am going with this?"

Mystogan refused to lower his gaze, but slight contrite entered his eyes. "I understand the consequences to my actions and do not intend to disrespect my Guild Master," he told. "However"—he took a step forward—"as my mother, surely you could understand my concern."

Erza softened, but only just a little. "I do," she agreed, timbre quiet. "I'm her mother, Mystogan, of course I worry about her. She's going through so much and she's so young… And the world isn't forgiving, much less than when I was her age."

"Yes, yes!" Mystogan perked as he listened to her. "See, Mother, I—!"

"However."

Mystogan took a step back when Erza rose from her seat.

"As her mother, I have faith she's doing the right thing," she continued to say. "She's never given me any doubt in how she takes care of herself. She's been studious, hardworking, determined, and looks after herself."

"But that doesn't mean she's ready for a mission," Mystogan argued. "I thought you were keeping her busy being the dormitory den mother and her degree—!"

"'Keeping her busy'?" The nerve! The glower Erza sent was seething. "Oberon Mystogan, Aine is doing those things because she wants to do them! And I'm supporting her as Ena is and as you should be! It's not wrong for her to her a degree!"

"That's not what I'm saying," Mystogan insisted, shaking his head. "But Mother, doing on missions, fighting—that's not for Aine! Not with her conditions! She should be at home, here and safe!"

"She's with Lance—"

"What does that matter?" Mystogan interjected. "How can I keep an eye on her if I don't know where she is? What if she forgets her medication? What if she gets into trouble? What if—?"

"'What if' nothing!" Erza snapped. "You are out of line as a brother, as a son, and as a member to this guild! I allowed Aine to go on this job with the company of two S-Class Wizards and an A-Class Wizard, something that could be misconstrued as mistrusting her abilities." She tucked her laptop under her arm as she walked to the door. "She is a strong, independent woman even with her medical conditions and has exceeded every expectation set before her with no need to prove herself." She paused at Mystogan's side. "I won't tolerate you disrespecting both of your sisters with this attitude," she murmured. "And the worst part about this is? You're beginning to act the same way you pin your father to be."

Mystogan's eyes widened as Erza strode away. "How can you say that to me?" came desperate whisper. In a rush of fury, he whipped around. "I am nothing like him! I actually care about this family!"

Erza opened the door. "I know you do…but you pick and choose who and when to care. The Oberon I love would support and love all of his family. I suppose Mystogan does not." She left the room.

She left her son to grasp the meaning of her words.

---

Olivia pulled up the Redfox Residence in the afternoon. The sky was awake, but it would not be long for sunset to hit in a few hours. Gale got off the motorcycle first and took off his helmet, but he did not make a move for the house. It looked like both his parents and Lily were home with the lights on in the house.

Gale tensed. If I go in there, he'll smell me right away. Is he gonna take me to Uncle Natsu?

Sycaña washed over his mind soothing waves. Tread lightly, Little Gem. Tread lightly.

Olivia turned off her bike and her helmet was off. She glanced over to Gale. "He won't lash out if he's really pissed," she said as an attempt to console. "If anything, he'll be disappointed but not pissed."

Gale snorted. "Like that's any better." He hooked the helmet back to the motorcycle. "I keep asking myself, 'Why? Why did you do it'? We were taught time and time again how to wait and save your v-card and… What's my excuse?" He flinched as ruby met hazel when a hand landed on his shoulder.

"No excuses, Gale," Olivia advised. "Just the truth."

Gale sucked in a breath. "Yeah. But the truth hurts." He turned to the house. "Here goes nothing. If I die, do not let Leo get any of my guitars." His feet moved, but his mind braced itself for impact. His ear twitched when he heard Olivia follow him, but he did not want to turn to her for assurance again. He was on his own.

He sensed his father's presence before he saw him. When Gale stepped into the threshold, Gajeel was in the living room with Lily snoring away. He looked like he was in the middle of watching a hockey game, munching on some iron bolts like they were chips, when he noticed Gale and Olivia. Gajeel grinned at them. "What's goin' on, brats?"

Gale swallowed, too afraid to speak, so Olivia swooped in. "Nothing, Papa. We just went to Cake Workshop." She jerked her thumb to the stairs. "I'll be in my room."

Gale comically gaped as she traipsed away with an evil grin. You're leaving me here to die alone? How cruel, Liv!

"And you…"

Gale flinched and slowly turned to see Gajeel's grin broadened as he stood up. "Um… I think I'll head up to my room t—"

"Hold it, kid." Gajeel cracked his back. "You and Squirt okay?"

Gale's stomach dropped. "Uh… Wh-Why do you ask?"

Gajeel rubbed his neck. "Listen… I'm really proud of you for lookin' after her like that," he told his son. "I know it ain't easy with her being younger than you and all, but… You've really shown how determined you are. Judgin' from Blondie's scent, I think she's noticin' you too."

Gale lowered his eyes. Why…? Why did he have to say this now? "Yeah, Dad, um… A-About that… I—"

"Salamander was a bit afraid for a while there," Gajeel mentioned offhandedly as he drifted closer to Gale. "He knew you were serious, but he was worried about the Squirt's heart with you getting older and everything. Don't worry, kid. I told him you'd wait for his approval no matter how long it took. You've got the resolve of the Metal Dragon in ya, y'know? We're tough bastards."

Fists clenched. "Dad—"

Gajeel laughed. "You have a lot more patience than me," he admitted in good humor. "I—!"

His nose twitched.

His smile slowly dropped.

Intense ruby pierced at Gale.

Gale shut his eyes. He knew it. He knew what his father's stare meant. "Dad, I can explain—"

"People only say that when they want to justify shit." The tone was neutral. Not angry. Not disappointed. Just neutral. "They want to hit people with excuses. You really have an excuse I want to hear right now?"

Gale flinched. "No, Sir."

"You can't even look me in the eye, can you?" Gajeel leaned closer to whiff more of his son's scent, cataloging every flinch. "You can't look me in the eye to tell me what happened, can you?"

Gale gulped his shame. "No, Sir."

Gajeel's eyes found Gale's pendant. "Mama Dragon have anything to say?"

Gale nodded. "She tried to stop me," he relayed. "She's disappointed in me."

Gajeel leaned back to cross his arms. "I see," he rumbled.

Gale heard everything he needed to in those two words. "Dad, I'm—"

A locked jaw. "Don't say that shit to me."

Gale froze.

Gajeel turned away from Gale, no fang, not even wanting to look at what he saw. Shame in human form. "I've taught you all that you're free to do as you please," he reminded. "But it's up to you to live with the consequences. Or did I not teach you that?"

"I-I know—!"

"So you did as you pleased," Gajeel deduced as he sat back down. "So your consequence is looking Natsu in the eye and telling him. And you're going to apologize to his queen." His eyes went to the hockey game like Gale did not interest him anymore. "Look her in the eye and tell her how the pain you gave her meant jack shit. We'll talk after that."

Gale felt it. Rejection. Rejection from the man who raised him, who loved him, who taught him, who made him. And he could not fault his father for that. He could only fault himself. "Are they home yet?" he croaked as though the words hurt him to say. Everything was beginning to hurt now. His father turned his back on him. He was alone.

Gajeel did not answer him. He ignored him for the game.

Gale locked his jaw. "I'll head back out then," he supposed as though baiting Gajeel to answer, hoping for something.

He received nothing.

Gale turned on his heel and headed back out the door from which he came. He flexed his hand. How can she forgive me, he wondered, when all the pain I caused her…was for nothing?

He received no answer.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Meanwhile, in New Azalea…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The room was lit up in candles with earth, wind, fire, and water at their respective cardinal directions. The Magician Circle had been made with an assortment of ingredients, but it looked like it was made from salt alone. Energy wafted around the room was the needle in the middle of the circle continued to spin and spin and spin. Giovanni, Dazzler, and John sat in a triangle with their Magic Aura glowing around their being and keeping them afloat. Murmured incantations flooded from their mouths to channel their Magic.

John, however, peeked his eye open in the middle of a chant to see the needle still spinning. His words came to a stop as he rolled his eyes. "No offense here, but it looks like our little Boogle Maps is buffering."

With his incantation stopped, Dazzler and Giovanni dropped unceremoniously to the floor. Dazzler let out a frustrated breath as he picked herself back up. "A little bit of warning before you stop meditating would've been nice," she snapped.

John dusted himself off. "Well, pardon me if I'm not a fan of fannying around, prattlin' some odd hours-worth of incantations, and feeling like I did when my dealer gave me the wack from South Andusa," he drawled. He checked his watch and what an odd watch it was. Five clocks sat on it. "Listen, love, big ben is a-tickin' and as much as the catch up has been smashing, we need to hurry it up or we'll lose the rift."

Dazzler sighed and turned back to Giovanni. "Gio…?"

Giovanni rubbed his chin as he looked at the spinning needle. "The buffering means your friend is past our cosmos," he explained. "It shouldn't be taking this long to track him down, especially with me being here." He rested both hands on the cane. "I'm sorry. But it looks like either your friend doesn't want to be found or he's being shielded."

Dazzler huffed, crossing her arms. "Charming." She turned to John with an expectant raise of an eyebrow. "Well, gov'na. The time for your dark bullshit is now."

John grinned. "Let's take a walk on the dark side."

°•°•°•°

Laxus was ready to blow out a fuse when Dazzler, John, and Giovanni came back into the sitting room. He immediately stood up and cracked his neck. "Finally," he groused. "Took you long enough."

"No, it didn't," Dazzler bit. "We didn't find him."

Ghost gaped. "But…! I thought that spell could find anyone?"

"Not if they didn't want to be found," John informed. "Believe me, mate. I know a thing or two about shields."

"John specializes in never being found," Dazzler said snidely, "so we'll be taking a page out of his book."

John put a hand over his heart. "Cold-blooded, D." He turned to Ghost and Laxus. "Let's just say I have a favor to call in from some assholes who don't like me too much and they can give me the gen."

"What a surprise," Laxus grunted.

John grinned as he played with his lighter. "A favor's a favor. We can talk smack later, but I suggest we get to a more open setting so I can give 'em a bell. They're a bit flashy, ya see, and sensitive to being ripped into a new world. Wouldn't want to burn this place down on accident."

Sindella shook her head. "Heaven help this child."

Giovanni walked over to Dazzler to hug her. "Then, I suppose this is good-bye for now."

"For now," Dazzler agreed as she pulled back. "Thanks for taking us in. I really appreciate it, Gio. I promise to come visit more often."

"You better." Sindella cut in to give Dazzler a crushing embrace. "And please keep John in line. I know you're hurting still, Dazzler. He's hurting too."

"Doesn't feel like," Dazzler grumbled.

Sindella pulled back to sweep Dazzler's hair from her face. "Oh, Dazzler… Men aren't always too big on showing when they're down," she told her lowly. "Thinks it hurts their pride or something like that. It's up to us to look past their façade and find out what they're really thinking."

"Beer, boobs, and butt sex?" Dazzler joked.

"No, sweetie." Sindella cupped Dazzler's cheeks. "He's thinking about you. The feelings never left. Just like yours haven't." She tipped her head. "But you feel something for another. Not like John. But it's only a seed."

Dazzler swallowed, throat dry. "Thanks, Sindella, but I don't have time for feelings. I need to save my friends." She politely got out of Sindella's hold. "I will miss you," she promised. "I'll come back soon." With that, she went over to Laxus with a cheeky grin. "Ready to teleport again?"

Laxus turned green. "If we have to…"

"Great!" She took Laxus' hand. She was about to grab John's, but she stopped short. It was John who took the leap and interlaced their fingers. She shot him a look of disgust, but she did not shake him off. She turned to Ghost. "Ghost, hold onto my hat! We're jumping!" When Ghost did as she asked, Dazzler beamed as her Magician Circle blossomed beneath her. "Bye, Sindella, Gio! See you soon!" To everyone else, she said, "Hold on tight! I'm a bit rusty, but if anyone's missing a body part, I've got skelixir in my hat!"

Laxus' eyes widened. "What? Dazzler—Ah!" He collapsed on his stomach with a face full of snow. Nausea rolled inside him as he groaned and pushed himself onto his back. Blue skies turning orange welcomed him. "Never…do that…again," he panted.

Dazzler invaded his vision with a frown. "Hey, I'm rusty, but not that rusty." She turned back to the campsite to see John playing with his lighter. She cupped her hands and called, "Tick-tock! Big ben's hands are still moving, mate!"

John chuckled. "You're one-off to become a sorry Minstrish lady ya-self there, D," he teased. "Sit back and watch the Magic happen."

Dazzler obliged as she took off her top hat to shake out a beach chair, sunglasses, and a young adult erotica book. Properly ready with her sunglasses on and sitting on her beach chair, she waved for him to continue before opening her book. John laughed at her antics and turned back to his work.

Ghost floated near her, curious. "What's he gonna do?"

"Shit if I know," Dazzler muttered as she began to read. "Open the gates of Hell? Accidentally drown us all? Jump is into the real world? Or maybe a goddess for an ex-girlfriend will rain fire down on us?"

"It wasn't fire!" John called from a distance. "And how many times do I have to tell ya? I didn't chat 'er up!"

Dazzler flicked to the next page a bit aggressively. "Oh, please, we both know you put your dick inside her! There's no way you didn't shag if she was that furious!" she yelled back. "Hop to it, governor! Dark side us away!" With a huff, she went back to her book and went to the next page.

Ghost observed her. "Were you two ever, like…a thing or something? O-O-Or not!" he added quickly when her glare nearly spirited him away. "I-I-I just mean you two seem so close and all, y'know? Hard to believe I've never heard of him."

"Same here." Laxus joined them, looking less green. "Why didn't I know about that one?"

Dazzler shrugged. "He's not important," she said simply. "Put my past behind me, that's all."

"Yeah, well…" Ghost's eyes rounded when he witnessed three creatures of shark teeth, fins, gills, and angry claws emerge from a portal of fire. "I feel like he's a pretty big part of that past."

SNAP.

Ghost flinched back and Laxus' raised an eyebrow when Dazzler snapped her book shut. "Look. We went to academy together. Barely spoke. He knew my dad and was under his wing for a while until he got too interested in the Dark Arts, something my dad forbade his assistants from doing. So the bloody wanker went off to do his own thing and betrayed my dad. End of story." Opening back up her book, she dove back into the erotica and viciously crossed her legs.

Laxus eyed Dazzler as Ghost laughed, uncomfortable. "Right, we get it. No connection. Of course. Sorry to pry," Ghost apologized. "We won't bring it up again."

"Good." That was all Dazzler had to say to end the conversation.

Laxus watched her flip to the next page. Yeah. For two people who barely spoke, the energy I feel tells me otherwise.

"Got it!"

All three looked up to see John jogging toward them as the three creatures went back through the portal of fire with unhappy glares on their faces. John looked over the moon smug about the conversation. "So the guppies filled me in. Sniffed the rift and told me it leads to a Demon's haven. They've been there before. Called the Lucky Duck Casino."

Dazzler ripped off her sunglasses in revelation. "Hold up. That casino?" She looked up at Laxus. "Wasn't there a commercial for that?"

Laxus nodded and crossed his arms. "Must've been a trap," he figured out. "Makes sense. Not the first time a casino is used as a scam. Perfect place for greed and cheating."

"Yeah, but this next bit is the killer." John frowned. "Looks like things over there have been a little wonky. More lower-level Demons are taking guard. Told me to steer clear from a tosser called 'Mammon'." He thought about it. "Actually, they told me to get a little fruity with the dickhead."

"Means this guy can kill you," Dazzler deduced.

John agreed with that. "Looks like the bloke's a right-hand to all the casino mumbo jumbo."

"So we take him out," Laxus planned as Ghost mouthed Mumbo Jumbo? to Dazzler who snorted. Laxus shot them a look to quiet them before turning back to John. "What else ya got, kid?"

John raised an eyebrow, but he continued: "Not too much. Mentioned ya mate, but they said they'd never seen a Devil like that. Just the black panther."

"You mean like the superhero?" Ghost asked.

"No. Like the Devil," John corrected. "And not an easy one. Pretty old, but he does his own thing. Shouldn't bother us too much. Mammon is the kicker."

Laxus narrowed his eyes. "And you're sure they weren't lying?"

"Oh, they weren't." Dazzler leaned back as though angry for herself for knowing this information. "I recognized those three anywhere. Poker buddies, am I right? Meaning John outsmarted them before they could outsmart him."

John winked at her. "Excellent deduction, love. Want a prize?"

She let out a sharp laugh. "Unless you can leave me alone for the rest of my life? No. Your prizes include something that half the universe has seen." She stood up. "Not interested in something mainstream, love." She turned to Laxus while John chuckled, enjoying her banter. "So. Are you still in?" She looked at Ghost. "You too?"

Ghost frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well…" Dazzler trudged to John's side. "Unfortunately, we've partied up meaning we're going to open the rift, jump through, and hope we won't die," she put it bluntly. "I'm not asking either of you to join us. What we're doing is risky and coming back home won't be easy, especially without us knowing the coordinates."

"Jumping is a nightmare," John muttered. "I'm still scarred from the last time. Twenty-seven jumps in and I'm thinking a polar bear is singin' God Save the Queen and I'm Tarzan." He shivered. "Feckin' acid dream. Felt like a nutta'."

Dazzler rolled her eyes. She was going to get a headache from doing it so often. "Point is, you don't have to go any farther. Not exactly an easy mission."

Laxus stepped forth. "We're coming." No questions allowed to that.

Dazzler grinned up at him. "Aye, Sir."

John looked at Ghost. "Hey. You. Danny Phantom."

Ghost looked around before pointing at himself. "Me?" He floated closer.

"Forgot that's not a thing in this world," John muttered. "Listen," he spoke to Ghost, "Sindy let me in on your origin story." In a lower voice, he asked, "You really a Reaper, mate?"

Ghost opened his mouth, but then… He did not know how to negate that. "I don't know," he decided to say. "Everything she said made sense. I don't know who I am or how I died. I just know I'm dead and have powers. But, for some reason, I can't physically manifest like a Poltergeist."

"Nah, mate, Poltergeists are like mad ghosts with the lurgy," John educated. "Reapers take the form of physical projections. I'm surprised another Reaper didn't help ya out to know your onions. It's not quite easy peasy to get the hand of, ya know."

Ghost shrugged helplessly. "I don't know much before my time at Fairy Tail. The last thing I can really remember is waking up and Mister Fullbuster and Master found me."

John observed Ghost. Huh… Not the typical Reaper. No memories, but he can change his form. That's somethin'. Not too surprised those Mages haven't felt his power. He's full o' beans. But… His eyes slid to Dazzler as she sassed back at Laxus. Why didn't she feel something?

"Wait!" Ghost looked at John in perplexity. "How did you know what Miss Sindella said?"

John's shit-eating grin was all the answer he needed. "Let's just say I'm a multi-tasker." He shoved his hands in his coat's pockets. "Let me make you a little bit of a flutter. We survive this, I'll help you find your killer and your identity."

"Seriously?" Ghost gasped. "You'd do that for me?"

"Ghost, don't do it." Dazzler tuned into the conversation to glower at John. "He's just going to want something in return."

John chuckled. "Guilty," he deemed. "It's a bargain, mate. I'll help you find out all the missing bits and pieces about yourself on the condition you stick around with me on a particular job."

"That's it?" Ghost checked, dubious.

"Yup. It's a win-win," John promised. "We got a deal, Casper?"

Ghost lit up. "You bet we do, Sherlock!" he gushed. "Man, oh man, I can't wait to find my body! I might even have a family! Maybe I'm rich or something!"

Dazzler went closer to John to hiss, "I know what you're doing and I don't like it. You're using my friend for something dangerous, Winters."

"Not at all," John soothed lowly. "Been needin' a Reaper for this particular job. One bloody shows up at my doorstep? It's fate, D." He glanced at her. "What I'm more surprised at is how you didn't realize he was one."

Dazzler looked away, tucking at her locks of raven hair. "Not exactly the biggest fan of Dark Arts and all its little creatures, Winters," she muttered. "What exactly do you need a Reaper for?"

John gave her a long look before popping out a cigarette. He lit it and took a drag. "Bones."

That was news to Dazzler. "Mason? What's wrong with him?"

"Let's just say the bloke's gone through a lot," John put it. "Made a deal with a god from another realm that backfired."

"Let me guess. Another underworld god?" Dazzler groaned and rubbed her temples. "When will he learn?" She looked over at John. "You can't keep cleaning up after his mess, John," she scolded. "The guy's practically suicidal."

John took another hit. "Yeah, well, when you have to kill your wife and unborn child, let me know how that goes for you."

Silence meshed between them, prickly and peculiar. Dazzler broke it when she took the cigarette from John to take a drag herself, surprising him. "Didn't think you'd bum one off," John spoke. He took back the cigarette when she offered it.

Dazzler puffed out the smoke. "Being with you brings back nasty habits."

John looked down at that. Then, he said, "If I could take it back, I would. You have to know that, love. No one was or is as important to me as you."

"Don't do this." The words were supposed to be snappish, but they came off as a desperate plea. "We have a mission. Stick with that. Then, we part ways, understand?"

John stopped her from leaving with a hand on her wrist. "Is that what you fancy?" he demanded, quiet. "For us to never see each other again. Is that it?"

Dazzler refused to look at him. "Focus on your mission, Winters. And I'll focus on mine." She yanked her wrist away to go to the campsite while Ghost flew in circles around her, chatting excitedly over what his life could have been like. John sighed and took another hit.

And all the while Laxus observed Dazzler scurrying off in retreat while John stood there. "Hmm…"

---

The skating rink was packed tonight as it was every weekend. Christmas music was thumping and everyone was taking joy into it. Some could figure skate and the obvious hockey players were jesting about their speed, but there were those who needed the wall or the cones to get them by. For those who could not ice skate, a warmer section was for them with food and drinks and arcade games for them to entertain themselves. The high school workers kept up their smiles as they brought out new skates and took others back, some even recommending the size and style to wear for the evening.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the North Osage Recreational Center, famous for being the training grounds for two famous Fioren skaters! »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna squealed as Bleu came back with their skates. "This is so cool! I always wanted to go here!"

Bleu laughed. "You should check out the skating rink in Long Square in NAC," he told her. "It's huge and always a good time! But when you told me you'd been wanting to skate here ever since you'd watched Yoko on Ice…"

Luna blushed. "Shut up…!" she whined. "I've been ice skating before! But the love between Yoko and his coach was so cute! It just made me really passionate about skating is all."

"Sure, Treasure," he teased as he laced up his skates. He easily got to his feet. "Need any help?" Before Luna could answer, he got down on his knees to help her tie them up.

Luna giggled. "Thank you."

"No problem." Bleu loosened the lace halfway up the boot before tightening the strings where foot and ankle bent.

Luna watched him work in wonder. "Wow… You really know your stuff."

Bleu grinned as he crisscrossed the laces and to the hooks. "Not really. Did some hockey and some figure skating back when." He went under, then over, but left some room for the laces to breathe. He finished with a secure double-knot bow. When he was done, he tapped her skates. "How we feeling?"

Luna wiggled her feet. "Everything's a-okay with me, chief."

"Too tight? Too loose?"

"Nope!" Luna shook her head. Her head bent to give him a slow kiss on the lips. In a low purr, she complimented, "It's perfect."

Bleu grunted as he got to his feet and tried to ignore the cherry on his cheeks. "Then, we're golden." He offered his hand to her. "Ready to free skate, Treasure? Try to keep up."

Luna bumped his shoulder at his cheekiness. "Right back at you." She grasped his hand and got to her feet.

The music shifted as a female voice counted, "One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four…" The lighting dimmed as she continued to chant until everything was completely black (save the emergency exits and the light from the rental skate counter).

Silence.

"One, two!"

Lights flashed on one-and-two then three-and, then four as the music came on with futuristic C-Pop. Everyone was more courageous on the ice as the music pumped through the rink with lights flashing and lasers going. Even Luna perked at the change of music and pulled at Bleu to go faster. "C'mon! Oh my gosh, they're playing Super Riser!"

Bleu chuckled. "Okay, okay, we're going, we're going!"

With everyone rushing off onto the ice with a vengeance, Bleu more than once pulled Luna into him to keep her from being knocked over. He went on the ice before her, ready to catch her if she fell. But much to his surprise, Luna took to the ice no problem and skated passed him. She caught a look of his dumbfoundedness and laughed. "Come on! We're missing it!"

Bleu shook his head in amusement as he skated to catch up with her. "Always full of surprises." He took her gloved hand into his own. "But that's what I like about you."

Luna thanked goodness she could blame the cold for her flaming cheeks. "Well, we came here to skate." She pulled him along. "Let's skate!"

Konayuki o machinagara

Sugite yuku tsuitachi

Dare yori mo anata toite

Yokatta…!

Bleu pulled on over Luna when he let her go to impress her skating backward. He skated around her before doing footwork that had skaters around her gaping and murmuring if he was a figure skater. She kept up with him in her skating and pretended she was not all that impressed when he arrived back at her side. "Impressed?" he teased.

Ashita kara sugu nanika

Kawaru wake naikedo

Inoritai yōna

Holy Night…!

"Not even a little bit," Luna fibbed. "Check this out." She glided before him, starting on her left foot, and went to gain speed. Her free foot went before her and dropped back and tapping ice, pushing her into using her right foot to pull her into the air for her triple rotation. She did not stop there as she landed on her right without a wobble. Immediately, she went for a toe loop and landed perfectly, beaming when earned applause. She spun herself around and free skated over to Bleu with playful challenge in her eyes.

"Oh-ho-ho…! So she does know how to figure skate," Bleu guffawed.

"Never said I didn't," Luna quipped with a smile. "Seeing you look at me like that was definitely worth it, though."

Bleu tucked her into his side. "Yeah, I'll bet," he snorted not unkindly. "Keep surprising like this, Treasure, and I'm gonna lock you down. You're too good to be true."

Luna tugged at his arm and surprised him again when she pecked his lips. Her grin was smug as she skated away from him. "Back at you!" she hollered.

Konayuki o machinagara

Sugite yuku tsuitachi

Dare yori mo anata toite

Yokatta…!

Bleu growled. "Oh, it's on!"

Balancing himself and with his concentration on his hard pushes, he zipped through the skaters with his eyes set on the teasing blonde who glided through the crowd. Neither one noticed the attention they were garnering with Bleu as a speed skater and Luna losing herself to the music. When Bleu caught up to her, he did not catch her just yet. He took her hand and led her outside the school of skaters and closer to the center.

Ashita kara sugu nanika

Kawaru wake naikedo

Inoritai yōna

Holy Night!

Pulling her to a stop, Bleu leaned down and whispered something in her ear. She frowned for a moment, then she brightened. The pair pulled away as they started gliding. Distance grew between them, but not that much as the music went into its instrumental transition. With a nod from Bleu, the pair lead themselves into a double flip followed in a half-loop. Luna used her momentum to skate back to Bleu, but they did not meet. Not yet. Their hands grasped as they glided into a spin. Their left legs pushed forward as they both leaned in and the free foot went back. Luna dove deeper as Bleu overtook her into a pair camel spin for several rotations, his hand keeping a gentle grip on her hip to keep them in line. Neither could see the flashes going on. They focused on keeping in-time with the other's movements.

Bleu was the one to slow them as he let Luna go. The second she was no longer underneath him, he let his free foot fall and another rotation pass before guiding her into a standing position. Their eyes met as they came to a stop, facing each other, and neither could look away. Embarrassment caught up with Luna and she ducked her head, but Bleu kept her firm and right there with him.

Nē chēn o tsunde

Okina mominoki

Sagashi ni ikou yo

Bleu opened his mouth to say something when exciting clapping stormed them. As if they were suddenly aware of the audience, Luna fell into Bleu's chest to hide her face while he laughed. "They love us, Treasure."

"Talk about awkward," Luna whined. "This is why I don't do public dancing. I get all nervous and stuff." She tried to grab her arm, but, against her judgment, she clung to Bleu and let him hold her.

"You seemed pretty calm to me," Bleu regarded.

"Y-Yeah, well…" Luna held him close, too afraid to show him how red she was becoming. "I guess I feel…safer with you."

Bleu softened unconsciously as he planted a kiss on top of her head. "You're too cute for your own good, Treasure," he murmured.

"Hey…!"

Bleu and Luna slightly pulled away to see—

Luna's eyes rounded. "Mary Jane?!'

Mary Jane waved at Luna eagerly while Peter latched onto her, looking at the ice like it crossed him. "Hi, Luna!" Mary Jane bubbled. "Hi, Bleu! Crazy to see you two here and figure skating! Peter and I finished our movie and decided to do some Christmassy things!" She slid to a stop with ease even with Peter clinging onto her. Scarlet-cerulean eyed him in amusement. "Are you sure you don't want the cone?"

Peter gave a firm shake of the head. "No way! I-I can do this!" Though, when he slipped a little, the squeak he let out was not at all justifying his words.

Bleu raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Dude, you look like you're either trying to kill the ice or afraid to drown."

Peter shot Bleu a nasty glare. "I drowned one time! One time!" Gold turned to Luna and he smiled. "Hi, Luna. Hope he's not giving you too much trouble. He has a track record for being a show-off."

"I assumed so," Luna said slyly, looking up at Bleu beneath her lashes. "Just have to put him into his place is all."

Bleu hummed and dropped a kiss on her lips. "You just like the challenge."

"A little," Luna admitted with a silly grin.

Mary Jane was gaping the entire time. She shakily pointed at them. "Y-Y-You two are already k-k-kissing?" A thought came to her and she pouted. "I want to do that…!" She shot Peter a glare and he hastily looked away, sweating.

"Sweets, your dad is going to fry me!" Peter reminded nervously.

"He's not here now!" Mary Jane reminded sassily. "Why won't you kiss me? I thought you liked me!" Her eyes watered. "Or…maybe you don't really like me…"

Comic panic instilled in Peter as he flailed his arms and hemmed and hawed. "Wait, wait, no, that's not it at all! I do like you, Sweets, I do! It's just—!" He hesitated when he saw the kicked puppy look in Mary Jane's eyes.

"Oh!" Bleu placed a palm in an open hand as he thought of it. "You didn't tell her you haven't kissed a girl yet, have you?"

A tick mark.

Peter had Bleu by the shoulders, shaking his best friend while Bleu smiled like nothing was wrong. "How could you sell me out like that, man! I thought we were friends!"

"You've…never been kissed?"

Peter flinched. He slowly looked back to see no judgment on Mary Jane's face, just curiosity. A blush dusted his cheek. "No…"

"Oh… Well…" Mary Jane played with the acorn button. "I've never been kissed either."

Peter perked. "Really?"

Mary Jane bit her lip with a slight shake of her head. "Mmm-mmm."

Bleu easily got Peter off him. "Go get her, tiger!" And he shoved Peter back over to Mary Jane, ignoring Peter's warnings.

Seeing Peter crash into Mary Jane and land on top of her on the ice really made Bleu wish he heeded those warnings. Peter and Mary Jane stared at each other with wide eyes until Mary Jane looked away, nervous. Peter tried to abate his own anxiety as he murmured to her, "Then…we could be each other's firsts…if…if that's okay."

"'Be each other's…firsts'?" Mary Jane's entire face reddened as her eyes swirled. Wait… Does he mean…? The scene played out in her head before she could stop it. Steam was in the scene as Fantasy-Mary-Jane laid on the bed with Fantasy-Peter holding her close, half-naked.

"Now, we'll be each other's firsts," Fantasy-Peter said, voice husky.

Fantasy-Mary-Jane moaned. "Oh, Peter…"

"Um… Sweets?"

Mary Jane lay there with a nosebleed and swirling eyes as Peter, Bleu, and Luna surrounded her, worried. "Be each other's…firsts…" she echoed in a husky whisper. "Our first time…"

Peter went red when Luna gaped and Bleu snorted into his fist. "W-W-Wait!" Peter pleaded. "N-Not that type of first! I-I-I mean maybe that type of first, but not so soon!"

"Are you trying to steal my Mary Jane's virtue?" came deadly hiss.

Peter stiffened and looked over his shoulder to see a shadowed Luna glaring at him. "N-No! Yes? Wait! No! No, I'm not! Not yet, I mean! I-I-I mean—!"

Before Luna could do any harm, Bleu came to her side and whispered something in her ear. Her entire face went blank—

—before she joined Mary Jane on the ice with a bleeding nose and swirling eyes.

Bleu put a hand on Peter's shoulder, startling him. "C'mon," he said chirpily. "Let's get 'em up for some more skating. Since you two are here, have you guys had dinner yet?"

"N-N-No, but—"

"Then, move it or lose it! Dinner's after this!" Bleu went to pick up a red Luna as steam came from her ears and blood dripped from her nose. He prodded her cheek, but she continued to murmur the same thing over and over.

Peter picked up Mary Jane, but he could not help to glance at his best friend. Bleu… Are you truly happy? Or are you hiding your sadness again?

"Peter?"

He looked down at the girl in his arms and her red face. "Yeah?"

"Is it okay if…?" Mary Jane lowered her voice in a whisper, "If we take it slow…my first time?"

A scene overwhelmed Peter's head before he had a say in it. He could see Fantasy-Mary-Jane beneath him with her virginal blush and her mismatched eyes full of desire and shyness. "Could we take it slow, Peter?" she asked for in breathless tones. "You're my first…"

SPLAT!

Mary Jane, Bleu, and Luna looked down at a leg-twitching Peter as blood streamed from his nose and a bit of drool. Mary Jane was instantly fretting. "Peter? Peter, are you okay?" She stooped down to poke his cheek.

"Oh, he's okay," Bleu chuckled. "Believe me. Dude just needs a cold shower." He wrapped an arm around Luna's shoulder. "C'mon, Treasure. Let's do two more songs, then we bail. We're going to dinner with them."

Luna beamed. "Okay!"

And the pair left Mary Jane poking at Peter while he twitched and nosebled.

°•°•°•°

The drive to the restaurant was pleasant as Bleu had Peter follow him in his car. The restaurant was casual dining with people strolling in sweatpants to designer. Families and couples alike swarmed the restaurant, but it was not just for the food. A bowling alley, tabletop games, a lounge, and even arcade games waited in the inside. The angry cries of fans as they watched the game wafted out when the door flapped open. Luna and Mary Jane were amazed at the inside of it with Mary Jane gasping.

"This is so cool…!" Luna crooned.

The lobby had dark wood, but it was surrounded by high score screens and posters of classic Lacrima Games. The coat check station was busy with new arrivals and departures. Waiters bustled through the open floor plan of the dining area. A few had gathered to sing a barbershop quartet of Happy Birthday for a little girl showered in all things blue. Twelve black women gathered from their sorority days for the monthly meet-up away from their partners and responsibilities. A man and his partner enjoyed their time with their adopted little one. An awkward boy was trying to comfort his now ex-girlfriend as she welled up with tears and looked ready to unleash an ear-shrieking sob.

"It's called Level Up," Peter told the girls. "It's like a barcade. Bleu and I like coming here on the weekends with our crew."

"And…"—Bleu placed his hands on Luna's shoulder—"you two are now part of said crew which means…"—he wagged his eyebrows—"initiation night is 'round the corner."

Mary Jane clapped her hands, all too excited. "Ooo, it sounds like fun! Your friends are so wonderful!"

Peter's lips twitched as he pulled Mary Jane close to him. "Not as wonderful as you," he purred.

As Mary Jane fought down the red on her cheeks, Bleu rolled his eyes and steered Luna to the host booth. "Come on, Treasure, let's let Peter try to act smooth!" he announced rather loudly. When they arrived at the booth, Bleu shot the host his charming smile. "Good evening. How are you?"

"I'm well. And you, sir?"

"Perfect. How long's the wait for a booth for four?"

The host studied the screen covering the podium's counter. "Um… Looks like it'll be a thirty-minute wait. Is that okay?"

"Yeah. Can you put us down for 'Bleu'? Is it okay if we go into the arcade while we wait?"

The host nodded. "Oh, of course!" He took out a coaster caller and offered it to Bleu. "This will vibrate and turn green when your table is here." The host smiled. "Thanks for your patience!"

Bleu nodded as he took the coaster caller and led Luna away. "Peter! Jane! Over here!" With everyone gathered, he let them know the plan. "Table should be ready in thirty, so I say we check out the arcade for a little bit and see what they have to offer. Cool?"

Mary Jane glanced about. "How do we play?"

Peter interlocked their fingers. "Play Cards," he explained. "It's sort of like Dallas and Ben's, but you don't have to be seventeen to get in or need a guardian." He tugged her along. "Have you ever been there?"

"Neither of us has," Luna interjected, taking everything in. "I think Nashi when to Dallas and Ben's for her birthday with her friends, but I'm not too sure."

"Yeah, I think they did," Mary Jane affirmed. "I'm pretty sure Lance had to be designated driver or something like that. But, no, Luna's right. We've never been to places like this."

Peter grinned and murmured into her ear, "Another first for me then." He pulled back, delighted in the abashment Mary Jane displayed, and broke into a jog with her at his side. "C'mon, Sweets! Skeeball is the perfect way to break in an arcade!"

Luna laughed. "Wait for us!" She was set to follow them, but Bleu had not moved. She looked back to see him glaring at something to his right. She tried to see who he could be possibly angry at, but there were too many people. "Bleu?" she called. "Everything okay?"

Bleu clenched his jaw. "Yeah. Everything's fine." Turning back to her, he softened. "Sorry. Thought I saw someone I knew but looks like I was wrong."

Luna pursed her lips. "Are you sure?"

"Definitely." Bleu leaned down to give her a chaste kiss. "C'mon. Let's give Petey and Jane some space. I know the perfect game to start."

Hey, hey, hey!

Hey-hey-hey, hey, hey!

Luna was intrigued. "What is it?"

Bleu's grin was up to no good as he corralled them down the hall to the arcade. "Ever heard of Popstar Evolution?"

You know who it is…

Coming 'round again…

You want a dose of this right now

It's K/DA, uh!

Peter rolled his last skeeball to sink it into the 50. His score lit up into 410 and he beamed, nodding proudly at his final score while others around him cheered. Mary Jane looked uneasily from the skee ball machine to the ball in her hand. But it was Peter who urged her closer and set her at her own lane with his tickets wrapped around him. He motioned how the skee ball should be thrown, gesturing grandly, before he encouraged her to give it a try.

Mary Jane looked at the skee ball and took a deep breath. Determined, she tried to copy what Peter did and let the skee ball roll. Her eyes widened when she sunk it into one of the 100 holes and burst into an excited squeal, clapping for herself. Peter smiled at her enthusiasm and gestured for her to continue.

I'm a goddess with a blade

Sorichyeobwa nae ireum

Itji mothage

Loud loud loud loud!

Peter's eye twitched when he saw 800 as Mary Jane's score, but when she beamed at him, he could not help but smile back. He crossed over to her to murmur something in her ear for her last round. A bit confused, she stood still when Peter went behind her and molded her back against his front. Red spread up her cheeks as he leaned them both forward with his hand cupping his, ready to teach her this last throw. Peter was more focused on one of the 100 slots as he murmured in her ear and did not notice the fifteen shades of red Mary Jane was turning.

I could take it to the top

Jeoldae meomchuji mothae

Naega kkeutnaejuneun

Bad gal gal gal!

Mary Jane tried not to let her imagination run off, but the final punch to make her nosebleed was when Peter's hand went to her hip. On reflex, lightning clacked off her, electrifying Peter and super-charging the skee ball she threw that subsequently destroyed the game. Steam was coming out of her ears with her mind set on fantasy, not noticing how the smoked machine spat out reams of tickets, that Peter was fried and comically twitching on the ground, or that onlookers were wide-eyed at the spectacle.

And when I start to talk like that (like that)

Oh, you won't know how to react

I'm a picture-perfect face with that wild in my veins

You can hear it in my growl, growl, growl, growl!

Luna and Bleu were caught up in a fierce battle on Popstar Evolution in Expert Mode. Both were on a roll as they executed their steps perfectly to the point where they had another audience watching the moment. Popstar Evolution was more than matching the arrows. You had to hit the positions the animated dancers were hitting, arms and all. At times, even, the dancers would switch sides, making the players do the same thing. The pair had chosen a J-Pop girls group song about the fluttering feelings of falling in love and first crushes. Bleu did not hesitate to sing along, making Luna laugh as she sung with him.

So keep your eyes on me now

Mueoseul bodeun joahal geoya

Daheul su eopneun level

Nawa daegyeol wonhan neol hwakshinhae

Space Adventure was one of the classic arcade games they took to the next level at Level Up. The pixelated screen took up a good portion of a little wall and Mary Jane and Peter were nudging each other out of the way as they slammed down their fingers on their controllers to kill the space invaders. Ultimately, Peter was the one to kill the most invader and stay alive and he got up with a whoop seeing his name on the high score screen and the tickets he won. When he looked over, that same kicked puppy look was back to break him on Mary Jane's face and he quickly looked around.

…and the solution was clear.

We got it all in our hands now

So can you handle what we're all about?

We're so tough, not scared to show you up

Can you feel the rush now?

Mary Jane peeked over Peter's shoulder nervously as he concentrated on the claw machine. He managed to get one of the stuffed animals, but to bring it back into the pit to get it out would be challenging. A bead of sweat went down his temple with his time running out and him not wanting to jostle the creature from his clutches. But the moment he sunk it into the machine put, Mary Jane burst into excitement, cheering for him. He pulled out the stiffened animal—it was a cute baby snake that could wind around her bed with a knitted sweater—and offered it to her. Taken back at first, Mary Jane accepted the offer and snuggled up to her new prize.

Ain't nobody bringing us

Down, down, down, down, down, down

They could try it but we're gonna wear the crown

You could go another round!

Round, round, round, round, round, round

Wish you luck, but you're not bringing us down

The four of them slew at Band Hero with Bleu on drums, Mary Jane on bass, Peter and Luna on guitar, and Luna singing. When the song ended with a legendary finish, they cheered at their scores and collected their tickets. Mary Jane and Luna were chatting about what sort of prize they wanted to get from the prize room. Bleu was about to add something when he paused. He took out the coaster call to see it was shaking and flashing green. "Looks our tables ready." He shook the coaster call for the three others to see. "Who's hungry?"

°•°•°•°

Their booth was a high-end one and close to an LV. Their appetizers had been split between cheeseburger sliders, potstickers, and loaded potato wedges with sour cream on the side. Luna moaned when she tasted the loaded potato wedges, delighted. "These are so good!"

"Glad you think so," Bleu told her as he took his own. His nose wrinkled at the sour cream. "Ew."

"You're not a fan of sour cream?" Mary Jane questioned as she helped herself to a potsticker and dipped it in soy sauce.

Peter scoffed. "He is when it comes to baked potatoes, but for anything else, he refuses to try it." He eyed his friend in amusement. "He's just being picky."

"It just doesn't taste right like this," Bleu complained, arm going over Luna's shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah," Peter dismissed. He turned to Luna and Mary Jane. "How do you two like Level Up so far?"

Mary Jane swallowed her mouthful. "I love it! I really want to come back here and try air hockey!"

"Me too!" Luna agreed. "Maybe the strength game too! Igneel loves those games!"

Peter saw from the corner of his eye that Mary Jane winced at the mention of Igneel and her fingers went up to the acorn button charm. "Sweets," he called softly, "are you okay?"

Feeling like she was caught red-handed, Mary Jane mustered up a weak smile and dropped her hand. "O-Oh! Yeah, mmm-hmm, I am, sorry. Would you excuse me for a moment?" When Peter got out to let her out, she tossed him an assuring nod before making a beeline to the bathroom hallway.

Peter went back inside the booth and sighed. Bleu caught it and raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Peter supposed. "I guess…" His eyes shifted to Luna. Debating on whether or not to do it took him a couple of beats, but he made up his mind. "Luna, can I ask you something? It's okay if you don't want to answer."

"Mmm!" Luna finished the sip of her drink. "Sure! Ask anything!"

"That necklace Mary Jane's wearing… Did Igneel give it to her?"

Luna tried to say something, but she swallowed it back to look down.

°•°•°•°

When Mary Jane was in the safety of the bathroom, she took out her Compact. She quickly typed a text to her mother to update her on her whereabouts before she went to Igneel's message thread. She saw her last message and frowned.

It says my message was delivered… Has he not read it then? Is he okay? She bit her lip. He didn't even say, 'goodbye' and now he hasn't answered his Compact. Maybe he's busy? He did tell me he's getting ready for the GWGs, but…

Her fingers moved before she could help it and pressed call.

°•°•°•°

"I…" Luna hedged as a hand went to her arm. "I'm not really sure the whole story. Maybe? I don't know…"

"Luna."

Nervous chocolate clashed with kind gold.

Peter's smile meant no-harm-no-foul. "It's okay. You can tell me. I won't get mad. I just wanted to know."

°•°•°•°

VRRR-VRRRRRRRRR… VRRR-VRRRRRRRR…

The focus stared at the photo before him. A photo that should not have existed. A photo that should have been destroyed.

DRIP.

A tear splattered onto it.

DROP.

The hands holding it shook. "Why?" came scratch question. "I thought…" The focus looked up.

Mirajane was looking back with her cerulean eyes sad and her smile sympathetic. "You aren't the only one who misses her like she was," she murmured to him.

"But Uncle Laxus—"

"He's just being a father, Igneel," Mirajane told him. "And I love him for that. He wants to protect his little girl with everything he has." She reached a hand to rub Igneel's shoulder. "I want to protect her too. But I saw how close you two were and I really felt you two could have been something great." A tear slipped down her cheek. "Does it make me a horrible mother if I wished they didn't have to rip you two apart?"

Igneel looked at this woman, his aunt, his mother's friend, the mother of the best thing that happened to him. He scented her despair, her grief, the pain she endured for years. He rubbed away his own tears and set aside his own pain. "If it does," he told her softly, "then I guess we're both equally horrible people."

On the couch in the living room, two rooms from where they sat in the dining room, his Compact lit up furiously as Mary Jane's sleeping face filled the screen.

VRRR-VRRRRRRRRR… VRRR-VRRRRRRRR…

°•°•°•°

Luna nodded and forced herself to take a deep breath. "If you're really trying to ask me if Igneel has feelings for Mary Jane, I don't think you have to worry," she assured him. "Sure, he was pushy with Mary Jane at times and tried to be her friend, but there's nothing more than that." Her shoulders hunched in. "I know the Harvest Festival might've looked…different…but he was just as determined as I was to save her. I mean, we're Fairy Tail. We don't leave anyone behind."

Peter took in the information before scratching the back of his head with an apologetic smile. "Sorry to bug you with such a question. It's stupid, I know, but I had to ask. It seems she and Igneel are close, but I was worried I was getting in between something and didn't want to start a love triangle like in those J-Dramas."

The tension in Luna relaxed as she giggled. "No, you're fine! Like I said, ask me anything! Mary Jane and my brother are good friends, but I can tell Mary Jane really likes you! So, please…" Chocolate softened. "Please take care of her."

Peter's smile was genuine. "I will."

°•°•°•°

"You have reached the voice—"

Mary Jane ended the call in a frown. "That moron," she rumbled. "He's worrying me even more by not answering." She brought up her palm to let the acorn button rest there. Just a good-bye would've been nice…

With a sigh, Mary Jane headed out of the bathro—

A cunning smirk. "You really do care about that mortal?"

Mary Jane's eyes widened as her heart rate sped up. She dared not look back into the mirror. She knew better than to do so. Because she knew she would find the red-eyed woman staring back at her. This time, she opted to say nothing.

"Take it from me, Mary Jane," came soft purr. "He isn't worthy of you." The red-eyed woman reached out her hand and crossed into the real world. "He's just a lowly mortal you can easily destroy with a thought. He's nothing."

Mary Jane swallowed as a bead of sweat trickled down her temple. Quickly, she covered her hand with her mouth to stop herself from screaming.

The smirk broadened. "Your emotions are so…pure… So virginal… Your heart feels for one, but you can't help worry about another." Bare feet glided across the tiled floor. "Aw, what to do? What to do?"

The trembling started as panic set in. Mary Jane tried her hardest to take a step, but that presence filled in the space around her. What is this? It's like… It's like I'm frozen.

"I know the perfect solution."

Mary Jane's heart leaped to her throat when hands came ground her to gently get to the acorn button charm.

"Why don't we just kill him?" came insidious suggestion. "Eliminate the confusion. You won't doubt any longer. Kill the mortal…"—Mary Jane's breathing hitched when a tongue licked the outside of her earlobe, tears springing to her eyes—"and we all live happily ever after… Isn't that what you wanted? To be happy? No more comparing yourself to others… You want to be strong and stand on your own two feet, yes, I see it." The hands slid down to cup Mary Jane's breasts. "I can make you into the very thing you've always desired. I can show you the power you want to attain…"

Mary Jane swallowed as nausea rolled in her stomach and the tears started flowing. "Stop it," she whispered, voice shaking.

"Your fear is only temporary, my child," came soothing purr. "I can give you back all that you lost… Together, we can kill all those who wronged us… We'll start with the mortal."

"Stop it," Mary Jane pleaded in hoarse whisper. "Leave me alone. I don't want to kill anyone."

The hands paused. Then, they slithered back. "Mmmm… Very well," came suppose. "I will leave you alone for now. The seed has been planted." Hot whisper tingled in Mary Jane's ear. "In the end, you'll always choose me. Your choice, Mary Jane…"

Just like that, the crushing presence vanished and left Mary Jane to sink to the floor. Her hands covered her mouth to keep herself from panicked sobbing, but she could not stop her shaking no matter how much she tried. She could only sit there and pray everything went away soon. And that no one would notice.

°•°•°•°

Bleu was in the middle of telling their waiter they would need a few more minutes when Mary Jane came back. Peter brightened and got out of the booth. "Sweets! We were just waiting for y…" He stopped when he noticed the haunted look on Mary Jane's face. "Sweets?"

Bleu flashed a smile at the waiter. "Yeah, we'll need those few minutes."

The waiter walked away, casting a worried glance at Mary Jane, while Peter guided her into the booth. She refused to look at anyone as Peter took in the shaking in her hands. He went to touch, but when she flinched, he stopped himself. "Mary Jane," he murmured to her, "what's going on? Are you okay?"

"Yes." Mary Jane got out the word with no problem. "I'm fine." This time, her voice quivered.

Luna could sense the change and leaned close to Mary Jane to whisper, "Did something happen? Did someone hurt you?"

Mary Jane's bottom lip trembled. "No."

Luna was unconvinced. "Mary Jane—"

"I said, 'no'!" Scarlet-cerulean heatedly clashed with surprised chocolate.

Luna's mind went blank when something hit her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Flames were dangerous when they were left on their own to feed themselves. They traipsed around and burned all that they pleased with no owner to their name. Fire in its grotesque form consumed all around it in the city with people screaming and crying. Violet ruins shot up to protect the buildings themselves from getting cremated, but those same ruins could not help those caught up in the smoke and ash.

'What…?' Luna drowsily thought. 'Where am I?'

The focus caught the perpetrator of this entire mess in his raging flames and animalistic screech. Luna knew that person anywhere. 'Is that…Igneel?'

Indeed, it was Igneel with his flames tinged in black and consuming him in their madness. Eyes a stark green, he refused to back down to the likes of Natsu or any of the other Fairy Tail members.

'What's he doing?' Luna fretted. 'He's destroying our home!'

The focus circled once before going to touch down. Essence of shades and tints of blue wafted around and the flames were tamed with the smoke diffusing. As the focus got closer to the ground, the flames were done in their tirade and there was nothing left to cause destruction. Wild emerald faced the focus, but it was clear Igneel would not charge. That did not mean he would put out the flames clinging to his skin. A hand came up from the focus as the person walked closer to Igneel, a mist of blues surrounding everything.

The scene melted away and caused Luna to get dizzy when she found herself inside a house. 'Where am I now?' she complained.

The focus was startled to see a letter addressed to MY WENDY sitting neatly on the bed. A hand reached for it as Luna wondered, 'Huh… "Wendy"… Could that be for Aunt Wendy?'

The hand flipped the envelope to see a red seal had cooled with the initial I.Z.D. stamped into it. The seal was easy to come off and hand opened the envelope. A letter was folded inside and the envelope was forgotten to attend to it. As the focus gazed over the sloppy writing, Luna identified the style. 'Wait… That looks like Igneel's handwriting… It says, "Mary Jane. I'm sorry for"—'

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Luna!"

Luna was started out of her trance by Mary Jane. She blinked, slightly woozy, to see Peter, Mary Jane, and Bleu looking at her with various degrees of concern. "Wha…? What happened?" Her fingers touched her temple as the fainting feeling subsided. "I'm sorry. Was I saying something?"

Bleu shook his head. "No, but… Treasure, are you okay?" He took her face into his hands and inspected his eyes. "Petey, you got that Weiss army knife I got you? I need to check her."

Luna tried to wriggle away as Peter broke out the knife kit with its red plus sign. "I'm fine, Bleu, really!"

"You are when I say you are." Bleu took the offered kit to find the flashlight. "Stand still and eyes wide." He clicked the flashlight on and had it stare into her eyes. "Look left."

Luna huffed, but she did so. "Why am I doing this?"

"Look right." Bleu ignored her. "Follow the flashlight." Finished with his exam, he clicked off the flashlight and handed the multi-tool knife kit back to Peter.

Luna crossed her arms, displeased. "Satisfied?"

"Hardly," Bleu muttered. "What happened? You looked like you were on the verge of fainting." The hardness in his expression broke in his worry as he thumbed her cheeks. "You gave us a scare, Treasure."

Luna could not resist anymore and caved, giving in to his touch. "I'm sorry. I just zoned out for a quick moment." Her smile tried to convince him. "Really, Bleu, I'm fine," she insisted, timbre gentle. "It happens from time to time."

"She's probably hungry," Mary Jane cut in. The way Luna and Mary Jane looked at each other was meaningful and understanding. "She gets like this when she's hungry. Did you skip lunch today, Luna?"

"I did," Luna confirmed, latching onto the lie. "Yeah, I skipped lunch. Too excited and everything."

"Treasure," Bleu started in scolding, "next time, please let me know when you're hungry." He shook his head at the notion. "Or better yet, I'll make sure I have snacks stashed in the car. Are you diabetic?"

Luna quickly waved her hands. "No, no, no, nothing like that! I just get hungry is all. Runs in the family. When my papa gets hungry, he'll completely shut down, lay on the ground, and won't move until he's fed."

"Y-Y-Yeah, yeah, that's true!" Mary Jane agreed. "Uncle Natsu will cling to Aunt Lucy's leg all the way to the kitchen. I've seen it. It's hilarious!" She giggled nervously behind a hand. "It's amazing she adapts so well to how silly Uncle Natsu can be."

Luna laughed. "Mama says she has her workarounds, but she loves him."

Mary Jane nodded, enthused. "My older brother Nik can be the same way, the lazy butt." She did a dramatic eye roll. "Honestly. I feel like he just survives off ramen and my mom's care packages."

"Oh!" Peter remembered. "That's right! I need a quick rundown of your family for our little meet-and-greet!"

Bleu grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. "Meeting the family, huh? Sounds pretty serious, man…"

Mary Jane and Peter both blushed, but Peter shrugged all nonchalant and said, "Of course it's serious. I plan on making Sweets my girlfriend before I transfer. And her mom was the one to invite me to their big family dinner. Hopefully, we can squeeze in some more dates before then."

"Yeah," Mary Jane muttered, "before my family chases you away. Peter, I'm telling you they're insane. You haven't met Pacer and Pearson and they like initiating outsiders into the family as 'Adopted Strausses' in their own way. Goodness, and then Esme…"

As Luna listened to Mary Jane ranting about her big family's theatrics, she was drawn away when Bleu turned her chin towards him. He stared her down, but there was nothing harmful in his gaze. "I'm letting whatever happened go for now," he murmured for only her ears, "but later, Treasure."

"Bleu…"

"Don't." This was a warning. "I plan on sticking around for a long haul, Treasure. Seeing you faint like that last night and being so helpless… I didn't like it. I want to do more."

How could Luna say no to that? "You're doing more than anyone's done by just being here with me," Luna pacified. "Thanks for being sweet. It's really making something out of nothing, though. It happens from time to time when I'm too hungry or overwhelmed."

Hurt entered Bleu's stare as he pulled away. "Why are you lying to me?"

Luna winced and tried to hold back the craving to put her hand on her arm. "I'm not lying," she insisted. "Bleu, please, it's not a big deal."

"To you, Treasure, to you." Bleu shook his head. "You're not the one witnessing you fall to the ground or look like you could pass out. It's terrifying to watch." He looked away. "If you don't want to talk about, that's fine. I'll still be at your side when it happens. Just…don't lie to me about it."

Chocolate was drowned in her own guilt. She reached a hand for his cheek. "Bleu, I…" The hand stopped and retreated. Instead, she gave a little nod and hum of her consent. When Bleu let out a ragged sigh, she posed the question, "Do you want to take me home?"

Bleu turned to her so fast, he could get whiplash. "What makes you say that?"

"Well…" Chocolate went to the side. "You seem upset and…"

Bleu took off his hat to run his hands through his locks. "I am upset," he agreed, adjusting his hat back on. "But I can't be upset with you. You're not ready to talk about it and I need to respect that." He rubbed his neck. "Sorry for being pushy. I've just, uh… Well, I haven't exactly been in the court—um, dating scene in a little while. I've been told I'm a little overprotective." His smile was weak. "Sorry."

"No! Don't be at all!"

Bleu was taken back at Luna's words. "But…"

"Worrying about people and caring for their wellbeing isn't something to be sorry about," Luna told him. "It's actually really sweet and thoughtful." The smile she gave him was wide and happy. "Thanks for caring about me! Really! I'm grateful!"

Bleu blinked his surprise, but he smiled back. "Don't be thanking me just yet," he cautioned good-humoredly. He roped her into his side as his arm went around her shoulder. "You're going to get sick of me being protective, mark my words, Treasure."

Luna hummed her laughter. "That's for me to decide. Besides, this is only a pre-date. We have plenty more dates for me to figure out."

"Not too many."

Luna frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"I told you, Treasure"—Bleu pecked her lips—"I plan on locking you down. Hopefully, sooner, then later."

Luna grinned at that as she took Bleu's face in her hands. Lips just a breath away, she mumbled, "Let's go with sooner." And she brought him down for another kiss.

---

CLANG!

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!

Muta was on a roll with the way he moved. His Lion Form tore out the leg of an Amaroq trying to cut him down when he easily slid into his cat form to avoid the hands of a Wechuge. When the coast was clear, he bounded into his Battle Mode Shift and spread his wings to take flight. His hands slammed together in a series of mudras for he shot off teal power in bolts, firing down on those below.

CLANG!

Nashi was deadlocked in blade standoff with an emotionless Yuki. Her senses tingled and she backed off when icicles fired at her back. Taking to the skies once more, Nashi outmaneuvered the missiles of ice trying to kill her. Doing a spin, she led two icicles to collide on each other before letting the winds carry her upwards into the blizzard to avoid another hit. Finding an opening that let her gather her Magic, she whipped around her double-bladed spear and chanted: "Hallowed Starlight!"

Light condensed itself to her wings and made them look like a prism refracting a rainbow. In a wild beam, the light fired from her wings to burst the icicles aiming for her. Still, it was not enough and Nashi was back on the run from being hit.

Her jaw locked. Damn. She's on the level of an S-Class Wizard. She pulled up to do a loop to avoid her demise. In that split second, however, she caught Yuki sitting on the back of her reinbear with her finger moving like she was a conductor. But I've noticed she can only do long-range attacks. She uses ice as her weapons, but she hasn't shown me anything short range. Does that mean she's only capable of fighting from a distance? If I could just get closer…

Nashi's eyes widened when she realized she put herself in a vulnerable position and icicles were diving at her. Hastily, she chanted: "Holy Shield!"

BOOM!

Nashi winced as she floated in her bubbled shield, witnessing the icicles fly at it and try to demolish it. But, if I'm wrong… I could be dead in a heartbeat. I can't miscalculate. I control how I die. And it's not at the hands of this bitch. A growl tore from her lips as she expanded her shield until it popped. Her wings took her down and dodged attack after attack. Fingers gripped the double-bladed weapon even tighter as hickory locked on her target.

If I can just get an opening, I can take her out. Nashi felt the heat inside her stir and fan into a flame. Her wings were catching on fire—holy fire. Her speed was like a bullet and her target was locked. She was ready. I will execute justice! She batted away the last of the icicles as she closed in on Yuki. Weapon glowing with holy fire, Nashi let her eyes be consumed in pink. "You're mine!" She brought her weapon down.

The corner of Yuki's lips moved up as she drew back her hand. "You're no match against me, Cleric." Her arm pulled back.

Nashi's eyes widened.

Yuki's arm was a jagged icicle in itself.

SHING!

SPLAT!

The glow left Nashi's eyes as she looked down.

The jagged ice had broken through Nashi's ribs and pierced through her kidney.

"Give it up, Cleric." Yuki pulled back her arm with blood lacing it as Nashi dropped to the ground before her, kneeling like a knight to their queen. "You'll thank me later."

A chilling breath. "No."

Yuki lifted her chin as Nashi staggered to her feet, a hand on her wound. "No," came two voices, male and female. Nashi's head whipped up for pink to consume her eyes. "I will not give up. I am the Ikisat Seraph, the bringer of justice." Power sparked through Nashi's body as she was lifted off the ground. Pink and turquoise coexisted as their auras bio-merged with Nashi, making her shine as bright as a star. Pointing the double-bladed weapon at Yuki, Nashi and Seraph told her, "You have made a grave mistake, Snow Woman Yuki."

Yuki brought up her icicle arm to lick the blood off it. "No, Cleric. You did when you didn't take my offer." Her eyes flashed as she slid a hand through Onna's fur. "But if you insist on fighting…" It was disturbing to watch Yuki sink herself into Onna's fur, human skin torn as the animal gurgled and bubbled. Human and beast melded together as something different were offered to the blizzard. This woman—this seven-foot-tall woman, with her antlers, her fur of white, her emotionless mortal face, and her feet changed to paws—looked Nashi dead in the eye. "I offer you a peaceful death by ice, Cleric. This is my last offer."

Seraphim-Nashi drew back as their double-bladed weapon vanished. "How kind." Their hand went out for a Magic Circle to blossom with an ouroboros surrounding a Holy Trinity trapped within six wings. They pulled from it the Staff of the Ikisat with its gold glow and dragon head. Whipping the staff around, the Magic broke off for it to finally be ready for this world. "We do not accept."

Yuki-Onna dug her paw into the snow to yank out iced whips. "Pity. I thought you were smart." With the roar of a bear, Yuki-Onna unleashed their fury with their whips and kicked up more snow than the blizzard had hit them with.

Seraphim-Nashi did not fret at being blinded. They let their Magic Power grow before the staff stripped it from them. The dragon's head opened its mouth for light to pour out from it, blasting through the snow to give them space. Before they could relish in that small victory, a large whip came cracking down. They avoided it narrowly, but the next whip caught their wings and would have thrown them to the ground if it was not for their quick thinking to use the momentum to their advantage and pull away before the snow was their gravestone.

As Seraphim-Nashi danced between the whips, Yuki-Onna howled, "I know you, Cleric. You cannot keep up this scheme much longer. It is not in a mortal's nature to bond fluidly with an Agent of the Creator. Killing you would have been a much easier fate!"

Seraphim-Nashi dodged another whip as Seraphim thought with strained breath, She's right, Little One. We cannot go on like this. Blessing or not, you will commit a Taboo for merging your mind with mine. It is not in your nature. Kyler's blood is the only reason we have achieved this, but this is taking too much damage.

I don't care, Nashi growled as Seraphim-Nashi used the staff to fend another whip. With gritted teeth, they pushed against it. We have to put her down, Seraphim, by any means. I don't care if I get a Taboo. I have to win this.

Now you are suicidal, Seraphim argued. Little One, you are now begging for death when you could easily avoid it. We must retreat and regroup. We cannot—!

NO! Seraphim-Nashi gained a little ground with the whip. I won't give up like this. I'm not dying by giving up!

Little One, these whips are not your only enemies, Seraphim told her. The whips have been kicking up shards of ice and hardened snow. As we speak, you've been getting pelted. I have shielded you from the pain, but I cannot do that. You are sustaining too much damage. We must retreat!

I'm not—!

It was too late.

They lost their upper hand.

SLAM!

The glow left Nashi's eyes as her back slammed into the snow like it was rock solid. She skidded across the tundra once, twice, three times, until she slid into the snow, nearly buried. She could barely move as blood leaked into the snow. Turning onto her side, she vomited and trembled.

STEP… STEP…

"It's over, Cleric."

Nashi tried to look up when she was blown back. She took a tumble down a steep snow dune and could barely feel anything. She tried to lift her head as the world went round to see Yuki and Onna separated and looking down at her in their condescension. Panting, Nashi told them, "It's not…over…" She tried to get up—

SNAP.

Tears welled up in Nashi's eyes when she saw Onna had appeared beside her—

—and snapped her right leg.

Nashi let out a wild scream as the pain overrode every ounce of determination she had. Her screams worsened as Onna's paw hung heavy on the wound until she nauseated her pain.

A feral roar.

A white blur collided with Onna, knocking the mighty beast away. It was Muta in his Lion Form with his teeth bared and protecting a withering Nashi like she was his own cub. His teeth bared as a warning, but Onna shook off the snow to bare her teeth back. Muta lashed his tail, ready for a fight, but he told Nashi, "Kit, don't move. We're getting you out of here first chance."

Nashi bit her lip to keep away the shrieks and nausea. "No," she choked out. "It's n-n-n-not over."

Muta shot her a dark look. "It is for you, kit." He backed closer to her when Onna took a step in their direction. "It's time to retreat. We can't—" His words were lost when Onna charged for him and he was forced to get on his hind legs and engage her in combat.

Nashi looked at her leg to see it twisted in such a way, she wanted to throw up again. "My leg," she whispered in shaky breath. "Oh my God, my leg…" Her eyes blinked when she saw particles float by. Looking at her armor, Ethernano particle by Ethernano particle was chipping away. Wh-What? N-No, I…. This can't be it. Desperation clogged her throat. Seraphim! Please! Are you there?

No answer.

Nashi's blood went cold. No… Seraphim, please, no, you can't be gone! Are you mad at me? Please, I'm sorry, just…just please don't leave me alone!

Silence.

"I see your friend is gone."

Nashi could not look. She did not want to look. She knew Yuki was close.

Yuki hummed. "Did you really think I used regular ice, Cleric?" she mocked. "How cute. Mortals are so easy to fool. For each shard of my ice that hit you, it patched its way into the one thing you didn't protect."

Chills went down Nashi's spine as though the blizzard stopped for the next words to pierce her.

"Your soul."

Now Nashi felt it. Her breaths were scarce, but the frost coming out of each breath was too much. She was beginning to field the cold, but nothing like she would as a physical ache. It hit her from the inside like a needle on your thumb or a bee sting to the arm. But then…it became more than that. It was like an infection was eating her from the inside.

How…? Nashi panted. How could I not notice that? How did I not see that? Those attacks… Now that I think back at them, they weren't trying to pierce me. They just needed to touch me. All this time, I've been giving her what she wants.

The realization makes Nashi want to sob.

What do I do? I can feel her ice freezing my soul, my heart… I've lost almost all connection to my souls… My armor won't stay here much longer. Resolution sharpened in her stare. But… But if I still have just a little power left…

Yuki raised an eyebrow as she watched Nashi reach for her staff. Pathetically, she used it as a crutch to pull herself up to her good knee. She could not stand, but she would try. "I…" Nashi huffed, "am not done yet…" With excruciating pain, she turned to face Yuki with her steeled hickory glare. "This…isn't…over…"

Yuki tilted her head. "If it wasn't for the fact that your species is despicable, I'd admire your tenacity," she admitted. She walked over to Nashi and, with her hand turned to ice, slashed through the Staff of Ikisat. No satisfaction trickled onto her expression as the staff exploded into Magic particles. Nashi was dumped onto the ground in a head of flesh, blood, and disintegrating armor with her breaths chilled and slow. Yuki watched her. "I've always wondered… Do humans need two lungs?" Her hands twirled as an icicle form. "Time to find out."

Her hand pointed down.

The icicle followed.

Hickory widened.

Breathing hitched.

Muta sensed something changed as he batted away Onna. His gray stare went to Nashi and it widened in horror. "NASHI!"

°•°•°•°

Loke knew something went wrong when Lucy's eyes went blank and a single tear shed and Natsu broke away to let out an agonized roar. He was prepared this time as he went to Lucy's side to catch her before she fell forward. He knew without looking up that Natsu was fighting the urge to transform here and now into an amalgamation of beast and Demon and he would have if his mate was not there. Instead, Natsu rushed to the window and opened it before he could scorch the bedroom.

Loke could feel the blaze of Natsu's raged fire, but he kept Lucy in his arms as more tears came from blank eyes. Inwardly, he could not fight his own torn grief. It's happening… She's dying…

°•°•°•°

The Magnolia Library was a beautiful place to be during December because most students were finished with their semester and steered clear. Their individual study rooms were practically empty and those who remained in the library were playing on their Compact, watching Magia+ on their PALs, or were doing an extra credit assignment or two to bump up their GPA. A few girls had gotten together on the floor study desks with their laptops to finish up a PowerPoint presentation for their parasitology class. A basketball player that had his remedial homework on his desk spent time on his Compact, texting another sidepiece. A student dressed in their sweatpants best took advantage of the individual study rooms were soundproof to pull up hentai on his Compact to listen to while he went about his homework.

Luke was hard at work on his thesis with his PAL open and hardcover books littering his desk when that sharp pain hit his head and traveled down his spine. It burned—oh, it burned!—and he lurched forward for his glasses to fall off and hit the desk. Instinct had him stand up, his chair crashing to the floor. Ragged pants escaped him as his eyes flickered between honeyed amber and crimson. It was not before long the despair was too much and he broke down with a hard scream.

And no one heard him.

°•°•°•°

Igneel was on his way back to Calabash Avenue to catch the trolley with his scarf covering his mouth. Sadness covered his expression as he shoved his hands deep in the pockets of his sweats and ignored the world around him. His mind could only focus on the conversation.

If anyone found out what Aunt Mira had kept, we'd all be in serious trouble. But I can't blame her. I did the same thing. I just wish everything was the same…

He pulled out his Compact, but he forgot what he was about to do when he saw a missed call. MJ called me? Wonder what for? He pressed the missed c—

Static clacked around him as everything blazed.

Igneel groaned as his hands went to his flaming hair, torment written on his face as he dropped to one knee. Nothing could feel as bad as this feeling and he groaned again as the pain was setting in to kill his flames. His eyes shut as a reaction and his jaw went taut while he shook and his static fired off him as though panicking. What…? What's happening to me?

And as Igneel fought against the pain, he did not notice his Compact make the call to Mary Jane.

°•°•°•°

Mary Jane thanked Peter as he helped her into her coat before saying, "Wow! The food was so good!"

"Right?" Bleu made sure Luna was okay before politely handing her their bag of leftover boxes to shrug on his own jacket. "Just be glad we stopped when we did. Treasure would've eaten this whole restaurant if we let her."

"Nuh-uh!" Luna sassed him with blazing cheeks. "Don't hate just because you can't keep up!"

Peter barked a laugh. "Oh, believe me. My man's got the appetite of a whale." He laced his fingers with Mary Jane's as he led them to the front door (and she was beaming as she carried her stuffed animal snake). "He's just being polite and trying not to show he's such a glutton."

"A 'glutton', huh?" Luna poked fun. "Isn't gluttony a sin?"

Bleu took back the bag to put an arm around her waist and winked at her. "Not the only sin I'm capable of," he teased back. He dipped down to plant one on her lips.

"That's right," Luna giggled. "You're greedy too." She craned her neck to kiss him back. "But I like it."

Bleu hummed his laughter. "I know you do."

Peter dramatized an eye roll as he opened the door for Mary Jane. "Ew. Could you two please preemptively stop your make-out session before it becomes a make-out session? People eat here!"

Mary Jane pouted as she waited on everyone. "Why can't we have our own make-out session then?" she decided to whine.

Peter immediately spluttered and coughed at such a bold suggestion while Bleu and Luna burst into laughter. Bleu subtly put Luna in front of him to go ahead through the threshold. She smiled knowingly and teas—

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Everything was storming white, but one thing had stained the white snow red like strawberries in the summertime. A broken girl lay in the snow with no place to run and no place to hide. Particles of light chipped from her dulled armor to reveal naked flesh unprepared for such hard winters. The cold was coming down and it would not stop. No. It would consume her until her final breath was as cold as ice.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Treasure!"

Luna did not recognize she had nearly fallen or that Bleu had caught her. Everything felt so hazy, so dreamlike. She felt on the cusp of falling asleep, but if she did, she knew it would be some time until she awakened. The real world had muted itself to her as though water clogged her ears. She knew people were gathering at her almost tumble with their murmurs and volunteers of aid. Someone sounded like they were about to call an ambulance for her. Was that Mary Jane? She did not know. She only knew one thing.

That… That can't be possible… She can't be… She can't be…

"Treasure?"

Bleu was the one closest to her with panic in his eyes. She knew this. She knew it was him. He was giving commands and he decided to pick her up like a groom would to a bride and his strides went to the parking lot. He was talking to her. Right? Or was he talking to someone else? What was going on anymore?

She knew what was happening.

Nashi was dying.

In reality, Bleu was closing in on his car with Peter and Mary Jane rushing with him. Bleu's car recognized him and lifted the driver and passenger doors in its welcome. Bleu quickly went to the passenger's side as Peter asked, "Are we taking her to the hospital?"

"No!" Mary Jane was the one to deny this. "No, we can't!"

Peter frowned. "Sweets, I know she's not exactly out with permission, but this isn't the time for—"

"No, that's not it!" Mary Jane insisted, shaking her head. "This isn't something a hospital can fix." She watched in full worry as Bleu made sure Luna was comfortable with her head supported and her seatbelt strapped on. "Something's wrong, but it's not physical or mental. I can just feel it."

Peter (skeptical) was about to ask when Bleu murmured, "She's right." He stood up to hover over Luna in her half-lucid state. "This isn't something we can take her to a doctor for."

Clearly outnumbered, Peter threw up his free arm. "Okay, then, what are we supposed to do? A whole bunch of people saw her nearly take a crash and are probably calling for assistance as we speak!"

Bleu took a step back to close the passenger's side. Even when it was secure, Bleu would not relax. "We take her home."

"'Home'?" Peter's eyebrows shot up. "Are you sure about that?"

Bleu tersely nodded. "Yeah, I am." He laid a hand on the tinted glass, but he could still see Luna through it. "Something's telling me home is where she needs to be. Her parents are home. They'll know more about this." He turned his head, but he did not meet Mary Jane nor Peter's eyes. "I don't want to ruin your date. You two don't have to come."

"We're coming," Mary Jane determined without a note of uncertainty. A chin lifted. "Before she became your beau, she was my friend and family. I'm not leaving her alone." Scarlet-cerulean flashed. "It's best you don't forget that."

Bleu's grin was humorless. "Yeah. Thanks for the warning." He turned around to look at Peter. "Pete—"

"She said, 'we'," Peter interrupted, "and she meant 'we'. I'm not leaving either one of you hangin', man." He nodded to the car. "So shut up and drive. Sweets, c'mon. Bleu will make sure we don't get stopped by any of the Guard and he'll get Luna home safe," he added when she refused to move. "You have my word," he murmured to her softly. "Trust me. He cares about her."

Mary Jane glanced at Peter and slackened her stance. "Okay. Let's go." Casting a worried glance at Luna, she took Peter's hand as he led her to his Lacrima Car.

Bleu rounded to the driver's seat and settled in. He started the engine with his knuckles turning white on the steering wheel. His eyes shifted to the side to see Peter's car light up.

"She can't die…"

Bleu looked over at Luna whose eyelids drooped as tears streamed down her face.

"She can't die," she repeated like it was her personal mantra. "She can't die, she can't die…"

Bleu gritted his teeth as he switched gears. He waited for no one as he tore out of the parking lot. He knew Peter was following him without having to check. Shit. Did I call them too late? He pressed on the gas when the green light went to yellow. No. I just have to have a little faith. He could not help but glance at Luna. Don't worry, Treasure. She won't die. His shifted into another gear, his grip tight. I'll make sure of that.

°•°•°•°

WHOOSH!

Gary battened down as he went down another slope. Hot-blooded determination ran through his body made for the arctic. I'm on my way, Angel. The incline was steep, but the mobile refused to quit as it built up momentum. Gary added more Magic to give it that extra boost it needed to—

Cerulean widened.

The mobile lost all control as it tipped onto the next plane and Gary was thrown off. He landed in a heap in the snow, hyperventilating and a pain deep in his chest. He had a feeling no matter how much he wanted, the pain would never go away. Fingers shot up to his chest to check for wounds, but there were none there. His skin felt whole. But something deeper felt misplaced, felt…wronged. Anguish cupped his body as he rolled to his side to try and stabilize himself.

"What the Hell was that?" he panted. He touched his chest again, but still, there was nothing. The pain I'm feeling doesn't feel physical. It feels deeper than that. I can feel it in my soul. Realization slapped him. No… Angel—!

A throaty snarl.

Icy-blue-silver took over cerulean with a vengeance. "Malã'ika…" Skade could not help how fast he shoved back the mortal for his natural form. Ugly iced wings burst from his back as his claws gripped the snow. She is hurt. My Light is hurt.

Rage fueled Skade as the storm blustered about. But this storm could not match his own as he exchanged skin for fur and the voices were back. They whispered and they gurgled and they cackled and they crooned as they filled his mind.

My Female is hurt. Someone is hurting what is mine.

Drool frothed from Skade's mouth. The drops burned the snow into dry ice with no shame.

All of a sudden, those voices, those whispers, those cackles—they stopped for a single voice to tame them all. Skade. It was Gary. We'll save her. But we can't if you lose yourself—if we lose ourselves.

"Yessssss," Skade hissed. "Save Malã'ika. Kill who hurt her. Make them bleed." He snapped his jaws. "Feel their skull beneath our teeth." With too much fury bottled up, Skade threw back his head to let out a howl, a declaration of war. His paws danced atop the snow as each stepped forged ice beneath him. He bounded through the tundra in a silvery-blue blur like a wolf knowing someone unwelcome was in its territory.

We will come for you, our Female, Skade promised. You do not have our permission to die!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Back in Erika Town's Valley…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The inky sky was quick to make an appearance in December when the days went shorter. With the moon peeking out, John held up his shard of glass to see the aura of darkness sinking in quicker than ever. "All right," he said aloud, "we're a-go to begin the prep work." He pocketed the glass to turn to the motley crew. "Coming, D?"

Dazzler knew it was her who was asked the question and made a show of yawning. "Winters, I've been ready for this moment." She strutted over to him with Ghost and Laxus following. "So. How're we splitting her open?"

John grinned.

Laxus growled while Dazzler thanked her lucky stars the darkness hid her fury blush (Ghost was oblivious) as she spat, "The rift, dipshit. Didn't we agree not to revisit our unfortunate past?"

"You did," John pointed out as he made it so they were only centimeters apart. "I never agreed to anything of the sort."

Dazzler turned away from him. "Waiting for the plan, Winters."

John sobered up and instructed, "We're gonna need to be careful since we're going into a Demon's love shack. D, you were always good with wards and enchantments. Can you—?"

"Set up a Mute Enchantment, a Security Spell, Unperturbed Charm, a Repel Charm, a Hex Deflector Enchantment, a Max Protect Enchantment, and, knowing you, you'll still request a Chameleon," Dazzler listed off without missing a beat as she took off her top hat. "Yeah. On it." Murmuring lowly, her eyes glowed with her Magic as she slowly waved her hat around her in figure eight.

John nodded his approval (and his eyes dipped to appreciate her walking away) before he turned to the other two. "While she keeps our arses covered from the bad guys, I'm gonna take a crack at our door to Hell." He took out his light to pop out a cigarette. Lighting it, he took a puff and assured, "Shouldn't take too long. Just sit tight and watch." He went over to an odd spot in the valley before taking out his kaleidoscope. To him, he could see the glittering outlines of the space-time rift and he clicked on his lighter. He brought the flames to his lips and blew on it for the small little flame to jump and take to the air, forging a Magician Circle. The incantation muttered off his lips as he drove the circle forward into the rift.

Laxus and Ghost felt the wind kick up around them as they observed the Magician Circle storm around and the flames flare up. For a while, nothing happened. Then…

CRACK.

Ghost's eyes widened when, in the middle of the Magician Circle, a crack in the middle of the air appeared. "Whoa… This guy's the real deal, Mister Dreyar. He's got some sick Magic Power."

Laxus only narrowed his eyes. "Hmmm…" His eyes slid over to the shadowed tree line. Are they here for us or here for the opening?

°•°•°•°

When Natsu was finished in his own rage, he tore himself from the window. Loke moved out of the way for Natsu to embrace his mate and snuggle her into his arms. Wrath sat on his face, but he needed to comfort his wife. Loke moved to the floor to pace as options filled his head and tore at him.

"You mustn't forget this! You must remember! Remember for when an Angel cries and needs the Lion's revive! But beware of the Devil! Should the Angel fall, the Devil will rise and none shall be able to stop his wrath!"

"A pride will never have two males, but one will live while the other survives. The second prince is key. He will come between Death and Fate when both halves of a whole are ready. That is the Curse of the Lion's revive."

The focus husked in smoke and flames peering up at a beast of a man with blood on their claws.

Loke stopped pacing to growl at himself. How can I be this torn? Nashi needs to be saved. But by him… I can't discount what did he in the past. What if this is a mistake? What if this is a trick? He could turn on her at any moment. And then it would be my fault with Nashi's end. His jaw tightened. But if I don't even try…

"Loke?"

Loke turned to Lucy as a reflex, but he flinched back at the solemnity in her eyes, the resignation. "Lucy," he started.

"It's okay." Voice soft, no judgement, just acceptance. "It will be okay, Loke."

Loke cursed. "But it won't be," he insisted. "He could turn on her or not even answer her call."

"It's a risk," Lucy agreed. "But this is a risk we have to take to keep her alive." She nodded. "Please, Loke. I'm asking you as her friend as the godfather of one of my children."

How could he have any more reservations when she said that? His shoulders slouched in resignation. "Of course." Voice hoarse, soul torn. He closed his eyes and took in a shaky breath. My King… Should today go wrong due to my judgment…I beg you to punish me and allow my niece to live.

Warmth flooded into his fist.

Loke took his fist from his pocket as he opened his eyes. Slowly opening his hand, he saw the one thing he wished stayed away: a bronze Celestial Spirit Key.

°•°•°•°

VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOM!

Bleu shifted gears as he coasted down the back roads. Every time the car jostled, he risked a glance at Luna, but she barely flinched at anything. If anything, her eyes darkened as grief consumed her.

Dammit. Bleu willed his car to go faster. We won't make it at this rate.

"No… No!"

Bleu instantly turned his attention back to Luna to see her clutching her head in agony. "Treasure," he said urgently. "What's wrong? What's happening?"

"Nashi…" Luna half-moaned half-sobbed. "I'm sorry… Nashi, please…" Her face jerked up for Bleu to take in her tear-stained cheeks. "Bleu, Nashi…"

For the first time, Bleu cursed his car for being a manual. "We'll save her," he promised. "Just hold on for me."

Luna vehemently shook her head. "There's no time," she lamented as she cried. "She's going to die and I…!" She hugged herself with little comfort in it. "Bleu, I don't know what to do! I don't…!" Hunched over, Luna tried to quell her own sobs as she shook. This is my fault. I shouldn't have brushed them off. These dreams aren't dreams—they're real. My sister is going to die and I…! I can't help her!

DRIP.

DROP.

A spark rippling in the darkness.

She's the only sister I have, Luna cried. She can't leave! I won't let her! I have to do something!

The spark growing in the darkness.

Please…! Please let me save her! Luna pleaded from the bottom of her heart. Let me save Nashi!

Silence.

Something cool washed over her sorrows as the voices of hundreds of women flocked into her mind. May your wish be granted.

Bleu felt it before he saw it. That feeling, that warm feeling that could make any drunk on euphoria. That feeling when you relaxed after a hard day's work. That feeling of utter peace and self-love. Brightness clambered into the car and Bleu swerved when it exploded before pulling his emergency break in an abrupt halt. The car took to the stop, but it rumbled its irritation. Bleu whipped his head over to the passenger's seat…

…and his jaw tightened when he saw Luna had vanished.

SLAM!

Bleu's fist rested on his steering wheel, shaking. "Dammit," he gritted out. Treasure, where did you go?

"Yo, Bleu!"

Bleu let out a terse breath to hit the button and his window to roll down. Peter had pulled up to him with Mary Jane's window down and both her and Peter looking at him concernedly. Mary Jane noticed Luna's disappearance and a hardness took over her face. "She's gone?" Some cold seeped into her tone. "You let her teleport?"

"I didn't 'let' her do anything," Bleu retorted. "I didn't think she'd hocus pocus away!"

Mary Jane was about to sharply reply when Peter put a hand on her shoulder. "Easy, Sweets," he murmured. "He's beating himself up about this. I was angry at myself letting you get away during the Harvest Festival."

Mary Jane melted at that, but she could not let her worry go. "We need to find her."

"Where?" Bleu demanded to know. "She disappeared and we don't exactly have a GPS tracker on her."

Mary Jane thought hard before she replied slowly, "I personally think she's gone back to Magnolia. We should stick with going back there."

"Are you sure?" Bleu refused to back down as he looked her in the eye. "Are you absolutely sure she went back to her home?"

"Dude," Peter warned.

"Yes." Mary Jane met Bleu's glare head-on. "I'm sure of it."

Bleu gave her a nod. "Try to keep up." He did not even waste time rolling up his window as he shifted and took off into the darkness.

Peter growled as he stepped on the gas to keep up. "Dammit, Bleu, don't kill yourself," he muttered. "What the Hell is going on in his mind?"

"He's scared."

Peter glanced over to see Mary Jane's eyes following the taillights of Bleu's car. "He cares about her," she said loftily, "and for someone to care about someone else besides themselves… It brings out their worst fears."

°•°•°•°

Loke clutched the bronze key and hung his head. "Lucy," he started, "I just want you to know I—"

BAM!

No one was prepared for a bright light to flash into the room and even less prepared for a body to land right on top of Natsu and Lucy. But when the initial shock wore off, the follow-up shock made all three adults look wide-eyed at the body.

"Luna?!

Luna sniffled as she sat up, rubbing her cheeks. "Ow…" she groaned. "That hurt."

Lucy swept up her youngest in her arms and wiped her face. "Oh, baby, what are you doing here?" she murmured. "And you're crying."

"What the heck are you wearing?" Natsu wanted to know, confused.

Luna sniffed as she realized her attire. "Um, just E's new fashion line. I was testing it," she fibbed. She looked up at her parents as her bottom lip trembled. "I-I'm sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean to…well…you know… I was just…" Head ducked, her hand reached for her arm. "I just… I…" Eyes stung with tears. "I'm sorry," she whimpered. "It's all my fault." Much to all of their surprise, she leaped into her mother's arms once again and hugged her close. "It's all my fault. I'm sorry."

Lucy smoothed down Luna's hair. "What are you sorry about, baby?" she cooed. "Did you get into a fight with one of your brothers? Was it Igneel?"

Luna bit her lip. "Mmm-mmm." Her eyes closed as her tears came out, silent as the night. "It's…Nashi."

Everyone froze.

"I… I had a dream," Luna confessed. "Mama, Papa… I saw her—"

"We know."

Luna peered up with a sniffle to see her mother smiling sadly at her daughter. Lucy spoke, "We know, Luna. Loke told us."

"Uncle Loke did?" Luna turned to the Celestial Lion Spirit. "But then… Do they know?"

Loke nodded, the single action solemn. "Yes." He stepped closer and leaned forward to show it to Luna. Fingers uncurling, a bronze key sat in its palm with its dull glow.

Chocolate widened. "Is it—?"

"It's the key that's going to save Nashi, yes," Lucy verified, though her eyes strayed to Loke who could not face her. "We just need to get it to her."

Luna rubbed her eyes as thought raced through her head. A story played over in her mind and it got her to pause. "Wait a second…" She turned urgently to her mother. "What about when you had to face that Demon by yourself? Remember the story when Grandpa Mustache was summoned? When you broke—" Hesitation made her hold her tongue.

Lucy nodded along. "When I broke your aunt Aquarius' key," she finished without a note of guilty, just acceptance. "Yes, I remember."

"And her key moved to Giltena," Loke reminded. He curled his hands to hide the key. "The rules in the mortal world are different than the Celestial Spirit Realm and even more so than the Spirit World themselves. If you break a Spirit's link to this world, another one will form where the celestial energy is at its strongest. It's a gamble."

"Risk we're gonna have to take," Natsu strongly argued. "Nashi is worth it."

Hazel flashed in uncertainty. "But if he turns on her—"

"He won't."

Loke watched as Luna loosened herself from her mother's hold to approach him. Confidence spoke volumes in her young eyes. "He won't, Uncle Loke," she determined. "I don't know how I know, but… I just know. He won't hurt her." Her hands smoothed over his fisted on and her eyes reflexively closed. "I can feel him," she told. "He feels…pained and sad, but… I can feel his good. I feel warmth and kindness."

"You can," Loke breathed, "feel that?"

Luna nodded as power breezed around her. "Yes." An echo harmonized with her voice, older, matured. "His soul is strong, but it has endured much hardship. He has a lion's heart and his sense of justice will match the soul of the Angel."

"Luna?" Lucy called, wary. "Baby, what's going on?"

Luna's hands slipped away from Loke's. "It is time for rebirth." Her head turned for eyes glowing white to meet her parents'. "It is time for the one with the lion's heart to once again protect the Agent of the Creator before Death claims her."

Natsu growled. "Luna, what's going—?"

"I understand."

Natsu looked down at his wife. "Lucy? But—!"

"Natsu," she quieted. "It's okay." She tilted her head up at her husband. "Trust her."

Natsu forced himself to relax and nodded. "Okay."

Luna turned her glowing stare back on Loke. "Are you ready, Knight of Valor?"

"I am." Sureness filled Loke's voice. "But we'll need to time this just right. Once I break the key, we have ten seconds to get close enough to her."

"Why not just send it right to her?" Natsu questioned.

Loke was shaking his head. "That won't work. There's laws in place that prevent spiritual items to directly come into contact with mortals upon birth or rebirth," he explained. "The best we can do is get it close." He took off his shade for his eyes to meet Luna's unflinchingly. "Natsu, if anything happens—"

"Nothing will happen." Natsu said that with finality. "Not when both of my girls' lives are on the line."

Luna lifted her chin. "It is time."

Loke took a deep breath and let his eyes fall shut.

The Magic gathered in the room could make anyone feel alive and electrified. It made you feel like you were bringing with energy, like you had to go get up and go somewhere. Winds of power whirled around the pair to warn those in the vicinity a storm was coming. Shimmering gold-orange and pure snow-white drove into the air in waves with Loke and Luna consumed in their auras.

Loke's eyes opened to glow pure gold.

"With the power of the Lion," he chanted as the bronze key fell into both hands, "the leader of the Zodiacs, the commander of thirteen planets, ruler of four galaxies, and the right-hand of His Majesty commit a sacred act…"

Bronze blossomed with light.

°•°•°•°

John gritted his teeth as a bead of sweat went down his temple. The crack in the middle of his Magician Circle had turned the center into looking like it was shattered glass once shove away from being broken. He pocketed the kaleidoscope as quick as he could and shouted, "C'mon, you lot! Got the rift all nice and cozy for ya!" He turned to give them a smirk. "So who wants to knock on the Devil's door?"

°•°•°•°

Nothing could stop Nashi's pain.

Nothing…except death.

She lay in the snow with her blood pooling beneath her and her Magic breaking apart piece by piece. Her eyes tried to blind her, tried to show her the sanctuary of darkness, but she could not do so. She would not die. Not like this.

"Give it up now, Cleric."

°•°•°•°

"The sin I bear is mine alone," Loke chanted as his hands tightened on either end of the key. "I break your tether to this world"—his fingers pulled the key—"Leo Minor!"

SNAP!

The key was broken.

A vicious tsunami of Magic struck the entire room—struck the entire house—for the power to be killed. Natsu shielded Lucy as the storm of Magic thundered around them. Light vanished from the house as though scared off from the blowback. The glow in Loke's eyes was lost as he held the shattered key in each hand. Urgently, he shouted over the roar of scattering Magic, "Luna!"

Luna stepped forward as white swept her up in its aura. Unafraid of how Magic ricocheted in the house, she brought Loke's hands together with white transcending over his being. Her eyes closed as concentration took the reins of her mind. Everything had to be perfect. Nashi, Luna thought, you aren't allowed to go. We're sending help to you. I promise. We won't let you die.

°•°•°•°

Laxus, Ghost, and Dazzler came in close to John to stare at the rift. Dazzler reported, "Wards are done." She eyed the rift. "Still a bit nervous not knowing what we're walking into, but when has that ever stopped us before?" She twirled her top hat between her hands before putting it on and straightening the brim. "Let's get our jump on."

Laxus glanced into the shadows of the rift. "So how does this thing work?" he wanted to know.

John popped another cigarette and lit it with ease. "For the nerves," he explained at Dazzler's wrinkled nose. To Laxus, he answered, "Basically, the moment I give this little blighter a whack, it'll be as simple as accepting Mum's teatime invite. It's like breakin' into a buildin', mate. Dunno where we'll end up within the new world, but since when did colonizers know for sure what was on the other side?"

Dazzler took over the explanation. "Since we're jumping, I added a countermeasure. It'll correct any of your rearranged molecules, but to stabilize them is the tricky part."

"Right." John blew out smoke. "Keeping yourself altogether in a world is one thing, but in a different dimension is something else. We're enterin' through the back gate, sort of like cheatin'. So, whatever ya do, stick close to D and I. Unless you prefer to get your insides scrambled. Then, cheers to you."

Laxus growled. "Just do it," he barked to John. To Dazzler and Ghost, he rumbled, "You two, stay close to me. Anything happens and I want you behind me, got it? Ghost, anything happens to me, I want you to spirit Dazzler away and back here."

"What?!" Ghost and Dazzler squawked. As Ghost spluttered the dangers of doing so, Dazzler said angrily, "I am a grown-ass woman and a high-level Magician! You can't just—!"

"I agree with the bloke."

Dazzler turned her head to glower at John. "I don't care," she snarled. "I'm not leaving my friends behind, John!"

John dropped his cigarette and snubbed it with his foot. Pocketing his hands, he turned his back on her to face the rift. "Sorry, D," he murmured to her, "but you mean a little too much to lose you. Gotta side with Mister Electric." His head turned to reveal his signature grin. "No hard feelings, love."

Dazzler did not know what to say. Normally, her ire would take hold of her tongue, but right now… "John…"

John turned back to the rift and held out a palm to it. "Everyone, get behind me!" he commanded. "Time to jump!"

°•°•°•°

Nashi wheezed. Her throat tasted like blood. Her tongue felt swollen and dry at the same time. Numbness was robbing her from the pain, thievery that was bittersweet. Giving up seemed so easy. To drift away… To accept that hand given to her that would bring her into peace. The cold did not even bother her. Nature pulled back from her effect. Mother Nature was done with this child. Mother Nature knew it was time for Death to take the lead in such a mortal's life plan.

Is this it? Nashi whispered into nothingness. Is this what dying feels like? I can…barely think. I feel so…tired… I just want to sleep. Yes, sleep… Her eyelids could barely close. But… Wasn't there something I had to do? That's…that's right… I… I have a mission… I have to finish it.

COUGH.

Yuki did not even raise an eyebrow as Nashi's coughs misted blood more than saliva. Interesting. She's still alive.

"Not…gonna….h-h-happen," Nashi wheezed. "I'm not…beaten ye—" Fits of coughing shook her and she could feel her heart race. This was it. Her body was going into its last attack as though to save her. But it was futile. Her body was defenseless, her mind was fading, and her time was up.

°•°•°•°

Luna felt her power consumed the entire room in its essence as she wished, And that's my wish… For our help to reach you wherever you are! Grant me my wish, please! Give Nashi someone who will save her, even from herself!

The mark of Fairy Tail blossomed in white and curled around her hand.

The bracelet of the Sea King shimmered as though the ocean was around her wrist.

A symbol blossomed on her chest, beaming in snow-white. A wheel—an emissary wheel of four triangles layered atop with twelve points touching the wheel—grew with the symbol of the crescent moon at its core.

The echo answered. May your wish be granted.

The symbol shimmered until it shined.

°•°•°•°

Laxus, Ghost, and Dazzler gathered behind John. His eyes glowed in his Magic as he chanted: "Spatium inter duo regna rumperetur vinculum!" Magic gathered in his palm in a burning ball. With a single twitch of his finger, it shot off to engage in the rift and—

CRASH!

Watching thin air shatter around you was a sight in itself. Inside the Magician Circle, therein lie the gateway to another dimension. Nothing looked promising about it. All could hear the commotion of people, but the rift was drenched in darkness and not the good kind. Wind swept up as though being sucked into the rift and trying to pull more mortals into its depths.

John dismissed the Magic in his eyes to yell over the wind, "All right, in, people! We don't have a lot of time until it closes!"

Ghost nodded determinedly and headed into the rift first, disappearing into darkness.

John helped Dazzler make it up to the rift, though she grunted, "I don't need your help."

"No"—John's grin was self-deprecating—"ya never did, love." He looked up to meet her eyes. "Stay safe."

Dazzler gave him a small nod. "See you on the other side." She crossed into the rift and disappeared into darkness.

John looked over at Laxus who was fixated on the rift. "Mate, hate to break up the connection, but we really gotta scram!"

Laxus cast one more eye-full to the forest before heading to the rift. He climbed into it easily and was consumed whole into the black. John wasted no time following after him and willingly falling into the darkness of the rift.

°•°•°•°

A Curse wound up Yuki's arm as her finger twirled. Through her fingers went the Curse until it clamped down on her nails. Icy claws emerged and gleamed without need light. She knelt before Nashi for a claw to tip Nashi's chin up to meet her bringer of death. "Oh, how cute," Yuki murmured as she flexed her claws. "You are now"—she raised her claws—"princess."

A glint in the distance.

Nashi felt her eyes glazing as though she was preparing to die. But a spark in the distance crossed her tunneling vision. Nothing mattered except the faint glow she saw. She did not care that claws were coming down to finish the job. Death was a passing glance at the moment. Her mind was focused on something else.

What…—her numbing fingers stretched and open—is that…?

°•°•°•°

As slow as the power grew to top off, Luna felt it seep back into her body quickly, overwhelmingly. The lights were back on and the air was still. But her eyes rolled as she fell forward. Loke reacted without a moment's notice and caught his niece in his arms. "Luna," he fretted. "Are you all right?"

Luna stirred within his hold. "Did we do it?" she mumbled tiredly.

"Yes, baby." Lucy looked at Loke's empty hands with relief in her eyes. "We did." Feeling faint herself, she tipped back into Natsu's arms. Nashi… Please, let her be saved.

°•°•°•°

The open rift started to piece itself back together. Two dimensions that never should have crossed would not logically have a shared rift. The world needed correction. The Magician Circle burnt away as pieces of the shattered rift came together to seal off both dimensions.

RUSTLE.

A shadow zipped into the valley.

Then another.

And another.

Until seven shadows were sprinting towards the rift.

°•°•°•°

Nashi choked on blood and low oxygen as her arm pushed itself to stretch. Please, she wheezed. I feel you…

DRIP.

A tear mixed with blood dripped from her chin.

DROP.

It dissipated into Ethernano.

Help…me…

SHING!

Bronze zoomed through blustering white.

Yuki's eyes widened. What?

Frail fingers reacted to the power zooming to them. The hand opened as bronze fell perfectly into its grasp—

BOOM!

DING-DONG!

°•°•°•°

Loke's eyes widened. He could not believe it after all this time. "He's back," he whispered. "I feel him. He's been summoned." Hazel shot up to meet onyx and milk chocolate. "Býleistr is back."

°•°•°•°

The rift was not even close to repairing itself when the first of the shadows leaped into its depths. The second one flew in without hesitation. The third and fourth helped each other into it. But the rift was gaining ground on stitching itself back together and time was of the essence. The fifth shadow did a flip into the narrow opening the rift had.

The gateway was closing.

Emotionless frown. "Masahiko."

The larger of the two shadows was swallowed in deep violet Magic and shrunken into a gun. The seventh shadow easily took it and held it close to them as they spiraled into the rift and fell into it—

—right as the rift closed.

°•°•°•°

For the first time, Yuki displayed displeasure as she leaped back from the wintery explosion tethered in gold Magic. She readied her claws as blades of ice became her protective legion. What was that? She shouldn't have any Magic Power left so it couldn't be her. But the only other thing here is that Magic Cat. Her eyes narrowed. So what could that even be?

It was like the sun warming the sand. That was the feeling Nashi could equate this with. How her soul felt. How her heart felt. Hickory cracked open to see the blizzard once more but having the energy to open her eyes was a victory in itself. Wha…happe…? Grogginess touched her thoughts. I can…feel again… My soul… It's warming. Hickory zoomed into focus on her closed hand. Huh. My hand… It feels really warm. And there's this power…

Hickory drifted onto the tundra to see paws saturated in burnt orange fur and claws unsheathed. What…? Her exhausted gaze drifted upwards to see powerful legs hidden in torn pants and a tail flicking back and forth. What the…? The gaze saw a scarred back, but fur was growing in nicely. Arms had pawed hands and claws at the tips. A russet mane was thick and lightly dusted in snow. Shoulders heaved as snarling breaths panted into the wind. What is…—Nashi could feel herself losing herself to sleep—that…?

And she drifted asleep a ringing sound filled her ears.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!

---

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…

Whoooooooa… So much is happening at once! Are the seven people friends or foes? Nashi can't go to sleep! What if she never wakes up? To find out what happens, tune in to the next Fairy Adventure!

---

Igneel stumbled from street to street with his head fuzzy and the pain—that ache that tore up inside him—beginning to recede. Nothing made sense at that moment, but a horrid thought kept cycling back when he tried to come up with an explanation to it. That feeling… The pain… It was almost the same as when I lost her, but… His eyes widened. Nashi. Was it Nashi? Is my sister…?

He could not say it.

Dread filled him as he trembled. No. That's not possible. She's fine. She has to be. He took out his Compact and immediately dialed her. The ringer started.

°•°•°•°

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ…

In the darkness of the Erika Valley, a single light lit up. Within one of the pitched and forgotten tents, a Compact shook and light up on a rolled out sleeping bag never slept in. Igneel's face popped up as it shook again as though demanding someone answer the call.

No one would.

°•°•°•°

Igneel cursed when he got a voicemail. Panic welled up inside him as he tried again. "Come on, Nashi, now isn't the time for your ignoring me bullshit," he hissed with no real malice. Worry could turn into angered worry without fail. The ringer started again. "Pick up," he pleaded in murmur. "Pick up, pick up, pick up, pick up!" When the voicemail came, he let out half a growl and half a cry. "Dammit, Nashi, pick up your freaking Com!" He was half tempted to throw the device and watch it shatter, but another thought came to him. "Mom. She'll know where Nashi is." He found her contact and placed the call.

°•°•°•°

Lucy was in the middle of making sure Luna was comfortable in her bed. Icarus had come out on his own to curl up next to his mistress, watching over her with hawk eyes. "Luna, baby, it's time to rest," she insisted once more.

"I'm fine…!" Luna countered from under her covers. The bags under her eyes said otherwise. "We need to find Nashi!" She struggled to sit up with Icarus always nudging her back down to the bed. Her efforts, however, were sluggish. "Mama, make him stop it!" she bit, throwing her Spirit a glare he ignored.

Lucy sighed. "Luna—" Before the same argument could drudge back up, something felt off with her Compact. She retrieved it from her back pocket to see Igneel calling and answered. "Hi, Igneel. What's going on?" She frowned. "Where are you?" she demanded to know. "Loke told us you didn't come home last night."

°•°•°•°

Igneel rubbed his chin with the side of his hand as he tried to cut into his mother's berating. "Ma, listen, I'm sorry, but—!"

"I know we trust you to look after yourself and be safe and we're lax about curfew," Lucy continued to scold, "but that's no excuse, Igneel. We'd appreciate just a simple text after midnight or if you're staying somewhere else to sleep, okay?"

"Yeah, Ma, okay, look, I slept with MJ and Aunt Mira vouch for me, but listen, Ma—!"

"You did what?!"

Igneel winced as he pulled his Compact away while his mother fired off questions and demands in the loudest voice he ever heard. This is why he hated having sensitive ears. When he deemed it safe, he listened in to her Com-rant. "—and she's okay with this?! Oh, God, what's Laxus going to think when he learns you stole Mary Jane's virginity! He's going to murder my son!"

Pink flames engulfed his hair as Igneel blushed. "Mom!" he gaped. "What the heck are you talking about?!"

"You having sex with Mary Jane!"

Igneel choked. Oh God. "What?!"

"Please tell me you used protection! We don't mind when you kids start your sexual relationships, but Igneel, I swear to the stars, if you get her pregnant—!"

"Mom, I didn't have sex with MJ!" Igneel barked into the call. He noticed pedestrians giving him wide-eyed looks and tried to pat down the pink flames in his hair.

"You didn't?" Lucy sounded unsure. "But you said you slept with her—"

"In her bed," Igneel explained in a lower voice, "and we caught z's. None of that"—he snuffed the last pink flame, but his blush was too fierce—"other stuff."

Two beats of pause. "Oh." Relief flooded in that one word. "Oh, thank goodness. Not that I'm discouraging you from doing what you want to do, but with everything that happened, I don't think sex is a good thing to add in-between you and Mary Jane at the moment. You two just became friends and everything and…"

"Oh, my God, Ma." Igneel pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to let the earth swallow him. Maybe he would die from embarrassment. And then Nashi would taunt his ghost and his ghost would die from embarrassment. "I didn't call for sex advice. I'm calling about Nashi," he gave to her straight. "I felt this pain in my body and I'm…" How could he say this? "Mom, do you know where she is? I need to find her."

Silence.

He checked to see the call was still going before calling, "Ma?"

More silence.

"Igneel."

His stomach dropped.

"About your sister…"

"Where is she?" Igneel demanded to know. "What happened to her?" He tried to ask another question when a gust of wind hit him and flustered his hair and scarf. "Where can I f—?"

A scent hit him.

Onyx widened.

He knew that scent well. Every time he smelled it, it made him want to punch the guy in the face. I can smell him, Igneel thought, but… But the scent—as distant as it was—had changed. It was not an individual scent anymore with that essence of purity. A second scent had latched onto it, but you could barely scent it. But it would not smell like that if it were not for—

Igneel lowered his Compact, ignorant of his mother's calls for him.

His hand shook.

You…

A snarl tore from his throat.

…motherfucking bastard.

And onyx was swallowed into fierce emerald.

°•°•°•°

Gale took the scenic route to the eastern forest. He knew that was cowardly but trying to find the right words to say the people he hurt the most was not exactly easy. Hands dug in the pockets of his jacket, he traipsed along Magnolia with his head down as though hiding his face from the world. All he could envision was his father's back to him and the words that stung him fresh.

"So your consequence is looking Natsu in the eye and telling him. And you're going to apologize to his queen. Look her in the eye and tell her how the pain you gave her meant jack shit. We'll talk after that."

How can I tell him that? Gale wondered of himself. Uncle Natsu trusted me after I did that to Aunt Luce and I just… He mentally sighed. Sycaña? Words of wisdom would be nice. Or are you mad at me too?

The decease Dragoness only sighed. My advice is in alignment with your sire.

Do you know what I did?

I do. Sycaña had no shame. As we bond, I can see your memories. It is an honor to have a Slayer powerful enough to do that at a young age. You did not know what you were doing. But I am even more satisfied to see you later learned what you did and, rather take it back, you invested in it.

Until now, Gale bitterly thought.

You are young, Little Gem, she reminded him like a mother comforting her son. You are unmated. Your instincts are far greater than the average mortal. But you had a duty to fulfill. It is only right you relinquish it now.

Gale rubbed his face. Can't wait to tell the guys I lost my virginity and the only girl I actually loved. They'll probably buy me a drink for it. He began to cross a bridge. Should I even tell Blondie?

You did make a vow.

Yeah, but, like, why would she care anyways? She's with that douchebag, probably letting him kiss her so easily and falling for his tricks. Such ugly words soured his mood. She probably doesn't give a shit.

You know that's not true, Sycaña chided. You felt her connection to you grow.

Gale groaned. I know, but can't you at least let me give myself comfort she won't care? If she doesn't care, that's fine. But if she does… He stopped. Then, I really did hurt her. And for that…I don't think I can forgive myself either.

Heat sweltered December air. "Gale Redfox!"

Gale whipped his head up—

Shocked ruby clashed with furious emerald.

"Igneel?" Gale choked as he took in the sight of his friend a step away from being on fire. "What's going on, man? What's wrong?"

Igneel's shoulders shook as he crossed the bridge. Scorch marks of his footprint were left behind. "I would wait a hundred lifetimes if it meant she'd love me again," he started to growl. "If she asked me to wait for her, I wouldn't even bat a fucking eye because she's worth it. I will keep my promise to her dad to the grave if I have to."

Gale backed up when realization struck him. My scent. He smells my scent. "Igneel, wait—!"

Igneel did not stop as flames became to lick his feet. "Even touching another girl feels like cheating to me. Because she's the only one I will ever want in my fucking life." The growl grew thunderous as though it was telling all to prepare. His teeth bared in war and the emerald slit his eyes like a reptile. "I don't care if she fucks around with other guys. I don't care if other girls want me. I did what I did and I will own up to that for the rest of my life. Until I deserve her." Igneel stopped right before him with feral emeralds ablaze and his flames climbing the air. "But you…"

Gale flinched when a wave of red flames came up to cover Igneel.

The next words Igneel said were in a chilling whisper, "You don't deserve even the chance to deserve her."

Ruby widened. "Igneel—!"

The next thing he knew, red flames exploded.

---

Chibi-Luna pops into the classroom with her cute wave. "Hi, class!"

"Hiss, Miss Dragneel!" the class choruses back as she shuffles in. "What are we learning today?"

Chibi-Luna goes to the chalkboard.

Chibi-Luna goes to the chalkboard. "Today, our topic is Magic in health care!" She dusts off her hands to look back at the class. "You see, class, Magic's role in health care is still a battle to this day!" She writes more on the chalkboard. "When Magic started in Earth Land, normal practices didn't always work on Mages or magical beings since the illnesses were different than normal sicknesses. Magic can affect a Mage's immune system. While we're still human, the Magic inside us works hard to stabilize our bodies for taking on such magnificent energy—and that includes getting sick!"

"But, Teach, I thought Mages in the old days used potions and junk?" come calling from a male student.

Chibi-Luna points at him. "While that is true, it wasn't always like that. It took a lot of trial and error. Nowadays, those potions are conformed into medicines and pills and syringes. Some people still use liquid potions to this day and magi-pharmacology still has a lot of the root potion recipes into their prescriptions, but a lot's different." She turns to her class. "Still, it's important providers know about a person's magical status and ability or it can severely affect their health. For example, my big brother Luke can't take big doses of SSRI or SNRI medication due to his Magic. Those medications place a strain on his mind and fluctuate his powers. Gary can't take antipsychotic medication because it inadvertently suppresses his connection with Skade. While some people would think he wants that, it doesn't mean Gary stays human but the opposite. Skade would gain more control and Gary would be suppressed."

Another hand goes up. "But, Teacher, I thought medical studies had Magic specialization?"

"It does," Luna assures. "While many people think Magic is outdated, many more think Magic is amazing, even if not that many can perform it. But Magic is such an integral part of life, so it's natural we adapted it into everyday life." She shows her drawings of the medical cross, a wrench, and music notes. "Magic has appeared in medicine, STEM programs, and even the liberal arts. But we're focusing on health care for now. Like I was saying, Magic specialization is something a Spiritless or a Mage can accomplish. Magic Medicine relies heavily on PubMaj that houses biomedical research of Magic as well as relying on the data the Magic Council gives them through the Super Archive. Studying Mages and the effects of Magic on our bodies is important, but it's equally important to study Spiritless and how Magic effects their body. For example, in Freesia Town, there are forget-me-not flowers, but they're super potent in causing amnesia for some reason. Magidoctors found out that the effect is worse for Spiritless since they don't have proper training in Magic Blocks than Mages do."

"How come people are still learning stuff about magical effects and treatments?" complains another student. "I mean it's been since forever since we had Magic."

Chibi-Luna shakes her head. "Not exactly. It's true we've had Magic for centuries, but not in this context. People used to think Magic was some sort of problem or sickness. Even today, some people still think that. It made people ignorant in Magic and how to treat its effects. But, even now, we're all still learning, especially with how flexible Magic can be. Even Mages who have the same type of Magic don't necessarily have the same effects. My papa and Uncle Romeo both practice Fire Magic, but my papa can eat flames. If my uncle Romeo did that, he'd burn his tongue. See what I mean?"

The class hums and murmurs their agreement.

Chibi-Luna sets down her chalk. "Honestly, I think it's cool seeing people still want to research Magic. It just means everyone is learning something new every day!" She points at her new writing. "By the way, class. Today featured two select songs. The first song is Super Riser by Nanidato which sampled the original song Merry Christmas by Ito Chieri. The second song is called POPSTARS by K/DA. And the dance Bleu and I were doing is Navillera by GFRIEND. Eventually, the board wants to put together a playlist of all the songs and has commissioned a composer to write original themes for all our original characters. Isn't that cool?" While the class hoots and hollers, excited, Chibi-Luna shouts over them "And that concludes our Fairy Lesson! Next time, on Fairy Adventure: IN THIS TIME OF FEAR!"

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

Jonathon "John" Winters - Matt Ryan

Dazzler Lafayette - Kristi Rothcock

Laxus Dreyar - Patrick Seitz

Giovanni - Bruce Carey

Sindella - Rachel Robinson

Ghost - Stephen Saunders

Aine Fernandes - Carrie Kernanen

Hemera - Hetty Abott

Mirella - Edie Mirman

Kyler - Ray Chase

Talia - Serene Varghese

Mammon - Paul St. Peter

Bael - Paul St. Peter

Lynn - Grey Delisle

Nashi Dragneel - Laura Landa

Muta the Exceed - Jason Douglas

Xiaomei -

Yuki (the Woman) - Wendy Lee

Gary Fullbuster - Griffin Burns

Lee Gavrillo - Travis Willingham

Skade - Griffin Burns

Skade (Child) - Greg Ayers

Gary Fullbuster (Child) - Cristina V

Luna Dragneel - Bryn Apprill

Ena Fernandes - Xanthe Huynh

Icarus - Christopher Sabat

Silver Fullbuster - Yuri Lowenthal

Bleu - Xander Mobus

Loke (Leo) - Eric Vale

Capricorn - Michael Johnson

Natsu Dragneel - Todd Haberkorn

Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel - Cherami Lee

Luke Dragneel - Alan Lee

Aries - Didi Archilla

Mystogan Fernandes - J. Michael Tatum

Kinana - Lara Woodhul

Erza Fernandes - Coleen Clinkenbeard

Amrita - Lauren Tom

Freed Justine - John Burgmeier

Number Five - Melissa Fahn

Constantine - Paul Bettany

Gale Redfox - Greg Cipes

Scyaña - Christen Austen

Olivia Redfox - Laura Bailey

Gajeel Redfox - David Wald

Mary Jane Dreyar - Erica Lindbeck

Peter Shuusei-Thompson - Joe Zieja

Igneel Dragneel - Bryce Papenbrook

Mirajane Dreyar - Monica Rial

Red-eyed Mary Jane - Erica Lindbeck

•

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator - Mary McGlynn

Recap Narrator/Ending Narrator - Melissa Fahn

Explaining Narrator - Mary McGlynn

Unnamed Female Research - Luci Cristian