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!

64. Adventure 064

Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it, nor any references made such as songs. All original plots and characters are mine.

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

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PREVIOUSLY, on Fairy Adventure, the trial started for Skade and, boy, was it a rough one! With secrets revealed and pasts shed, will this rocky start be the nail in the coffin for Skade or will he get to come home a free man? And what about Gary? Luna and Luke start their new training, but they're taking their training in different strides. Luna looks like she wants to punch Gale, but Luke, well… He might have his own issues going on. Julia met up with Zelda to learn not only was Tesla Zelda's cousin and a Magic Hunter, but Tesla is made of Anti-Ether herself! Talk about a twist! Silver and Ena were just getting along only for Silver to put his foot in his mouth and start them back at a place farther than square one! And just when you two were getting to be friends! Mary Jane brought Peter home with her for a much-needed dinner with her parents after she took control of her own body and gave herself protection from the unknown. But, aw… Poor Makarov! Nashi sucked it up to find Gary in the connection she, Gary, and Skade share and, while it did get steamy, it was also sweet too. One day soon, Gary, you'll hear those words you've been waiting for. But what was up at the end with all those codenames? Who are all those people? Should we be worried?

"Just be careful."

"I will, sir."

Whoa… So we have some espionage going on, do we? And, um, Peter? I don't think you're the only getting excited between the two of you…

---

Luke was wide awake at the crack of dawn when he stumbled out of bed. With a yawn, he headed downstairs with his Compact and into the kitchen where Ena already had settled as she finished making breakfast. She gave him a kind yet hesitant smile. "Morning."

"Morning." Luke took a healthy sniff and perked. "Bacon and sausage?"

Ena laughed. "You guessed it, bloodhound. Thought I would make myself useful." She looked out the kitchen window. "And I thought L might want to use all her rage on her appetite instead of cursing out her dad."

Luke went over to Ena to peek out the window and smiled when she saw a red-faced Luna with their father out on the lawn he cleared out with his heat. It looked like he was critiquing her form gingerly, but anyone could see Luna looked ready to blow a fuse. "I'm surprised she hasn't yet," Luke confessed. "Nashi wasn't afraid to cuss out our dad. He didn't care, but it pissed her off even more."

Ena giggled behind a hand. "L's just about to get there with Gale. I swear she either talks about Bleu like he bought her the moon or she's cursing out Gale and your dad." She shook her head. "I think we're about to unleash a monster."

Luke snickered as he went to the refrigerator to get out some sweet tea. "We just might," he quipped. "I don't see Lu get angry too often, but it's not pretty when she does." He held up the jug of tea. "Want some?"

"Yes, please." Ena finished fixing him his breakfast. "This is for you. I tried to make as big of portions as I could." A dramatic eye roll. "You Dragneels have appetites that could scare countries."

Luke poured them both a glass of tea. "It's in our DNA." After exchanging a glass for his plate, he winked at her. "All a part of the charm."

Ena snorted at the notion. "Right. 'Charm'." She took a ginger sip of her tea. "Are you sure you like your suit? It's not too tight in the groin area."

Normally, Luke would fumble and blush, but he bunked down at a stole and heartily inhaled his food. "Nah, i's fin'," he told her through mouthfuls, though he swallowed and offered a sheepish smile at the distaste on Ena's face. "Sorry. Everything's perfect. Thanks, Bambi."

The look on Ena's face had Luke bursting out in a laugh. "I fall once and you scar me for life with that name," she muttered.

Luke flashed his pearly whites, canines and all, dark eyes dancing in mischief. "I'm happy my sole purpose in life is to scar you for life, Bambi. Glad to see it's working."

"I miss the days you were respectful," Ena grunted. "What happened to that Luke?"

Luke's grin dipped to a confused frown. "What do you mean?"

Ena swiped a slice of bacon and nibbled on it. "I don't know. You just seem…different. Nothing bad but still different."

"I feel the same," Luke said with a shrug. He flipped up his bangs. "Is it my hair?"

"No…" Ena eyed him closely. "Your eyes, maybe. They seem darker than usual." But she wrote it off. "Maybe your glasses do something odd and make your eyes lighter."

"Sensei magicked them, so I don't know." Concern graced Luke's features when Ena stiffened. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop," he murmured, "but I know why you've been staying with us. I'm not Lu, but you can talk to me, whenever you're ready."

Ena turned her back on him. "What's there to talk about?" she asked, bitter. She focused on Luna who had it up to here with her father's gentle nitpicking. "Mystogan made it clear where we stand. I think that's enough."

"I don't think it is." Luke got up to join Ena and gave her a side hug. "Sensei might be a brilliant person, but he's a shit brother to you and to Aine—"

An unceremonious scoff erupted from Ena. "In his eyes, Aine is more his sister than I'll ever be."

"Which is bullshit."

Ena lifted her head and she was taken back seeing Luke's eyes blacken and his jaw ticked. She flinched when his fingers dug into her arm like he was physically restraining himself from such rage. "Luke?"

"He might be my teacher, but he has no right making you feel lesser than anyone else," Luke snarled. "I hate that you feel like this. Believe me, if he was here, I would have punched him until he—"

"Luke!"

Luke blinked and frowned down at an aghast Ena. "What?"

"'What'?" Ena parroted back. "Since when do you think violence is the answer? Igneel was the one to throw a fist and ask questions later, not you."

Luke let her go with a terse breath. "Yeah? Well, Igneel isn't here, is he?" he reminded, tone curt. "Sometimes people don't like to talk things out. Igneel didn't." Something passed over his face, something…unsettling. "And when he shows his face here, I'm not taking a stupid 'sorry'. Fucker deserves me beating his ass for abandoning our family." Smothering his snarl from his voice unsuccessfully, he stalked back to his plate and tore into his food.

A little shaken, Ena was left to stare at him. What the…? What's wrong with him? She ducked her eyes when Luke's own snapped up to meet hers. L told me ever since Igneel left, Luke's been different, but I didn't think like this. She glanced out the window where Luna had lost it while Natsu laughed at her in good fun.

I need to tell L and Mister Dragneel, Ena determined. Maybe I'm overreacting. I really hope that's what it is.

Ena set out to start making plates while Luke angrily chewed on his food. And unbeknownst to either one of them, on the back of Luke's head, beneath his first layer of pink hair…black began to douse his locks.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ima nan janai?

Meramerato tagiru

Kon'na boku ni mo hisomu seigi ga

Dou shiyou mo nai shoudou ni kara rete

Hora kidzukeba te o nigitte iru

•

Ittaizentai

Son'nani nimotsu o

Shoikonde dokoheikuno

Nee nee matte boku ni chotto azukete mite wa?

•

Nana na nana na

Nananana nana na nana na

Nanana nana na nana na

Nananana nana na nana na

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The Jaborosa-Crocus International Sky Port was busier than normal, but holiday season had kicked in and everyone was trying to get to their vacation spots now that school was out, vacation time was approved, and money had been stockpiled for the momentous occasion. A young adult rolled her eyes and walked away when her mother once again insisted she not stay with her boyfriend and his family for the holidays. An old pair of best friends were being wheeled together to their gate. A young man tried to feed blueberries to his overzealous ESA golden retriever only for the retriever to bite an unsuspecting child in line with his parents. Security tried to keep up as fast as they could, but after stopping several people who tried to sneak in various large dishes of food to one man who was bold enough to try and bring a sword onto one of the sky Boats, it looked like the lines would be taking a while.

Olivia stood in the security line with most of her family there. Gale was the only one absent. Instead, Orochi had come to see her off. Most of her belongings had been shipped to the City of Metal, so now she would be the last thing to head to the City of Metal with the rest of her personal belongings. But Olivia could not wait to move through this line fast enough since all people within the vicinity heard was—

"Waaaaah…!" Levy blew her nose noisily into her tissue. "My baby is leaving me again! And before Christmas!"

Olivia sweatdropped. "Mom, I told you this flight was the last one to the City of Metal until January," she insisted yet again. "And we can still FaceCall on Christmas—"

"But it won't be the same!" Levy sobbed. With those big hazel eyes of hers, she pleaded to her daughter, "Can you just stay until January?"

Olivia's eyebrow twitched. "Mom, we talked about this…"

Levy sniffled. "I know, I know, but…!" Those eyes of her filled with crocodile tears that could flood the entire airport. "You're leaving me again…!"

"Come down, woman," Gajeel grumbled, though he rubbed Levy's side as she buried her face into him. "You're going to wake up every baby and dog in a fifty-mile radius. Ow!" His pierced eyebrows rose, incredulous she had just hit him. "The Hell was that for?"

"Why aren't you being a good husband and helping me convince Olivia to stay here?" Levy blubbered in demand. "Here where it's safe and where she can be with family—"

Gajeel guffawed. "Shorty, considerin' we ain't got room to talk, I don't see the point in talking her out of it." He offered his daughter an approving grin. "Besides, she needs to do this. You never know. She just might find herself out there."

Olivia smiled. "Thanks, Papa." She nudged an out-of-it Galileo. "And you still have Leo to baby, Mom. So you'll be fine."

Galileo grew horrified when his mother picked up her head with a glint in her eye. "No, no, you don't have me to baby," he hurried to declare. "I-I'll be busy too!"

"With what?" Olivia retorted smartly. "You said it yourself you were lacking and you don't even know what. Face it, Galileo—you're going to be stuck at home with Mom going through her whole empty nester phase."

Galileo panicked. He remembered when their mother went through that phase of knowing the twins would be leaving and she did everything in her power to entice them to stay…and it went south quickly with her efforts. "Mom, you can't baby me. I'm not even the baby of the family," he interjected. "I'm right, right? Gale's the baby—"

"And he's going to be training his ass off for a while now and barely be home."

Galileo gawked at his father. Why are you encouraging this!

Levy hiccupped and dabbed around her eye. "So this means Galileo will stay with me and be my helper for my research and come with me to mass?"

"No—Nnngh!"

Galileo could have died right then and there with the way Olivia had her hand on his metal arm and threatened to rip it off from the nerve connectors. "Why, of course, Mom!" Olivia cheered. "Galileo will do all that stuff with you! He'll even help Papa coupon and he'll happily do laundry every Sunday after mass. He'll even start tithing. Isn't that right, Leo?"

"You're evil," Galileo gasped out.

Olivia let him go (and Galileo was left to catch his breath in huffs and puffs) and looked up to Orochi. "Are you sure you should be here and not at the shop? I thought you had clients today?"

"I do, but later," Orochi informed. "I wanted to see you off before I went to work. Everyone else was busy with work—"

"I know," Olivia soothed. "Trust me. I woke up to a bunch of text messages this morning and we did shots last night, remember? Oh!" She tapped Orochi's arm. "Make sure my Christmas presents get delivered to everyone."

Orochi bobbed his head. "Done. Just like you have to still call—"

"At least every two weeks," Olivia recited. "I remember. Believe me. Justin and Ellie embedded the message into my mind." A frown. "Have you heard from Jax or Ezra or Majime about what happened on Saturday? I heard Jax's girlfriend was in the hospital and same for Ezra and Saudade. I tried talking to Saudade, but she hasn't answered and Jax is…well, Jax."

Orochi snorted. "Ezra isn't a big talker to begin with," he reminded. "The whole thing seems odd to me. Ezra's not much of a fighter, so why would he and Saudade be hospitalized? And how did Jax's girlfriend get into the mix?" He scrubbed his face. "Mara keeps saying her head canon is Ezra and Saudade will get back together."

"Doubtful," Galileo piped in. "Daddy's crazy about Majime. One man's ex is another man's whole world."

Orochi and Olivia gave their agreements and the line moved forward again. The conversation lulled, barring Gajeel murmuring consolations to his distraught wide, and step for step, they moved up the line until they were only a few people away from Olivia's turn for security. She got out her passport, her MagID, and her tickets before she turned to her parents. "I guess this is it," she supposed.

"You don't have to look so happy about," Levy accused miserably.

Olivia chuckled as she hugged her mother (who instantly squeezed her back). "Will you feel better if I tell you I'm secretly crying too?"

"You never cry," Levy sniffled.

"Not true," Galileo said. "Liv cries on the inside."

Olivia pulled away from Levy. "It's true. I'm crying on the inside, Mom. But I'm not going away forever, I promise," she soothed. "Plenty of us go away from home to other places, but we still come home. And I already promised I'll be on the first flight back so I can come home for Parents' Day—"

"But that's in March!" Levy sniffled and her eyes threatened those crocodile tears again. "That's so far away!" She clung to Olivia's arm. "Why can't you stay until—? Hey! Gajeel!" She had been thrown over Gajeel's shoulder like she weighed nothing. "Gajeel! Put me down, you stupid metalhead!"

Gajeel guffawed. "Easy there, Shorty. Rather have you cursing me out than flooding the place." He grinned down at his daughter and laid a hand on her head. "You make me proud out there, all right? You're carrying the Redfox name which means you don't back down from nothin'. You give it everything you got, Princess."

"I will, Papa," Olivia promised softly. "You take care too. Stop worrying Mom so much and make sure she doesn't work too hard."

Gajeel cackled. "Trust me. The second all three of you are gone, I intend to make sure she doesn't work at all."

Levy grew red-faced. "Gajeel!"

Olivia shook her head in amusement to offer her father a one-armed hug. "I love you, Papa."

"I love you too." Gajeel kissed her temple. "We'll see you soon."

Olivia pulled away to confront her twin and the way he scuffed the ground. She sighed. "Stop moping around and start figuring out how to fix whatever mess you're in," she deadpanned. When Galileo gawked at her, she smiled and added, "But also do something that makes you happy. You might be my idiot brother, but I want you happy while I'm away. Don't let Gale catch up to you. If you start getting too depressed and he wins too many rounds against you, he'll start having an ego."

Galileo made a noise at that. "Like he doesn't have an ego," he muttered. "Tch. Treating me like a little kid. I'm the older brother. Where the Hell is my respect?" His mouth tugged into a grin. "I'm gonna miss you calling out on my bullshit."

"You can always come with me," Olivia teased, laughing when Galileo looked affronted.

"And face Chief Mina?" Galileo feigned a shudder. "No thanks! That woman's almost as terrifying as my doctor!"

Olivia narrowed her eyes on Galileo's metal arm. "Speaking of which…"

"I went!" Galileo cried. "I got my arm switched out, I swear!" Under his breath, he muttered, "And Doc almost dismembered me getting a little too excited…"

Olivia roped her brother into a hug and swallowed thickly. "I'll miss you, Leo. Take care. I love you, okay?"

"Yeah." Galileo hugged her back. "I love you too. Don't let anyone kick your ass out there."

"Same to you." The twins pulled away from each other and Olivia drew herself up to Orochi, having to tilt her head a little to look up at him. "Oreo."

"Ollie," Orochi rumbled.

A silence fell between them as they locked eyes. Words were not needed with a friendship like theirs. They had said all they had needed to say. There was nothing more to add. There was nothing more to really do.

Olivia nodded at him. "Don't let Justin convince you into a threesome."

"Don't drink anything more than three shots." A grin touched Orochi's lips. "If you do, I won't be there to come get you and bring you home."

"Wouldn't want that." Olivia glanced to see she was next before her pale reds slid back to Orochi. He opened his arms and she stepped in them for a lingering embrace. She murmured into his jacket, "I'll see you later. Love you, Oreo."

"Love you too, Ollie." Orochi pulled away from her and let his gloved hand touch her cheek. "See you soon." He let her go when she was called next.

Olivia offered a final farewell and smile to her family and Orochi before she pushed three security. Once she was gone, navigating through such a large Sky Port was bittersweet. She caught glances of the news, about the travel ban to the Boundary Forest, updates and speculation about the fate of Skade the Devil, and sympathizer to the former emperor of Alvarez and his potential still-living bloodline. But she ignored most of that as she got to her gate and took a seat. Just as she was set to bring out her PAL, her Compact buzzed and she unlocked it to see a message from Gale.

« I'm sorry I couldn't see you off. Do you have time to talk? »

Olivia called him and he picked up on the first ring. "What's up?"

"What? I can't wish my sister good-bye on her trip to Sela?"

Olivia smiled. "How's your own little trip going?"

"Fine," Gale grunted. "Pain in my fucking ass though. But money is money and Master was adamant I not refuse this mission." Two beats of pause. "Hey, was Mom crying the whole damn ocean when you were saying good-bye?"

"How'd you guess?" Olivia asked dryly. "I'll be home for Parents' Day in March, but she makes it sound like I'm going off to war. She should be more worried about you than me."

An unceremonious snort. "Oh, believe me, she is. While you were out getting your jollies off last weekend, I was the one she babied like I'm fucking five-years-old again. She took a break in her research and gave Panther Lily and me a heartache when we were sparring she nearly mauls him for giving me a bruise before she tells me I need to drop what I'm doing and rest. Like, are you kidding me?"

"Give her a break, you asshole. We've all nearly lost you several times since Leo and I have been home," Olivia put in, slightly exasperated. "Of course she's worried about you."

Another beat of silence. Gale sighed. "Yeah, I know. Those are some valid points. Yeah, Uncle Lily, I'm on the Com!" he called, voice growing distant. "I'm talking to Liv! Did you want to say good-bye?"

A muffled agreement came then Panther Lily stepped onto the line. "Hello, Olivia. I'm sorry Gale and I are missing you at the port."

"Don't worry about it. Just watch my brother's six. He tends to get a little too cocky," Olivia joked.

Panther Lily chuckled. "He does. It's why he's going to run behind at this rate." Rustling. "Do you think Wu Xing will have what you need?"

"I do." Olivia meant that. "I really do. It's where I need to be, Uncle Lily, I… I just can't explain it."

"You don't have to," Panther Lily soothed. "Wanderlust hits in strange ways, but once you've found a place where you belong, you will do whatever it takes to make that place your home. My old master told me the same thing to an old friend and myself."

"He sounds wise."

"He was." Panther Lily changed the subjected. "Take care of yourself while you're out there, Olivia. Your father might be a Dragon, but you have the guts of a panther. Never forget that."

"I won't." Olivia blinked away the heat in her eyes. "I love you, Uncle Lily. I'll talk to you soon, okay?"

"I love you too, Pantheress."

Gale came back on the line after a few moments. "Hey, I'm back. Are you crying yet?"

"I cry on the inside," Olivia sourly grumbled. "Just like you cry on the inside. It's why we bond better than Leo."

"The weak ass. Crying at a damn Magia movie," Gale muttered. "Anyways, you sure you're okay with me keeping your acoustic? I'm surprised you brought your drums over your guitar."

Olivia settled in her chair. "You're better on guitar than I am. Keep it as an early Christmas present."

"Sweet." Five beats of silence. "You know I'm going to miss you, right?" Tone somber and a little sad. "It feels like you just got home and now you're leaving again."

Olivia closed her eyes. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Nah, don't be. I'll get over it. We both have important stuff to do. So, make sure you do what you have to do while you're out there. You do your best and I'll do my best. That's the deal."

Olivia gave a light chuckle. "Sounds like a fair deal."

Silence.

"Look, I gotta go, but… You know I love you, right?"

"I know. I love you too."

"Well, good. Just in case you were doubting that."

Silence.

"Gale?"

"Yeah?"

"Do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Stop blaming yourself for what happened in the past," Olivia requested kindly. "You need to move forward."

A pause. "I'm trying." Mourning words. "I really am trying."

"Then, that's all I ask from you. Just try and that's enough." Olivia opened her eyes. "Talk to you soon."

"Yeah. Talk to you soon."

And the line went dead.

Olivia's shoulders slumped as she watched the ceiling. It's time we all move forward. She thumbed her Compact. No more hanging onto the past.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 064

Clarity

真実が見える日が来た！ しかし、時には真実でさえ少量しか扱えないこともある！

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna huffed as she brought her suitcase downstairs alongside Ena. "I never had to carry my own stuff before…!" she whined. When her father passed her, she glared at him. "Papa—"

"It builds character." Natsu ruffled her hair with a grin. "'Sides, not like you'll carry stuff into the castle anyways."

"No, but it's cruel you make me get up early in the morning and make me sweat like a pig and now this," Luna muttered and dodged Natsu's attempt to pinch her cheek. "What happened to me being your precious baby girl, huh? What happened to me being the birthday girl? Birthday girls shouldn't have to carry their own suitcases." She grumbled when Natsu finally caught her and smooched her forehead.

"You are my precious baby girl," Natsu murmured. "And since it's your birthday, I took it easy on you this morning for training—"

"Liar!" Luna made a swipe for her father, but he danced away with a grin. "Papa…!"

Natsu easily got her luggage and the bags Ena had packed containing their ensembles, her sewing emergency supplies, and her personal steamer. "Brighten up, baby girl, it's your birthday!" he teased. "And we have a huge stuffy shindig we have to go to with lots of meat!" He salivated as he left the house to go the waiting transportation they would be taking to the train station.

Luna held up a shaking fist. "I'm going to convince Mama to divorce his sorry butt," she seethed.

Ena laughed. "And she won't agree because we all know Fiore wouldn't survive your dad being kicked out of the house," she said in good humor. "Are you sure I'm allowed to come with you? I mean we don't even know if my mom will—"

"Your mom already agreed when I dropped by to let her know I was kidnapping my personal fashion designer to come and promote her fashion," Luna cut in with a beam. "And I already told Godmama you'd be coming as my guest, though…" She puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. "We still can't get announced since my parents still don't want me to go public." Shaking her head, she huffed, "I can't believe I can't have my best friend announced at the Yule Cotillion. I'm sorry, E."

"Your safety is important," Ena regarded softly. "One day, you and I will be invited to the most prestigious runways in the world and you'll be everywhere wearing my brand." A dreamy sigh. "Even if we can't be announced today, think of all the exposure I'll be getting!" She booped Luna's nose. "And the mask I made you this year is to die for. Make sure you—"

"Tell anyone who asks that the mask is vegan and cruelty-free, I know." Luna checked Ena's shoulder. "Don't worry. You know we'll get you great exposure." She craned her head as Luke puffed down the steps with a large bag. "Right, Luke?"

"Right." Luke gave a grunt as he got to the first floor. "But do we seriously need all of this? We're only at the palace for today and tonight, then we go home in the morning." He groaned as he set down the bag. "You guys packed like we're going on vacation for three months!"

Ena sniffed. "A lady must always be prepared."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Bambi." A smirk made his lips twitch when Ena glared at him. "Just make sure you guys are in the taxi in fifteen, okay? I'm knocking out Dad once we get to the train like I promised Mom, but don't think him being unconscious means much."

"He'll be spying on me even from beyond the grave." Luna snorted in disgust as Luke picked up the bag and headed outside.

Ena checked Luke was gone and murmured, "So have you talked to Gale today? Did he text you?"

"No." Luna kept her tone indifferent, but her shoulders deflated. "But he said he'd call, so he'll call. That's it."

Ena wanted to press, but Luna had turned away to call for the Celestial Spirit dogs. She sighed instead as she brought out her Compact. She'll admit she's upset sooner or later. She checked her messages to see Silver had sent her apologetic texts. She ignored them in favor of her mother who wanted to make sure Ena took pictures for her at the cotillion. Aine had texted her once again to see if Ena was down to celebrate the end of the semester, but she ignored it. But she did find a message from Jasper.

« Morning! Just wanted to make sure you're doing okay »

Ena cocked her head and debated on texting back. Ultimately, she replied:

« Good morning. I'm doing well. Please thank your teammate for me once again for taking me home »

Jasper answered in seconds:

« Sure! Actually, I wanted to ask if you had any plans this weekend? »

Ena would have replied if she had not heard Luna beckon her to come outside. She locked her Compact and slipped on her shoes to go outside, but her eyes narrowed when she saw Silver was helping load up the Lacrima Taxi. He must have felt her stare for he turned his head and guilt entered his eyes. "L…" she called as she made her way to her best friend. "Why is that walking fashion disaster here?"

"He's coming with us!" Luna beamed. "Isn't that great? Since my mom and Nashi aren't able to attend, I spoke to Godmama and she said you and Silver are fine to come!" She bounced over to Silver and grabbed his shoulders from behind. "He agreed to be your assistant tonight! Isn't that great?"

Nothing could warm the iciness in Ena's eyes as she glowered at Silver. "Yes. Great."

"Yay!" Luna reached out to grab Ena's hand and her other arm dropped so her hand could catch Silver's. "And no fighting." She looked at them both to get her point across. "Not on my birthday. This is all about being happy and having fun at the ball, okay?"

"R-R-Right," Silver agreed, swallowing. "We'll be good for you, Lulu. You can count on us."

"Of course." Ena lifted her chin towards Silver. "Fullbuster's been my assistant before. So much so that we won't even need to talk for him to understand what I need." She shot him a sharp smile. "So I think we'll be okay tonight."

If Luna sensed the tension, she ignored it and drew back her hands to clap. "Great!" And she flounced off. "Hey, Luke, do you think you could…?"

Before Ena could walk away, Silver moved forward to catch her wrist. "Fernandes—Ena—look, what I said last night, that was uncalled for—"

"It was." Ena snatched her wrist back. "Don't worry. It's forgotten. You're still my assistant, never my friend—just as it should be." She flicked her hair and trailed back into the house to get the remainder of her things for the trip.

Shame unabashedly gnawed at Silver's throat. But what if I wanted us to start being friends? But he knew better than to ask that question and, instead, troubled himself helping Natsu and Luke. And, yet, still, he could not help but keep glancing at the door like he was waiting for Ena to come back outside again.

---

The Commonwealth of Bellum versus Skade the Devil was on in Dazzler and T'oree's apartment while T'oree did her routine scrub down of the apartment and Dazzler sat on the couch. She tried hard to pay attention to the trial going on, but she had the notecard from John in her fingers with her silvery eyes trailing over the letters. T'oree floated in with pajamas and her fiery hair knotted into a bun and easily carried two loads of laundry per hand. "Lady Dazzler!" she trilled. "I will be doing the laundry now and I have taken your dirtied clothing as well. Would you prefer for me to separate your….?" Her pretty beam fell into a frown when she saw Dazzler. "Lady Dazzler?"

T'oree put down the baskets of laundry to attend to her friend. "You have been most somber at this time," T'oree murmured softly. "Nothing I do brings a true smile to your face. I am worried."

Dazzler sighed. "It's nothing, T."

"It is not." T'oree floated in front of Dazzler. "What is on your mind, Lady Dazzler? Perhaps I can offer insight."

Dazzler drew her knees up to her chest. "You know that man who came into the apartment? John? He's a Magician like me. We went to school together and he knew my dad." She shifted when T'oree settled beside her. "Part of m misses life as a Magician, you know?"

"I do not," T'oree confessed. "My people did not have Magic. What makes the life of a Magician different than the life you have now?"

Dazzler shrugged and rocked over so she leaned against T'oree. "It's a lot more schooling. Mages have Guilds, but Magicians have Houses they belong to. It's nothing like being in a Guild. Sure, there's a sense of friendship and everything. But it's really just for networking purposes. Just like Mages, we ditched a lot of the Coven stuff back in the medieval times. Instead of doing multiple jobs, we pretty much just have a single professional job. My cousin Circe actually works for the Magic Council for their Magic Ministry in her home country. My uncle works as a Curse Breaker and my cousin Trivia helps people find their Instrument so they can produce Magic."

"These occupations sound exciting," T'oree admitted. "What would have chosen as a career?"

"I probably would've done what my dad did and kept performing. Magicians hate Stage Magic. They think it's beneath us, but the way my dad would make dozens to hundreds of people smile…" A fond look covered silver. "I sort of miss it. Hell, I miss a lot about the old days. My friends and I would get into so much trouble, but it was fun adventuring and stuff."

"I can concur." T'oree looked at the ceiling. "I often have fond memories of exploring the planets with my mother."

Dazzler looked up at the Vanhallan Princess. "Do you miss it? Do you miss her?"

"Every day," T'oree said, "but the ache is not there. I appreciate the memories and look back on them fondly, but I understand the need to continue on and not disturb the honor my mother died for." She looked down at Dazzler. "But it would seem the ache remains for you."

Dazzler winced. "Am I that obvious?"

T'oree laughed. "A little." She rubbed the Magician's shoulder. "I would advise you to continue your own discovery. You are missing something, Lady Dazzler, but you will not find it if you remain in one place."

"Are you kicking me out?" Dazzler chuckled. "Because my name is on our lease for another year or so, lady."

But T'oree was not in the mood to jest. "Lady Dazzler, what I mean to say is you have the look of a child in need of answers. You may be content to say you do not need those answers, but you know you long for them so badly it hurts. You must let go of the fear you feel of the answers you might discover. You must plunge headfirst into the void and confront your past and resonate it with your present." She lifted herself off the couch. "Those are my words to you." She drifted off and picked up all fours baskets with ease.

Dazzler was left to stew on those words and her eyes fell back to the notecard.

---

The Ishgaran Magic Court was a great deal calmer today. The spectators and the jurors remained the same and Ocrevus was as impassive as ever. Chinlien had backed off for now and allowed Miss Wilson to have the floor. Nashi had come to the courthouse through the secret entryway with her head held high and thanked her mother and Virgo beating her face enough that the bags beneath her eyes did not show. She had shut off her Compact first thing in the morning and Mister Wilson had been wonderful to sneak them through private entryways with their own security detail (though, Nashi and Býleistr realized the security were inhuman creatures who owed Kyler a favor). Skade had been allowed to join the court, and Nashi's heart broke when he refused to look at her and hunkered down with his muzzle on tight, his wrists and ankles bound, and extra guards had been given to handle his mood swings.

Nashi stroked Býleistr in his Cat Form as she watched Skade's slack form. Oh, Skade… Please just look at me… Please just let me explain—

"Thank you."

Nashi snapped her eyes back to Miss Wilson and out of her thoughts.

"Your Honor, I have no more questions for the witness," Miss Wilson claimed.

Ocrevus nodded and looked to Chinlien. "Crown, do you wish to cross-examine the witness?"

Chinlien sat back with that easy grin of his. "No, Your Honor."

Ocrevus nodded and the court registrar jotted something down. "I understand. Defense, you may call your next witness."

Miss Wilson nodded and looked out to the crowd. She pretended to scan faces, but her eyes always had visual on Nashi. I want to bring her on as a witness, but would doing so now be ideal? With Mister Vastia mysteriously gone this morning, she's the character witness who can turn this tide. But if Chinlien cross-examines her…

Nashi caught Miss Wilson's look and offered a small nod. Mirella, I can do this, she hoped she conveyed. I'm okay. I can handle this.

Miss Wilson offered a short nod back before turning to Ocrevus. "Your Honor, if I may, I would like to bring Miss Nashi Dragneel to the stand," she decided. Spectators launched into frenzied murmurs, the cameramen swiveled their Lacrima Video Cameras onto Nashi, the jurors happened glances about themselves, and even Ocrevus raised an eyebrow. Miss Wilson raised a hand for silence. "However," she added icily, "should Mister Broussard cross-examine my witness, I would like to bar him from badgering Miss Dragneel with the traumatic events she has been through that do not pertain to my client or he will be sued. These are the terms Mister Wilson, Miss Dragneel's lawyer, and myself agreed upon."

Ocrevus did not even bat an eye. "As we discussed yesterday, Miss Wilson, Mister Broussard knows what is at stake if he reveals anything like that in my court." His eyes stalked Chinlien who had the appropriate response of looking uncomfortable. "This courthouse is not for tort cases regarding legal human citizens. He is aware of the consequences should he badger Miss Dragneel about more pressing details about her traumatic event and, once again, the court would like to apologize to her for triggering an episode."

Miss Wilson nodded. "Thank you." She turned to look at Nashi. "Miss Dragneel?"

Nashi stood up and passed Býleistr off to her mother. She ignored the camera flashes and those eyeing her like she was a sight to behold. The guards let her pass and, even though she wanted to keep her eyes forward, she could not help glancing at Skade even though the Ice Devil refused to look at her. Instead, cerulean shone through Skade's eyes with softness and love and a twinge of apology. Even though Skade had spurned her, Nashi found comfort seeing Gary's eyes and carried herself to the stand and was sworn in.

When Nashi sat down, Miss Wilson sat back against the defense counsel table and nodded at her. "Miss Dragneel, thank you for joining us again," she murmured. "I understand yesterday for you might have been one of the hardest days you have ever faced. I would like to say I personally consider you a brave young woman and I hope other can look to you for strength."

"Thank you," Nashi replied.

Miss Wilson pushed herself off the desk to announce to the court: "I'll be doing something a little…unconventional this morning. I will be questioning my witness, yes, but first, I would like to open this to the jury to ask their questions." She smiled at the surprised grand jury. "Yesterday, you heard and saw many things revolving around my client and Miss Dragneel and I could tell you all had one hundred questions running through your head. So I give you the floor to ask my witness appropriate questions." She raised an eyebrow at Ocrevus.

Ocrevus nodded. "Very well, Miss Wilson. Jury, you have the floor. Raise your hand and Miss Dragneel will point to whom may ask her a question." He dipped his head to Nashi as the grand jury had many hands go up. "Miss Dragneel?"

Nashi shakily nodded and swallowed. Gathering herself, she searched the grand jury and selected one. "Juror Number Twelve," she decided.

The twelfth juror stood, a tall woman with high cheek bones and unforgiving eyes. "Yes, Miss Dragneel. What I would like to know is if you and Mister Skade have been intimate?" Her voice came in throaty and broad and heavy, but the words were strung together like a melody.

⌜BELENKAYA CITY, JOYA

Name: Samara Preobrazhensky

Age: 37

Magic: Modify

Occupation: Intelligence Special Agent

Likes: goldfish Dislikes: Assistant and Alexis

Special Note: Samara might look tough and stoic, but she has such a soft spot for her goldfish!⌟

"A little, yes," Nashi answered. "We haven't had sex and I personally want to wait a little longer before we have sex. But we've gotten intimate with touching and conversations and every single thing was consensual." Samara nodded with what appeared to be approval (but it was hard when her face was so stiff) and sat back down. Nashi plucked out her next juror. "Juror Number Twenty-One."

The twenty-first juror was a mysterious man in loose clothing died in a nice blue, but the most admiring piece of clothing he wore as his traditional black cheche (a combination of a turban and veil) so all you could see was the piercing marengo grey of his eyes and his deep brown skin. He crossed his arms as he pierced Nashi with his stare. "Miss Dragneel, Mister Broussard said you named this Ar-Rajīm yourself. You are one who has been granted with baraka." Those marengo grays pierced Skade, but he held no hatred or distrust nor curiosity. "Why would you give this Ar-Rajīm a name in kindness with the power you were granted?" His voice carried in such a hypnotic way and underscored with this roughness that only came with experience and wisdom.

⌜TEMA CITY, THE REPUBLIC OF DESIERTO

Name: Igider Hawad

Age: 45

Magic: Book of Thieves

Occupation: Guild Master

Likes: sunsets Dislikes: astrology

Special Note: Igider is actually from Marmarica in Andüsa, but he is currently residing in the Republic of Desierto due to Magic Council business! His Magic Book of Thieves allows him to steal any Magic attack or power into his book and the person can no longer use the ability!⌟

The court translator came forth to Nashi. "An Ar-Rajīm is—"

"I know what he means," Nashi assured with a kind smile, but those hickories did not shy away from such intense gray. "To answer your question, giving him a name wasn't something I thought about at first. When I first met Skade, he wasn't as civilized as he is now." She covered her mouth to giggle. "I guess that doesn't mean too much since he might seem uncivilized to you now, but he was a sight to behold from my earlier memories of him. I just called him 'Devil', really, and didn't think about a name. Maybe I didn't think he needed one or something; I'm not sure. But when a friend told me about how naming creatures that have darker powers gives you power over them, I started to consider it."

"So you named this 'Skade' for control?" questioned Igider.

Nashi shook her head. "Oh, no, no, no. Nothing like that. More like I wanted Skade to have his own control of his life. I couldn't imagine what it would be like if my parents hadn't named me. I get people change their names, but I would've felt so lost without my name. And I thought Skade might be feeling lost too without one. When push came to shove, I named him the first thing that came to my mind, but I didn't do it for the control. I just…wanted him to have the freedoms I did. I wanted him to become the master of himself. I don't want him to be my servant or anything like that. And as for why I treat him in kindness, I'll say it again: I was taught good and evil exist in every single person, not just a specific race. I was taught to treat everyone with kindness. And I did just that."

He nodded and took a seat.

Just like that, the questions came to Nashi. The translator did help Nashi with a few phrases that could not be straight translated to Minstrish without sounded like complete gibberish, but it was easy for Nashi to pick up on what the foreign words meant. Most used their mother tongue's word for "Devil" rather than Skade's name, but Nashi withheld from bristling. She made the mistake of letting her eyes drift over to Skade, and, at first, Gary's eyes stared back at her, encouraging her. But at some point, when Nashi laughed when one of the juror's asked her about what her parents think of the relationship and she explained her father's protectiveness that had even the spectators laughing, she risked a glance and she saw those icy-blues looking at her in something akin to awe and apology.

We can do this, Nashi promised him. I told you I'll protect you.

Lucy watched as the questions continued and she slowly felt herself relax the more Nashi opened up about her own personal judgments and the facts she knew about Skade. She's doing great. Yesterday was horrible. Natsu was furious and I was too. Even my Celestial Spirits wanted to come out. Nashi never wanted anyone to find out about her incident and now, anyone who has been watching this trial knows. But I hope they see her as the strong young woman I know she is.

"She's doing wonderful."

Lucy looked up to Mister Wilson as he nodded at Nashi.

"The jury still has some reservations, but it's their own prejudice, and the oath they took bars them from allowing that to effect their consensus," Mister Wilson explained. "The more Nashi speaks, I can tell the confusion and anger they felt towards Skade weakens into consideration."

Lucy nodded, somber. "I see…" Kyler…

"Who took my sister's wings?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The focus looked into those angered turquoise pools without a lick of shame, only sadness. "So you know," Lucy whispered as a fact. "I didn't think you did."

"I noticed it the moment I spied on her," Kyler confessed. "Her soul felt so off. It was like a part of her was lost. I could speak to the Seraph Agent, but the Guardian who granted her powers… I couldn't speak to him. Which told me something had damaged her powers." Something darkened within him. "And then I saw her back."

The focus bobbed. "Yes. She uses Magic Concealer for the scars on her back." Lucy sighed and the focus turned to the unconscious Nashi. "When we found her, she wasn't herself."

"What do you mean?"

A deep breath. "She had gone out one day, but we got worried when she didn't come home. The day we found her, her back had been torn up. She should have died from the blood loss, but…" The focus blurred for a moment. "Her eyes… That was the first time she found Demon half."

Kyler sat back. "I see."

"She was inconsolable and violent," Lucy recalled. "We think it was her way of coping with the trauma she had been through. Our former guild mate, Mest, was able to alter her memory and Natsu was able to control her. Later, when she had been healed and those scars remained, Nashi thought she got into a training accident. But when she transformed for training, we realized someone had cut off her wings."

"Do you know who?"

The focus shook side to side. "I don't. Neither does Natsu or even Mest."

"That makes sense."

The focus looked up to a thoughtful Kyler.

"Even if you erased her memories of turning into a Demon, when her wings were cut off, it shattered her memories," Kyler speculated. "Without her wings, we won't know who did that to her and the Guardian within her won't be able to communicate. The blood I gave her might have given her more power, but her wings will restore her to her full potential." His eyes swept to Nashi. "I haven't been able to rest knowing her wings are out there and I won't rest until I find them."

"How do you know they still exist? Wouldn't they have disappeared?"

Kyler shook her head. "No, her wings are still out there. An Agent's wings don't simply disappear. Yes, she has the powers of an Agent, but those wings weren't made of 'Magic'. The Guardian gave her wings to use as part of her common physique—just as mine are." He closed his eyes. "But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't sense anything with Nashi's energy on this world."

"Meaning what?"

Kyler opened his eyes. "Meaning whoever took her wings traveled off this planet, or, the most likely scenario, her wings are being hidden in an impure prison." His jaw went taut. "And I won't rest until she gets her wings back."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Lucy frowned as she watched Nashi answer more questions. Even though Mest showed us the memories Nashi had that day, it only showed us when she went Demonic. Nothing before. But… If her wings are out there and carry those memories…will she turn into a Demon when she remembers?

"This will be the last question from the jury," Miss Wilson announced.

Nashi nodded and selected another hand. "Juror Number Three."

Juror Number Three was an astute sister in her religious habit with warm eyes touched in crows-feet. "My dear child, you have clearly spoken from a place of love in your heart. But how can you confirm to us Mister Skade is innocent?"

⌜SENCHA TOWN, MINSTREL

Name: Sister Maria

Age: 68

Magic: Prayer

Occupation: Guild Master

Likes: oil painting Dislikes: foul words

Special Note: Sister Maria is not a nun, but she is a sister who leads her guild to help out others on their journey to become a sister or nun alongside helping the less fortunate! Sister Maria's Prayer Magic is one all Guild Masters are taught and can only be used through biblical prayer!⌟

Nashi turned towards her. "Sister, I know everything might look rough," she acknowledged, "but without a doubt, the actions Skade committed in the past weren't malicious." She met Mister Wilson's eyes and saw his nod. "It's no secret that there are good Mages and creatures out there with Curses and Black Magic that are under surveillance. But I personally know those people and creatures work twice as hard as me to make sure their powers never hurt the innocent and, if they do, they make every effort to undo the damage they committed. Just like people with White Magic might lash out, but they do what they can to fix their mess and learn from it."

Her eyes went to Skade and hickory held icy-blue. "I know from experience Skade doesn't feel comfortable around people. He doesn't want to hurt anyone unless they've hurt me." She smiled. "Sort of like an overprotective boyfriend. Skade being in Bellum doesn't mean he was there to cause harm to people and I know Skade wouldn't use his powers unless he was provoked. And, from what I've seen, it looks like Skade was badly injured. He still is now. And because Bellum is harsh when it comes to anything magical, it makes me think Skade was attacked before he could even explain what he was trying to do.

"Take Margaret Town for example," Nashi continued. "I don't think Skade was refusing medical assistance off my part. In fact, I think he would have let me go with them. But when the soldiers started shouting at him, he didn't respond well."

Chinlien stood up. "Objection, Your Honor. The witness clearly stated she was unconscious in my examination of her. Anything she says is now perjury—"

"Actually, Mister Broussard," Nashi interject with a hardness in her tone, "it isn't. It's the truth."

"She's right." Miss Wilson strode forth with a remote. "Ladies and gentlemen, Mister Broussard allowed you to hear an audio file, but he didn't allow you to hear the entire clip." She smirked at a tense Chinlien. "Allow me to let the jury know what the Devil said prior to refusing to cooperate." She pressed play.

The whistles of the blizzard filled the room as a soldier shouted over the noise, "Hey! Is someone there?"

Hustling began as a soldier told the rest of the troupe, "I have a fuzzy visual. Try again."

Then came caterwaul: "Do you need help? Is there anyone with you?"

Over the howls of winter came a hiss, "Yes… Need help."

Miss Wilson smirked, Nashi sighed in relief, and even Skade perked.

"Don't move!"

"We're on our way!"

Miss Wilson crossed her arms as she paced before the court as everyone listened to the soldiers huffing and puffing. "Now, if you get a moment, this is where Mister Broussard's audio begins."

And just then came a panicked shout, "It's a demon!"

"Don't move, monster! You move and we kill you!

Miss Wilson paused the audio file. "Your Honor, Mister Broussard offered tampered evidence in order to aid the Devil into a guilty consensus. However, after reviewing the full audio, my client did consent to help only for his life to be threatened. The Magic Council's own prejudice could have cost my client his life and Miss Dragneel the aid she needed—"

"Your Honor," Chinlien cut in, "the soldiers did clearly state for him to remove himself from Miss Dragneel—"

"After threatening his life and backing him into a corner," Miss Wilson argued. "As Miss Dragneel stated, Mister Skade does not interact with humans and seems to only have negative experiences with them. Before he even had a chance to comply, he was accused of noncompliance." She forwarded and pressed the play button.

"Make one wrong step against her and we will be forced to kill you!"

"Men, move in, move in!"

"Girl has been spotted! I need a clear angle on the monster!"

A roar. "Quiet!"

"He's retaliating!" a soldier yelled.

"Don't shoot until we have the girl in our possession!"

"That means nothing!" Chinlien argued. "We can't even see the visual! For all we know, the Devil dod attack them—!"

Miss Wilson paused the recording to pull out scripts from her briefcase. "By the report this squadron gave, the Devil did not incite an attack first," she spoke calmly. She looked at the judge. "Your Honor, might I remind you Magic Council soldiers must adhere to the same laws as the Guard. When they come across an unidentifiable Magical Creature, they are to use Council-approved de-escalation methods and tranquilizers unless the Magical Creature attacks first. But from the audio file, my client never tried to attack first nor did the soldiers make any effort to de-escalate the situation. Instead, they used their personal prejudice." She tipped her head. "And considering the stakes, that would be enough for that squadron to be investigated, right?"

Ocrevus sat back and for once in this trial, he showed emotion. He was impressed. "You are correct, Miss Wilson." To the court recorder, he said, "Take note that we will be personally reaching out to the soldier who provided the audio file and the entire squad will be investigated and fined. We will also be sending an MC Auditor." He offered a nod to Miss Wilson. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Miss Wilson." A glacial chill filled his eyes as he regarded Chinlien. "Mister Broussard, tampering with evidence is a federal offense. Once we have completed this trial, your bar examiners will be informed."

Chinlien protested, "Your Honor—!"

"I have no time for partial evidence," Ocrevus snapped, "and neither do the people. We are here for the truth, not a version of the truth. Or do you not remember the oath you took as a lawyer?"

Chinlien snapped his mouth shut.

Miss Wilson nodded to Nashi. "Miss Dragneel, I have no intention of bringing you back to the stand after this. But if you have any additional statements you would like to add, I think everyone would be interested in listening."

Nashi took a breath and rehearsed what she had practiced saying. "I do have something to say." She looked at the audience. "I know I'll get a lot of flak for having an interspecies relationship. There are Puritans out there who hate both interspecies relationships and even Spiritless-Wizard pairings and inter-magic relationships. But I don't care. I don't care people disapprove. I don't care if people think I'm brainwashed. I know I'm not. I know who I am." Her bottom lip trembled. "I'm a rape survivor. I'm a Fairy Tail Mage. I'm a daughter and a sister and a friend. I'm human. Maybe it is a little weird I'm with a Devil. Maybe it is a little odd I want to be with him and Gary after everything I've gone through. But this is my life. I'm not perfect. But I'm healing. And Gary and Skade are helping me heal in ways"—she let out a wet laugh as she wiped away a few tears—"I n-never thought I could."

Lucy blinked back her own tears. Nashi…

Býleistr could not help but feel pride and adoration for his mistress. Princess…

"And maybe this won't work," Nashi stated and quietly thanked the guard when he offered her tissues. "Maybe…I'll break up with both of them or one of them. Or maybe this will work out. But whether it does or doesn't isn't anyone else's business outside ours. And it isn't that I'd walk away because he's a Devil and I'm not. I know what and who he is and I'm happy I get to embrace our differences every day. He might be a monster to all of you, but that isn't a bad thing. Not all monsters are bad. Not all people are good. We're just here, existing, on different paths with different challenges." She looked at the jury. "I know this isn't evidence. This is just my personal word against an actual professional. But even so, please, think about this objectively. Take out the prejudice, take out religion—think about this. Think about Skade as just a being." She dipped her head. "Thank you." She looked at the judge. "May I go back to my seat?"

Ocrevus studied her for a moment and, maybe it was her eyes, but she thought she saw a bit of fondness in his expression. "You may." He raised an eyebrow in Chinlien's direction. "Unless Mister Broussard would like to cross-examine."

Chinlien gritted his teeth. "No, Your Honor."

With a nod from the judge, Nashi got to her feet and left the stand with the assistance of the attending guard. She nodded at Miss Wilson and ignored everyone watching her as she returned to her seat and leaned into the hug her mother gave her.

Miss Wilson smiled. "Well, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, thank you for allowing me to have an unconventional examination, but I hope you take Miss Dragneel's words into consideration." To the judge, she said, "Your Honor, for my next witness, I would like to introduce one of my colleagues who specializes in caligology and imprecatiology." She gestured as a suited man stood up. "Mister Waleed Wintour."

Nashi pulled away from her mother, grateful for the support, and glanced at the specialist going to the stand only to do a double take when she saw the familiar dark skin and white hair. No way… Is that…?

Waleed was sworn in and took his seat, confident and sure. "Thank you for having me, Miss Wilson."

"Thank you for stopping by, Mister Wintour," Miss Wilson appreciated. "Mister Waleed, can you explain to the court about yourself and what you do?"

"Certainly," Waleed complied. "Currently, I'm a field mouse. I study and research different and rarer Dark Creatures and rare Curses."

"And that work extends to Devils?"

"Correct."

"Can you tell us more about Devils, Mister Wintour?"

"Of course." Waleed cut his eyes to the jury. "Contradictory to the claims Mister Broussard gave, the Devils of this century have yet to show any clear signs of malicious intent. In their history, Devils were a race born with a power called 'Devil Slayer'. This power, however, is different from historic Demons and Dark Creatures. Demons were a race crafted of pure Curse Power while Dark Creatures, for the most part, had Black Magic. Devil Slaying power is a combination of the two. But it's easy for people to misname Mister Skade for a Demon. It's not correct, but it's understandable."

"And the Devils of this century," Miss Wilson led, "where are they now?"

"Mainly inactive," Waleed informed. "On Earth Land, born Devils were mercilessly hunted down for their powers, but many who killed them were unable to handle the strain of having both Curse Power and Black Magic. It takes a heavy resolve to maintain your sense of self having Curse Power and to add Black Magic?" He snorted and shook his head. "It's suicidal."

"But the Devils now are mainly inactive? Why?"

"Decades ago, there were few Devils. The most prominent Devils was a Fire Devil and an Ice Devil. Both Devils were killed in combat and their powers transferred, though to who will remain anonymous," Waleed told. "As of now, there are four male Devils left in existence. Three of those Devils had their powers transferred to them. Two of those Devils became monks to help control their powers. One lives as a recluse to ensure his own control." He nodded at Skade. "But this one is the last born Devil of his kind. As created Devils can only transfer their powers, a natural born Devil might have the power to bore another Devil. Rare, yes, but history shows its possible."

"Interesting." Miss Wilson crossed her arm. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Magic Council has an act many conservationists are familiar with—the Endangered Magical Species Protection Act of XXXX." She pressed a button to show the act in its entirety on the Lacrima-Visions posted on the walls. "And in the EMSPA, it protects both domestic, captive, and wild magical creatures with or without sentience that have been listed as 'endangered'. But what does 'endangered' mean? It means should the species' population decreased be at least fifty-percent from its natural populace size without any recording of a positive breeding season and offspring that survive no later than their juvenile stage, it is considered 'endangered'." She pointed at Waleed. "Waleed, do you recall how many Devils Earth Land used to house?"

Waleed did not even need to think about it. "Their average population was around two thousand on Earth Land."

"So that means the entire population has been reduced a little over ninety-nine percent," Miss Wilson told the audience. "Which means now, Devils have reached critical endangerment." She changed the screen so it showed a flow chart regarding levels of endangerment. "Critical endangerment means the population is less than eighty to ninety percent of its original average population. Under the EMSPA, it is illegal on an international scale for a wizard or Spiritless to beat, mutilate, or force an endangered magical creature into unnecessary suffering. It also means that critically endangered species are to be protected and preserved for careful observation within their own conservatory to promote successful breeding and longevity."

Miss Wilson looked at Waleed. "Am I right in saying so, Waleed?"

Waleed smirked when he saw Chinlien ball his hands into fists. "Yes, Miss Wilson. And, unlike Dark Creatures or a Demon, a natural born Devil has the power to pass on its full genetic make-up as long as only one parent has Devil Slayer power—or, so history states. Many Devils were rarely females, the same to the Lycan race, so they had little choice but to mate outside their species."

Miss Wilson nodded and took in the jury taking this into consideration. "Your Honor, under the Endangered Magical Species Protection Act, I request my client be denied Bellum's capital punishment as it is against the law to kill a critically endangered species regardless of its past crimes." She lifted her chin. "I request sanctuary for my client within the Worldwide Wildlife Conservatory for a life sentence should my client be given a guilty decision."

Chinlien stood up. "Your Honor, my people deserve justice—!"

"Sit down, Mister Broussard," Ocrevus ordered. "Miss Wilson is correct. Mister Skade cannot be permitted the death penalty considering he is critically endangered. Magical Creature conservational laws prohibit any creature from any background to be killed should they be on the list of endangered species." He turned to the court recorder. "Please have us contact the Ministry of Magical Creatures. We will need them brought in to begin the draft for Mister Skade's passage into the system as a critically endangered species—"

"And the protection of his mate and future offspring," Miss Wilson added firmly (and people watched closely the way Nashi swallowed and sunk in her seat). "Because my client can have a mate of his choosing, his mate will need to be under this protection as she will hold the future of Devils in her hand. If she's killed, there are no promises he will take another mate."

"This is ridiculous," Chinlien growled. "Everyone knows Dark Creatures are no strangers to harems."

"You're right," Miss Wilson conceded. "Dark Creatures are prone to taking on multiple partners. But I would like to ask my client his opinion on the matter, Your Honor."

Ocrevus stopped Chinlien's protest with a look. "Very well. It's overdue for your client to plead his case and I think we are all interested to finally hear your client's side to the story. And, of course, Mister Broussard is allowed to cross-examine." He looked over to the guards. "Please move Mister Skade's cage to in front of me and remove his muzzle."

The guards did so carefully when it came to moving Skade's cage. A guard came in, but Skade put up no fight when his muzzle was removed. He worked his jaw and took sips of his water. He was sworn in and that was that.

Miss Wilson approached the cage. "Mister Skade, I'm sorry you haven't been able to testify yourself. But everyone would like to hear your story. They want to know about you."

Skade looked up and nodded. Those icy-blues pierced every person in the room. "My name is Skade," he said bluntly. "I know I am a monster. But I am Malã'ika's monster. I do not like humans. Not at first. Humans are…loud and irritating. Especially the small ones. I dislike their incessant crying and how smelly they get." His tail flicked when people quietly laughed. "But Malã'ika has shown me humans are tolerable. She is human. I should tolerate her species."

Miss Wilson grinned. "Well, thank you for tolerating us," she teased. "Can you tell us about your day, Skade? What do you do?"

Skade thought on that. "Sleep," he decided to say. "I mainly watch or sleep. I hunt." He sulked. "But Malã'ika does not eat what I hunt for her."

"And what do you hunt for?"

"Meat." Skade licked his chops. "Malã'ika explained 'game' and the different seasons to hunt. I hunt only species too overpopulated or what is in season. Malã'ika does not eat meat. She eats fish." He wrinkled his nose. "Which I do not understand. But I respect her odd choice."

The court murmured their amusement and Miss Wilson chuckled. "Pescatarianism is good for the body," she conceded. "Mister Skade, where do you currently live?"

"Magnolia. Where Malã'ika lives."

"Do you have a house?"

Skade thought on that. "I do not have a house. I prefer outside."

Miss Wilson nodded. "And, Mister Skade, both Miss Dragneel, and my colleague stated you are mainly reserved from humans, yet you came to Margaret Town. Why?"

"Malã'ika was in danger," Skade explained. "Hunters do not like me. I do not like them. But Hunters want me as their personal weapon. They used Malã'ika to summon me." He bit back a growl. "I would have fought them, but Malã'ika needed me more."

Miss Wilson understood. "And we heard from the soldiers what happened when they approached you, but what was running through your head when it all happened?"

Skade bowed his head. "She was injured and weak," he remembered softly. "She needed help. She needed warmth. I am cold. No warmth. The humans came and offered help. I wanted Malã'ika to get help, but then they wanted to hurt me." His fur stood on end and his wings ruffled. "Just like Hunters. I thought they would hurt Malã'ika if they hurt me." He shook his head. "I will always keep her safe, even from me. But those soldiers… I did not trust them."

"I see." Miss Wilson slowly paced before Skade. "Can you recount why you were in Bellum for us, Mister Skade?"

Skade nodded. "I was brought to Bellum against my will," he recounted. "I had no intention to take part in human affairs, but I was injured trying to avoid the humans as my wounds show. I hid in an abandoned house to rest, but I barely escaped when the house blew up. Soldiers attempted to take me, but I fought back only to be injected with something and fell unconscious. I awoke as a prisoner."

"And what you were injected with was Anti-Ether serum." Miss Wilson turned to the court. "When the toxicology report came back, we found traces of Anti-Ethernano in my client's bloodstream, a non-Council-approved and borderline illegal substance to give to a Wizard, let alone a critically endangered species, without the right approval—which they did not have." Triumph filled her when Chinlien had nothing to say.

"That will be all regarding your account, Mister Skade," Miss Wilson confirmed. "Could you explain more to the court about your relationship with Miss Dragneel? You called her yours. Do you view her as property? A pet? Your captive? Your mate?"

Skade had the audacity to snort and grin with his sharp teeth. "Malã'ika would punch me into next week if I referred to her as a pet," he chuffed in amusement. "I see Malã'ika as she is. She is mine. I am hers. Nothing more."

"Not even a girlfriend?" Miss Wilson challenged.

Skade's head cocked. "I understand humans have labels for their breeding partners. I do not understand the need for such things. But I do like the term 'partner'. I am told"—icy-blue clashed with surprised hickory—"that it means 'equal'. Where you learn and grow with your other half. I am fond of the term. So Malã'ika is my partner."

Nashi could not help her smile. Oh, Skade…

"But Miss Dragneel does have a partner—Mister Gary Fullbuster," Miss Wilson named. "Have you met him? And let the record show we are unable to bring in Mister Fullbuster to testify as he is confirmed to be out of the country."

"I have met the human, yes," Skade confirmed. "He is…strange to me. His winter is different than mine. But I accept him."

"Have you experienced jealousy that you have to share Miss Dragneel?"

Skade barked a laugh. "At times, yes. The human spends more time with Malã'ika than I. But the human and I share different connections with her we both respect."

Miss Wilson's eyes softened. "I suppose you do," she murmured. "I'm happy to hear the relationship is flourishing between you and Miss Dragneel and you and Mister Fullbuster." She then asked, "But when Miss Dragneel's rape incident and failed pregnancy was revealed, you were not as calm as you are now. Some thought you would attack Miss Dragneel. Can you explain?"

Skade's wars flattened, but there was no more anger in his eyes. Only shame. "I…did not react the best to such words," he confessed. "I was not upset at Malã'ika. I could never." His tail lashed against the cage. "But I grew furious others had touched her without her consent," he snarled. "I have no pain, but I have never felt such pain as yesterday. Someone touched her and made her feel like her body was not hers. They gave her a child—a child she was forced to eject. They hurt her." Frost puffed from his mouth.

The guards started forward, but Ocrevus raised a hand to keep them back.

"And I see the news was something that upset you, just as I thought yesterday," Miss Wilson sympathized. "It upset many people when Miss Dragneel's past was aired out so wrongly. But I can understand you being Miss Dragneel's partner would feel so strongly." She turned the grand jury. "I open this forum now to the grand jury before I proceed any farther. Like with Miss Dragneel, you may ask Mister Skade questions. I will choose who asks."

The jurors looked around before Sister Maria raised her hand and was called on. She turned to Skade with that same warmth. "Mister Skade, may I ask what you see in Miss Dragneel?"

"I see…light," Skade described with a furrowed brow. "I see warmth and kindness. She is different than me. A good different. She is everything I am not."

"So why be with someone so pure?" the sister wondered.

"It was her purity that saved me," Skade answered as honestly as he could. "I do not have a desire to kill her light and purity. I admire it. I want to protect and defend it."

"And may I ask, my child, what would happen should Miss Dragneel spurn your advances?" Sister Maria questioned not unkindly. Simple curiosity.

Skade stared directly at Nashi. "Then I will protect her from afar," he told. "I do not want another female partner, human or otherwise. Not even another female of my kind. I have found my partner. If she chooses someone else, then I will protect her happiness. And if she dies, then I have nothing more to protect." He ducked his head when he saw Nashi's face contort like she was crying. "I offer her everything, even if she chooses to reject me."

Sister Marie nodded, pleased, and sat when another raised their hand.

"Juror Number Thirteen," Miss Wilson named, "you have the floor."

Juror Number Thirteen was a notably young thing with perky eyes that shone like crescent moons. "Mister Skade, I think we can all confirm you're telling the truth." A slight lisp carried in his accent. He was unused to th andL and heavily punctuated his words. "But why do you think Bellum would accuse you of committing such treason? Why accuse you of being with the Faction? Did you even know what the Faction was before today?"

⌜LAZULI TOWN, PERGRANDE

Name: Ryuichi Hisaishi

Age: 25

Magic: Music Note

Occupation: Music Composter

Likes: playing piano Dislikes: writing for bassoon

Special Note: Ryuichi uses his Magic Music Note to help compose songs for animated movies and other things! But he can also use his Music Note Magic against his opponent to blast them with dissonance!⌟

"Humans do not like what they do not understand," Skade groused. "I am used to humans assuming the worse of me. I look different—scary, I believe. I did not know what this 'Faction' was before, no. I do not condone what their message is. Humans think monsters incite violence when it is the humans who are most aggressive. I have no intention of getting involved in a human war. But if someone touches Malã'ika, I will not hesitate."

"Which is why, Miss Dragneel willing, she will be protected alongside you," Miss Wilson smoothly told.

Skade nodded, gratitude clear in his eyes. "Thank you."

Miss Wilson opened her mouth, only for someone else to speak. "Might I suggest something?"

Everyone turned to Waleed who had stood from the spectator benches. "To make sure no one else doubts Mister Skade and Miss Dragneel, I suggest we allow the two of them to meet unrestricted in an Anti-Ether cage," Waleed proposed. "Talk is talk. Allow those who still do not believe to see for themselves how they interact."

Mister Wilson stood. "My client, Miss Dragneel, has requested several times to see Mister Skade in person. We accept this offer."

Miss Wilson looked at Ocrevus. "Your Honor?"

Ocrevus considered it. "While I don't care for my court getting interrupted, the suggestion has merit." To the crowd, he said, "After lunch, I will permit the Defendant and Miss Dragneel to meet in our Anti-Ether Interrogation Chamber. However, as a precaution, I will have guards and a medic on standby in case of magical drainage. The session will be behind a one-way mirror and Crown, Defense, and the jury will accompany the session. It will be recorded strictly for their eyes only. We will reconvene in the chamber after lunch." The gravel was raised. "Dismissed."

SLAM!

---

Lance had decided today was a day to stay home and catch up on work before he was too busy with more family gatherings and Fairy Tail's masquerade. He had done some meditation early in the morning and now he sat in his spacious living room with the LV on the news with his PAL on his lap and his senior Fulgumiho lying beside him, content. Lance took a sip of his drink and scratched his Fulgumiho's head with a friendly hand, smiling when three of those nine tales vibrated in happiness. Jades eyes glanced up to watch as the commentators went into their critical analysis on the trial in itself.

"It looks like they'll announce Gary as innocent, Illumi," Lance told his pet. "Which is great. He didn't deserve this bogus trial in the first place. And Laylay didn't deserve to have her past come out like that."

Illumi hummed and all nine of his tails vibrated.

Lance's lips tugged into a smile. "Yeah, I know you miss her." He reached over to kiss the top of Illumi's head. "She was the one to find you. Of course you miss her." He reached over for his Compact, but he thought against it. I'll talk to her once she comes home. I'm sure she has enough to deal with. He went back to his PAL, but he slid his screen to show his research on fáirths and Ancient Éirulan. I've tried everything, but it all leads the same route. It's like the gods just don't exist anymore there. They've become mythology instead of facts—even in the Magic Community. So why would that place—that ring—be part of a dying legend? Did the gods there die? Have they moved on?

Illumi prodded Lance's thigh with a whine.

"Yeah, I know, boy," Lance sighed. "It doesn't make sense." He closed his laptop and set it on the coffee table. "Come on. Let's get you your snack and your meds, okay?"

Illumi stretched on the couch and led Lance over to the kitchen. He was patient when Lance checked his ears and fed him a syringe for his medication. But he was only patient because of the delicious snack Lance prepared him. As Illumi chowed down, Lance ruffled his hair to go to his bedroom. He was about to put on a sweatshirt to go for a quick run when he remembered something odd. He went to his nightstand and opened it. Plucking from within it, he eyed a gold coin that was hidden there. On one side was the profile of a hare. He flipped the coin and it was a new moon.

DRRR-DRRRRRRRRR…

Lance kept an eye on the coin as he went over to his Home Communications Lacrima and answered it. "Hello?"

"Lance?"

He paid more attention to the call now. "Hey, Mary Jane. What's up?"

A groan. "I don't know. I'm getting really nervous. I'm going to be meeting Peter's parents this week and… Well, they're Spiritless, y'know?"

Lance sat down on the bed, Home Com in his ear and his coin in his hand. "Right. Even so, the best thing you can do is to remind them it's your personality that counts and not if you have Magic or not." He flipped the coin and the moon was in its waxing crescent stage. "Did Peter tell you if you should be worried?"

"He said his dad is pretty okay, but his mom… I don't know." Distress couched Mary Jane's tone. "Peter said his mom has her own opinions. I just want her to like me. I don't want Peter to break up with me if she doesn't."

"I don't think he will." Lance flipped the coin again. The moon was now in its first quarter. "From what I gathered from Peter, the guy really likes you. If—and a big if—his mother doesn't approve of you because you're a Mage, I don't think he'll let that be a dealbreaker. It'll be awkward, but I don't think he would leave you." A smile. "I mean considering he can stand in Dad's vicinity without Dad striking him down with a blast of lightning, I doubt he'd let you go so easily." Another flip. The moon was a waning gibbous.

"You think so?"

Lance frowned and took an instant disliking how small Mary Jane sounded. "Mary Jane, you are a strong, beautiful, and smart young woman. Peter sees that. He would be an idiot to let you go just because his parents didn't like you were a Magic," he firmly said. "He is a Mage now. An Alchemist, technically, but it falls under the same umbrella. His mother might be more worried that he's now entering the Magic Society and you being his girlfriend might make him feel like she's losing him to Magic."

"I didn't think of it that way," Mary Jane realized. "So what would I do if that's the case?"

Lance pursed his lips. "Not much you can do if she's set to worry," he admitted. "The only thing I can say you could do is remind her that you're here to support Peter on his journey through this new world he's seeing. And when she sees you're honest and kind, I think she'll let up. If, for some reason, Peter does try to break up with you because his parents don't like him"—lightning quickened between his fingers and, much to his disbelief, the coin absorbed the charge—"I'll fuck him up for you."

Mary Jane burst into laughter. "Please don't do that." A beat. "Hey, Lance?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

Lance sighed through his nose. "You can talk to me about anything, Mary Jane," he murmured. "I know it's not exactly 'cool' to talk to your big brother about things, but I'm here for you always."

"I know that. But, still… Well, anyway, that's all I wanted to ask about. I'll let you go."

Lance frowned again. "Are you sure—?"

"Yeah! Love you! Bye!"

The call was hung-up and Lance set down his Home Com. "Strange. She sounded like she wanted to ask about something else." Turning his attention back to the coin, he flicked more lightning onto it and the coin took the static with no problem. Veleda said this coin will bring her into my dreams… Maybe she'll be able to help me get the answers I'm looking for. At least more than the LacriNet has given me. He decided to chance it and laid down on his bed. Set to just keep his coin in a fist, something made him bring it up and flip it once more.

A full moon.

She put this on my forehead, didn't she? Lance carefully put the coin on his forehead and shut his eyes to force himself to relax. Now… Just breathe…and sleep… He was awake for the first five breaths. But the next inhalation came and he was drowsy as he exhaled. He inhaled again and the world faded. He took another breath…

…and he was out.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The palace was rich in its gems, but it did not flaunt the wealth it stored. It spread out these silks and satins and gems like they were common finds in a home. Plants flourished in such an environment with happy petals and glowing leaves. They all embraced the gentle sunlight gifted to them through the openings in the walls with no glass to shield them from the probable elements. Swirled marble floors were clean and pristine and obviously cared for. Tapestries hung with symbols that held a heavy meaning that had not been revealed yet. But that paintings on the wall were more intriguing. They depicted the prowess of beings a range of skin colors committing acts of war and peace amongst the ones who worshipped them or vied for their power.

"Where am I?" Lance looked at himself to realize he was barefoot and a gold-stitched ruana wrap had been given to cover his torso and back while a marauder leather kilt covered his lower half, battered and sturdy. "What am I wearing?"

"You are swearing the traditional clothing of the young gods."

Lance slowly turned around to see Veleda there with her veil and her vibrant green eyes. "Veleda… You're here."

Veleda bowed to him. "You called. So I will walk with you in your dreams." She gestured. "Come. Let us walk." She led Lance over to one of the openings of the wall that went from floor to ceiling. Beyond them, beyond the palace, lay a tiered city built with riches and jewels with even the roads made of gold. Perpetual blue skies graced this beauteous city and an ocean of clouds spread beyond the city. A prominent river flowed down the city, yes, but when it disappeared from the boundaries, it spewed into the ocean of clouds to never be seen again.

"This place is beautiful," Lance described. "Where are we? What is this place? Are we in Éirulan?"

"You've done your research," Veleda noted, impressed.

"I had to," Lance explained. "The ring I saw was too vivid in my dreams to ignore."

"And you learned…?"

Lance tipped his head in Veleda's direction. "The ring was from a god named Baracles. And that you're a fáirth."

"Was."

Lance turned fully to Veleda while she looked out to the city. "'Was'?"

Veleda nodded. "Was." She gestured to the tiered city. "What is it you see here, Lance? What about the city strikes odd to you?"

Those jades glossed over the city and caught every detail—and every blatant missing detail. "This is an empty city," he noted. "But why is it empty? Why would anyone abandon this city with its beauty?"

"You think it abandoned? Not run out?"

"There would have been signs of struggle if the people here were forced out," Lance explained astutely. "This city hasn't been touched whatsoever. There's no sign of struggle or destruction. But the question is why would they abandon their city? It couldn't have been an easy decision. Not with how much this city is covered in jewels. No, they had to have abandoned this after much deliberation. And wherever they went, the journey must have been too dangerous for them to take anything from here with them…" He glanced over to see Veleda eyeing his profile. "What? What is it?"

Veleda shook her head as amusement tinged her eyes. "The gods have chosen a wise mortal." She turned away from the view to stroll down the hall.

"What does that mean?" Lance easily matched her stride at her side. "Veleda, what's going on? Why am I here? Why am I having this dream about an empty city? And the gods?"

Veleda kept quiet and Lance was forced to accept she would not speak until she wanted to speak. As she guided him through the halls, he took the time to examine the works of art painted into the walls. The stories should a dark-skinned woman with beautiful horns and wings as she rode the back of an alicorn to lead her warriors to victory. Another showed an awfully pale man with what appeared to be a clock that he was enslaved to. Another picture showed a woman with a bandage of her eyes and her torch held up against one hundred Demons, but she showed not an ounce of fear.

"Are these gods?" Lance decided to question.

Veleda answered: "Yes." She stopped.

Lance stopped with her. Double doors that could easily take over seven meters were and they had been birthed out of a metal that felt unnatural to be around. A woman had been carved into the metal doors, a large woman ,naked and healthy. A crown of five jewels sat on her head as she knelt in prayer. From her flowing hair, she created a larger-than-life tree with three main branches that had little intertwining branches and leaves all about them. The first branch held her daughter, a flower child with a bird sitting on her hand. The second branch held her son who carried with a harvesting scythe and a hammer, a boy with a sturdy face and a laborer's eyes. The third branch was an androgynous child who held the full moon in one hand and the sun in another.

"What is this?" Lance whispered as though afraid to disturb the peace.

"Not 'what'—who," Veleda gently corrected and she watched as Lance was drawn closer to the doors. "You know who she is."

Lance knew the "she" Veleda referred to as he stared at the praying woman with a childish awe and wonder. "Tell me."

Veleda gazed upon the praying woman. "She is Mother." She spread her hand to the door. "These are her children." She pointed to the daughter with a bird on her finger. "She is called Her. Her is the representation of life and death—the Underworld." She pointed at the sturdy son. "The son is called He. He is the representation of labor and harvest—Reality, of the Middle World." She pointed at the androgynous child who carried the power of the sun and moon. "This child is called They. They represent beyond your reality—the Upper World. These are Mother's children."

Lance slid a hand onto the metal and it hummed to him. Jades drank in Mother. "Why am I really here, Veleda?"

Veleda let her eyes settle on the door and sea greens glowed, consumed in power.

Lance took a step back when the doors parted and incredible power shoved at his chest. The more the doors open, the more power forced itself upon him. His eyes squinted for a moment and his body tensed until he realized the power was not intentionally trying to harm him. To describe it, it was like the power had been trapped for so long behind the doors, it had longed to stretch its legs and seep out from its container. Once the doors had opened wide, Lance looked inside a circular room that stretched on for leagues high up. Lance took a careful step inside as the power wound around him as though investigating this new entity that stepped into its home. A winding spiral staircase lead up the walls with little nooks equally spread apart that seemed to hold artifacts within them or statues of animals Lance could not even dream up. A beam of light that looked too far away somehow spread sunlight to the floor.

Lance did a slow turnaround. "This is… This is incredible…"

"This is why you are here."

Lance looked over to Veleda. "Excuse me?"

Veleda circled the room. "Many moons ago, on Earth Land, a power you call 'Lost' thrived on this Ether Plant—the power of which you call 'God Slayer'," she explained. "The gods and goddess from various religions imparted parts of their powers to worthy mortals while others were diluted descendants of these gods who had to be claimed to use their powers properly."

"I remember about God Slayers," Lance interjected. "The reason God Slayers are so rare on Earth Land is because of that huge war way back when. Many God Slayers died in the war and the remaining God Slayers either disappeared or went into hiding. But history books don't explain much else outside of the few current God Slayers we have."

Veleda shook her head. "The God Slayers who have to make a mockery of the true honor and glory of a God Slayer," she told him matter-of-factly. "It is true many God Slayers died, but the descendants of the gods were alive and well. But the gods could not claim their children as they had once done." Her sea greens glowed and Lance took a step back as Veleda swirled her arms for a jade full moon to be presented for the pair of them. Shadows danced on the full moon and began to paint a shadow play for Lance to Veleda's words. "The war had not just effected the Dragons and the good Demons—the war had taken a toll on the gods. Dragons and Demons can go extinct, but the gods will never truly leave us. As long as their concepts exist, so will they. But gods adapt during the centuries passing."

Lance watched as the shadows took the form of titans as they convened around a round table.

"The gods knew as this new era was ushered in, there would be more war and more death. Many gods were distraught their children had been killed. Some had argued for war again"—the shadows showed some titans raising fists—"some argued to find a peace"—the shadowed painted a few of the titans comforting each other—"and other gods, the more selfish gods, did not believe that mortal affairs concerned them. Ultimately, the gods left their decision to the one being they could trust."

The shadows danced as they showed a cloaked person, but a gust of wind blew back to reveal the shape of a woman.

"A Time Oracle."

The shadows showed these titans of gods bowing to the cloaked woman.

Lance blinked. "A Time Oracle?"

"Yes," Veleda confirmed. "A Time Oracle has the ability to see multiple destinies but never fate. The gods sought a Time Oracle to tell them the path that would secure a future for God Slayers and the gods. The Time Oracle's words were never revealed, but, in the end, the gods took the words to heart. The gods chose to abandon their homes and their people to adapt their power to the artifacts you see before you and wait for the time where they would reemerge into a world that would either be at peace or need them for war. A few gods remained. They refused to abandon their worshippers who relied on them for strength, for harvest and fertility. As such, those gods would remain keepers to the God Realm and awaken their brethren when the time had come. However, times have changed."

Lance watched as the shadows drew out to show a titan brought down by men. "Mortals used these kind-hearted gods and defiled their temples to gain entry to the God Realm. They stole only a handful of the artifacts were stolen, but it was enough for the gods of this world to distrust mortals."

Lance followed along. "So this entire room is…"

"Yes." Veleda looked above her. "This houses every artifact of every god that has existed in the past and will exist to the gods of the future."

But still, things did not add up to Lance. "Okay, so… That's great and everything that we're here, but why are we here? Why am I here? Why now?"

The shadows danced once again.

"As fáirths, we are given the power to enter and exit the God Realm at will," Veleda told him. "We were to be the guides to the new gods and claim them when it became time. However, many of our bloodlines are far too diluted. The fáirths among the mortals now may be able to recognize divine artifacts and see to which god it belonged to, but they do not have the power to claim a God Slayer. Still, the fáirths who remained went into hiding or are currently protected by other mortals. But those fáirths are not nearly old enough to remember the message the Time Oracle gave us to help us know when to reclaim God Slayers."

"And that message would be…?"

The shadows danced to show the three children and Mother.

"A new Mother will be born, more powerful than her predecessor," Veleda said in hypnotic song. "This Mother will birth her Children and grant them the power of the Underworld, the Middle World, and the Upper World in ways no Child has ever seen. Once she has awakened her Children, then and only then, may the God Slayers return to aid Mother in her battle to maintain the cosmos in its rightful balance."

Lance scrubbed his face. "This is a lot to take in," he breathed. "Mother and Children and now there's a battle? What battle?"

"Whether you like it or not, the same war the gods, the mortals, the Demons, and the Dragons fought will return in even worse measures." Veleda wriggled her finger and her shadows showed grotesque slaughter of every person and thing. "The slaughter will be unfathomable and not a life will be spared from the destruction. This new Mother will be the one to save us. But she will need the assistance of the gods to make sure this war ends in insurmountable peace."

Lance inclined his head. "I see. I don't understand, but I see." He eyed the room. "So, I can safely assume I'm in the God Realm and that all these artifacts contain powers of gods across multiple cultures and religions. And my dream… The ring… That ring was an artifact by the god Baracles."

Veleda nodded and showed the ring on her jade moon. "Yes. Baracles was a Lightning God of Éirulan. He was one of the gods to visit the Time Oracle and led the gods into adapting their powers in the artifacts you see before you."

"So this means that the God Slayers are destined to return," Lance surmised. "And this means the new Mother and her Children have been born or awakened. Does this mean the war is coming soon? Does this mean you're the fáirth that is going to claim me?"

Veleda shook her head and waved away her jade moon. "No. I am not your fáirth. But you are correct. The new Mother awakened and her Children have been born, but they have no necessarily been awakened all the way. They will fully awaken when Mother believes the time is right. The war will not be on your doorstep for some time. Which means—"

"Which means this gives us time to prepare and find the other gods," Lance finished. "But if you're not the fáirth to claim me and help give me this power Baracles is trying to give me, then who is? Was my meeting you just by chance?"

Veleda looked up at the sky light. "It is true that I lead the Jade Rabbits, but I did reside on Earth Land with my people. It was then I was bestowed the power of a fáirth. But when it was not safe for fáirths on Earth Land, I made a personal visit to the Time Oracle. The best viable future for me was to be where I am. I will meet the God Slayer I am destined to meet. But your fáirth is currently in hiding. She is power, even for her age. She is reluctant to be a fáirth, but you must convince her. You are the one meant to lead the new God Slayers in the right direction."

Lance's eyes widened. "I can understand being a God Slayer myself, but for me to lead an entire generation? I'm not a leader. I barely understand everything you're telling me—"

"You think yourself not ready now, but you will grow more confident as time goes," Veleda assured him. "But it is essential you convince your fáirth to aid you. Without her, you cannot claim the powers Baracles is trying to bestow upon you and the God Slayers will never awaken. And, without her, the fáirths who lost their purpose will not find it again. Lance, you must do this."

"But…! Who is my fáirth?" Lance demanded to know. "Where is she? Is she in Fiore? Éirulan?"

Veleda shook her head. "No, she is not. She—"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Lance woke up with a startled gasp and jerked out of bed. Illumi must have sensed some was wrong for the senior Fulgumiho rushed in, whining and distraught on behalf of his master. Eyes wide, Lance swung his legs off the bed and tried to catch his breath. He caught from the corner of his eyes that the coin Veleda had given him crumbled into nothingness. Frustrated and exhausted, he threw himself back on the bed. His thoughts spiraled out of control.

God Slayers… A war… Mother and Children… Demons and Dragons… He pushed his hair away from his face. I've met Demons and a Dragon, but… Me? A God Slayer? He petted the head of his anxious Fulgumiho who had climbed onto the bed to be close to his master. One thing I did understand is the part about a war. It won't be today or tomorrow, but…it's coming. He pushed himself back to sit up. I need to tell Master right away everything from my dreams. He picked up his Home Com. A war is coming… And whoever this 'Mother' is… We need to find her and protect her.

---

Jaxton and Tesla spent their time at Tesla's house accompanied by Miles and Kat. Today was more of a lazy work day for Tesla, Jaxton, and Kat while Miles was there to keep his girlfriend company. They had the news channel on as they watched news commentators come up with their own theories about the decision regarding the Commonwealth of Bellum versus Skade the Devil. Miles was asleep while Kat was busy correlating with a few partners of her about their winter project. Jaxton absently massaged Tesla's leg while he was on her tablet as she mapped out new lesson plans for her students.

Kat turned to listen in a little on the commentary before rolling her eyes. "I can't believe some of these jackasses actually think the Devil is guilty after all that," she huffed.

"It's because anything different than them poses a threat," Tesla sighed. "Honestly, where do they get off? Haven't we learned anything with interspecies erotica? Humans are pretty much the villains."

"Tell me about," Kat muttered. Then, she grinned at her snoring boyfriend. "Honestly, it'd be cool if Miley here was like some shifter or something."

"Right?" Tesla brightened. "I showed you Justin's insta with Gary as the big, bad wolf." She fanned herself and pretended to pant. "Aye-yai-yai! I'm not furry, but that man pulls off werewolf nicely and I mean nicely."

Jaxton grinned as he tapped away on his tablet. "I didn't take you as a wolf-lover."

Tesla stuck her tongue out at him. "I can appreciate the finer things in life, okay?" She set aside her PAL to crawl into his lap and Jaxton easily forgot his work to wrap his arms around her. "But I already have my big bad wolf." She offered him a slowly burning kiss on the lips. Jaxton wanted her closer only for Tesla to rip herself away with a gasp. "Oh my god! I could do red braids and be little red riding hood—Mmph!" She laughed and pulled away when Jaxton had silenced her with a kiss. "Watch it, jeffe, we have friends over."

Kat poked her boyfriend who snorted and rubbed his cheek before going back to sleep. "Yeah. A friend who is asleep." She offered a coy smile. "And a friend who would very much like to watch you two."

Tesla beamed. "Yes!" She threw those big eyes at Jaxton. "Please…?"

"No." Jaxton kissed Tesla's chin when she pouted. "Don't be sad. You know my rules."

Tesla huffed and rolled her eyes as she got off Jaxton. "Sorry, Kat, for Commander Buzzkill."

Kat snickered. "It's okay. We all know Jackie is possessive. I don't know how you can stand it." Her eyes danced affectionately over Miles. "I prefer my men complicit."

"You think I haven't tried?" Tesla asked, tone dry, while Jaxton got up. "Anyways, I'm gonna make us some lunch, or do you want me to order? I could do either-or."

Kat thought about it. "Hmmm… Why not order from that Begwenan place up the street? It's been a while since I've had it and Miley would definitely be down."

"Sounds like a plan." Tesla dodged Jaxton's attempt to wrap an arm around her and grinned in mischief when he narrowed his eyes. "I'll go out and get it. Can you text me what you two want?"

"Sure thing, baby."

Tesla grabbed Jaxton's hand to pull her with him in hopes it satisfied his need for touch. "Don't you dare wake your boy toy up with any method that involves below the belt," she warned good-naturedly.

Kat laughed. "Fine! But you better not let your boy-toy trick you into doing anything freaky in the car!"

Tesla giggled. "He won't." She winked at Jaxton. "I'll train him to be a good boy and keep his hands to himself." She released Jax quick to hurry over to her shoes and simpered when he grumbled under his breath. They both suited up for the cold before heading out.

Tesla did not even need to be guided to Jaxton's car, but she did comment, "I could've driven us."

"You know my motion sickness—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Both buckled up and Jaxton got them out from the underground garage and into open traffic.

Jaxton glanced at Tesla. "What do you think of the trial?"

"Honestly? I think Nashi is the baddest bitch for doing what she's doing," Tesla admitted in admiration. "I'm pissed that stupid bastard told her story to the world like that. But she's incredible for getting back on that stand and confronting the world." She sighed and looked out the window. "I wish I was that brave."

Jaxton frowned and let his hand interlock with her own. "You are brave, baby girl," he murmured. "You both are. A person doesn't have to confront their past publicly to be brave. Moving forward—living—that's bravery."

Tesla offered a bitter smile. "If you say so." She closed her eyes.

"Your father's next court date will be coming up," Jaxton said, keeping one eye on the road and one eye on her. "I know it's what you've been thinking about."

"It is." Tesla could not lie. "Then, he'll be out—just what my birth-giver wanted."

"But he won't come near you." An edge crept into Jaxton's voice.

A brisk laugh turned into a weary exhale. Tesla turned to him and her eyes drew up half-mast. "I keep telling you that you can't be there all the time," she reminded him. "You have a life to live too. You have a job to do just like I have a job to do. I'll be okay. Hiding in my apartment but okay."

"I don't want you to have to hide and give up your happiness and your freedom for that son of a bitch," Jaxton growled as he pulled into a plaza alit with Christmas decorations and the masses out and about for last minute holiday shopping. "You weren't meant to be in a cage. You were meant to be free."

"Dude, you can stop foaming at the mouth there, dude," Tesla kidded. "I'll be okay. I'm just overreacting. One of my many specialties. Anyways, let's not talk about that," she plowed on when Jaxton looked ready to knuckle down and say his piece. "We should talk about more important things like food and you coming over to my place for Christmas so I can wear that new set you gave me…?"

Jaxton found a parking spot by the Begwenan restaurant and put the car in park before shutting it off. He looked over at Tesla. "Talk to me when you're ready," he murmured. "But if you don't want to talk to me—"

"Then I'll talk to Doctor Orr," Tesla finished. "I know. I will. But I'm hungry and slightly horny, so can we stick to subjects regarding food and sex, pretty please, Daddy?" She smiled and poked Jaxton's cheek when his lips twitched. "I saw that smile. C'mon. Let's get some food, big bad wolf."

They exited the car (Jaxton was adamant about getting Tesla's door) and walked in together to the busy Begwenan restaurant. Mesobs (traditional woven wicker basket tables) sat a meter in the off the ground with woven stools and wall-mounted benches comforted with pillows. Warm tangerines and sandy whites washed over the walls with a floor mosaics integrated to the floor and handmade vases and kettles spruced up the restaurant alongside the plants. It was obvious there was a wait for the establishment and every time the door open, the smell drew in more clientele, but the to-go line was a lot more friendly with only a few singles in line.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the Five Sisters Restaurant, a Begwenan establishment. The five sisters who share ownership over this restaurant are immigrants from Begwena, Andüsa and guarantee as much authenticity as they can with their dishes. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

As Jaxton and Tesla waited in the to-go line, Tesla's eyes roamed only to softly land on what appeared to be an elderly couple. The woman had stripped off a piece of injera to wrap it around some kitfo and offered it to the man who took a slow bite of it, all while staring into her eyes. "Are you going to feed me tonight?" Tesla teased her boyfriend.

"I try to," Jaxton remarked dryly, "but you always get too embarrassed to do it around your friends. Yet you can do it around complete strangers."

Tesla's cheeks warmed. "It's different with the squad," she insisted. "And I didn't mean with Kat and Miles. I meant with just the two of us." She laid her head against Jaxton's shoulder. "I could use you feeding me lactose-free ice cream right about now."

Jaxton kissed her hair as he sniggered. "If you're good, then you can have ice cream."

Tesla had no time to reel her complaints when it was their turn. She got out her Compact as Jaxton ordered for the two of them and she gave Kat and Miles' order. Tesla offered her Com-number for the restaurant to text once their order was ready. Jaxton began to lead Tesla to the car, but she stopped him to jerk a thumb to the large Book Land within the plaza. "Want to hit the Book Land here while we wait?" Tesla asked. "I've been meaning to see if they restocked Twisted Fairy Tales yet and Yes, Captain."

"Sure." Jaxton interlaced their fingers as he teased, "Is that your subtle hint I should've done hockey this season?"

Tesla huffed. "I'm so mad you didn't. Do you know how satisfying it is when girls and gays are lusting over you and how hot you are in the stands in all their cutesy trashy dresses and shit, but then I get to loudly and proudly show off I'm wearing your practice jersey and I get to say I hit that daily?" A smack was for Jaxton when he threw back his head to laugh. "Shut up, stop laughing! It is the most gratifying thing ever besides oral sex. Like, my guy, they wish they were me!" She let out a wholesome moan. "I freaking live off their envy…!"

"I'm sure you do," Jaxton guffawed as they got to Book Land. He held the door open for her. "But it's the opposite for me. I have to be careful with you at the after-parties and watch my teammates rope you into dancing. Gary's the only one I can trust."

"Only because you hate dancing at parties." Tesla tapped Jaxton's chest when he frowned, though to her, she knew he was pouting like a child. "Drop the 'tude, my dude. You are a man and they are horny boys. You'll always win over them. And besides, it's fun watching you hunt me down and stake your claim in front of them and their little entourage," she jested. "Now you just need to say 'mate, mine' and it'll be just like a Wolf Teen fanfic—"

"Not a werewolf, baby girl."

Tesla puffed her cheeks. "Killjoy." She shooed him. "Go on and find your stuff. I'll be in the erotica section drooling over my fantasy hockey players—" She skittered away laughing when Jaxton made a grab for her.

The erotica section was right by the young adult section and Tesla was highly familiar with it. She squealed when she saw Yes, Captain was back in stock and picked up the book to immediately read the prologue. She was immersed in the world the author had created, only for little hands to tug at her leg. She peeked over to see a little girl with two braided pigtails and her front two teeth missing staring up at her. Tesla slowly closed her book and noticed no adult was around the girl. "Um… Hello?"

The girl looked at Tesla.

Tesla cleared her throat and tried for a smile. "Are you lost, little one? Do you need help finding your parents?"

The girl only stared.

And this is why I will never be a breeder. Tesla widened her smile to come off as friendly as possible, but she was sure she just looked more awkward. "My name is Tesla. What's yours?"

"Brusca!"

Tesla looked up in relief when she saw a harried older gentleman come down the aisle. "Oh, you must be—"

She choked on her words.

The older gentleman attended to the little girl. "Brusca, my pet, you can't run off like that," he scolded. "What on Earth Land has gotten into you?"

Brusca snapped out of her daze to smile sheepishly at the man. "Sorry, Uncle Bundy," she apologized. "This lady looked like someone I know."

Bundy sighed and got up, holding Brusca's hand. "I am incredibly sorry, Miss…?" He noticed Tesla was not staring at him but staring beside him. Instantly, his eyes narrowed. "Something the matter, Miss?"

Tesla snapped up her eyes with a forced smile. "No…! No, no, nothing, nothing! I'm sorry I'm just being extremely rude right now. The name is Tesla. Is she your d-d-daughter?" She nearly gasped and tried so hard not to look down or swallow, but she could not help it when hot breath breathed onto her leg. Her eyes flicked down…

…and two black wolfdogs with shaggy pelts were curiously sniffing her, eyes a blazing red and their irises a pure white.

"No," Bundy said, suspicion clear in his tone. "Brusca is a niece of mine. The only one worth being proud of." A slow examination of Tesla from head to toe "Are you sure you're all right, Miss Tesla? You look rather stiff…like you've seen a ghost."

How do you not see the giant dog things sniffing me! Tesla wanted to scream, but she played it off with a shaky laugh. "Oh, n-nothing, just, um…! Gah!" She jumped when one of the wolfdogs licked her hand. "I j-just…! I-I…! I-I…!"

Suddenly, both wolfdogs growled at something beyond her. Their fur fluffed, tails up, they bared their sharp teeth. Black claws curled and would have peeled the carpet… But just as quickly as they got angry, high-pitched whines snuffed their snarls and their claws went back to normal as their ears flattened and they ducked their heads, almost bowing in submission. They took paw steps back as they retreated from—

"Tesla."

She quickly looked over her shoulder and her relief was palpable seeing Jaxton. "There you are!" She all but darted for him and latched onto his arm as though anchoring herself. She kissed his cheek and whispered, "Thank you for saving me." She pulled away, but her smile faltered when she saw Jaxton's steely eyes. "Jax?"

Bundy cleared his throat and bowed. "My apologies for Brusca interrupting you. She's young. Forgive her."

"Oh, no, that's okay!" Tesla assured though she hated how high pitch her voice had gotten.

Jaxton let out a grunt. "If you'll excuse us." He nudged Tesla away and led her out of the aisle and towards the checkout counter.

Tesla checked over her shoulder and blew out a breath. "That was scary as Hell." When they were far enough distanced from Bundy and Brusca, she whispered to Jaxton, "Okay, so, was it just me, or did you see those two really big—?"

"Tesla."

She blinked up at Jaxton as he got them in line. "What? What is it?"

"Say nothing until we get in the car."

Maybe for some, they would protest such an order. Maybe for others, they would dismiss it. But the order did not come off as brutish and spiteful. It was soft and tinged in warning and she swallowed and acquiesced with a nod. Jaxton rewarded her with a kiss to her temple and he slipped his arm firmly around her waist. They went through checkout and Tesla showed her Compact that their order was ready. It was a quick trip back to the restaurant, getting their order, and sitting in the car while it warmed up.

After a few moments of silence, Tesla asked in a steady voice, "Should I be worried?"

"Yes." Jaxton hid nothing.

Tesla nodded and let out a stream of air. "Can you stay over?"

"I'm not leaving you alone for a second." Jaxton turned to grab her hand and kiss her knuckles. "I'm here."

"I know." A shaky inhale. A shaky exhale. Her mask was slipping. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," Jaxton admonished. "I love you. I won't let you be alone." He lifted his other hand to brush down the side of her face. "Once Kat and Miles leave, let's take a bath and take a nap. Forget work. I just want to hold you. Okay?"

"Okay." Her voice was so small. "Can you sing me a lullaby?"

"Anything you want." Jaxton reached over to kiss her brow, then her nose, then her bottom lips chastely. "Or do you want me to text Kat we need to be alone now?"

"No. I want them to stay. I need something normal. Anything." Tesla kissed him back. "I can keep it up for a little while longer."

"I'm sorry you have to."

"Don't be sorry," Tesla quietly dismissed. "I can do this if you're with me."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Good." Tesla smiled against his lips. "Because I'd have to kill if you did."

"That's my girl," Jaxton murmured in a coo. He pulled away from her for both to put on their seatbelts. The moment Jaxton was back on the road, their hands found each other. He hated how withdrawn Tesla had become and he knew she was internalizing her fear. He held back from gritting his teeth and tried to keep his boiling anger in check.

They don't know she's Hylia, but I saw it. The old man knows she could see the Hellhounds. But that wasn't a coincidence like I thought. That was an accident. An accident we couldn't afford. Jaxton tightened his hand on the steering wheel. I will handle it. I refuse to let Tesla be afraid. She doesn't deserve to be afraid again. And I won't ever let her powers take over.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mercurius Castle celebrated the winter holidays by welcoming any and all winter traditions. While, yes, Christmas was the most celebrated December holiday and the castle had several Christmas trees along with a spread of green and red and holly and garland, the queen made sure all holidays were properly represented among the nobility and guests arriving who came from all walks of life. The Yule Luncheon had already started for those who were relatives and friends of the crown, but the Luke, Luna, Silver, Ena would not be joining. Only Natsu would go and represent both him and Lucy, though he whinged the entire time about having to wear a suit (only to be happy he could keep his scarf on, but it would have to be hanging loose from his neck).

With Natsu gone, Luna, Luke, Ena, and Silver had been confined to their own suite within Mercurius Castle and Hisui spared no expense to make sure they were given security and attendants for their every need. She had even made sure they had their own lunch delivered with a cute note to her goddaughter about her own enthusiasm about seeing Ena's designs on the birthday girl. The roasted duck, broccoli, and rice were a treat with croissants, and only Luke, Silver, and Ena were supposed to drink the champagne, but they made an exception for Luna to have her own. Icarus and Actaeon were free by Luna and Luke respectively and had been given their own royal doggy dishes to munch on even though Luna had insisted Celestial Spirits did not need dog food.

"This is so good…!" Luna moaned. "Why can't I drink this every day?"

"Because champagne is for special occasions," Luke told her, amused. "And since it's your birthday, Miss Fourteen, this qualifies. But no telling Mom and Dad."

Luna licked the champagne off her lips. "Of course." She pouted. "There's going to be champagne at the ball, won't there? Do you think Papa will be nice and let me have some?"

Luke wanted to negate, but he had to say, "He might. With Mom not around, your puppy eyes might actually work." He shrugged. "It couldn't help to try."

"Yay!" Luna beamed. "Then, I'm totally trying!" She looked over at Ena who was ravenously eyeing the double-chocolate cake with buttercream filling that had been made in Luna's honor. "You and your sweet tooth," she sighed. "Fine. Got get your cake, but I better get a slice first."

Ena was already out of her seat. "Anything for the birthday girl." She got the cake cutter and started to slice. "Don't drink too much. We need you sober and ready when the attendants come to pamper you."

"I'm not a lightweight!" Luna countered. But then she really thought about it. "I think?"

Ena playfully rolled her eyes as she doled out the cut slice of cake onto a small plate. She was about to bring it over to Luna when Silver got the plate from her. "I can get that," he inserted and those blues looked at her, hopeful for approval.

Ena moved on to cutting the next slice of cake. "Go on."

Silver deflated and went over to set Luna's slice of cake before her. "How long is she going to stay mad at me?" he lamented.

"What did you do?" Luna forked a mouthful of cake and groaned in bliss at the taste, stomping her feet. "Oh my goodness, this is so delicious, I just might die!" But her eyes bounced to see Silver looking like a kicked puppy and she swallowed her heaven-sent mouthful to turn to him. "What did you do? I thought I said no fighting?"

"It was yesterday," Silver muttered. "I'm surprised she didn't tell you already."

Luna frowned. "I am too. But you're about to tell me right now." Chocolate steeled. "Did you upset her?"

Silver winced. "I might've said something that was completely uncalled for…about her and Misty?" He flinched when Luna socked him on the shoulder. "Ow! Hey!"

"That's for bringing up something so insensitive!" Luna purposefully lowered her voice when Ena came over to offer Luke a plate and sat beside him, unperturbed. "Silver," Luna hissed quietly, "I get you and E aren't friends, but that's low—even for you."

"I know, I know," Silver grunted, pained. "I didn't mean to take it that far! I just…! I…!" Why did I say that? We're just getting along… She didn't do anything wrong. He hated this pit in his stomach. "I don't have an excuse," he lamely put.

"No. You don't." Luna closed her eyes and drew in a cleansing breath. "Look. We can fix this. And by 'we'? I mean 'you'."

"How?" Silver questioned. "She barely looks at me less so than usual."

Luna hummed as she thought about it. I've never seen E hold too big of a grudge against anyone, but even so, when she does get upset, she needs time. But if we don't have time, what would make her think Silver's sincere when he apologizes? Brow furrowed, she gave it some more thought until it came to her and she stood up. "I'm going to use the bathroom," she announced. She brought up her Compact and shook it for everyone. "It might take a while."

Ena simpered. "Have fun. Just remember we have a time limit until your lady's maids come in to pamper you."

"I will. I promise." Luna shot Silver a wink and darted over to the bathroom. Maybe she had become a little acclimated to her visits to the castle, but others would have died seeing a bathroom the size of a one-bedroom apartment with gold everywhere and a shower that you never wanted to leave. She went over to the vanity and placed her Compact down. Okay. So I can see possibilities, right? Then, I should see a future where E and Silver make up. Right? It can't be that hard. Eyes tightly shut, she tensed. Bring me to a future where E and Silver make up.

Moments ticked by, and…

…nothing.

Luna growled. Come on. Show me the future!

Still, nothing.

Luna wanted to curse, but she knew better than to do so with her brother so close. What's wrong with me? I was having visions left and right without my consent and now nothing? Gale can control his powers! She blushed when she remembered how well he could control it. I should be able to too! What am I doing wrong? Papa said when I'm practicing Magic, I need to have a clear picture of what I want and see my aura and—! She facepalmed. And I need to be calm and controlled.

Luna crawled onto the floor and placed herself in the crisscrossed meditative position her mother had taught her, hands on her knees, and spine straight. Slow inhale…lengthy release… Slow inhale…lengthy release… Okay. Keep calm, she instructed. Nice and easy… Slow inhale…lengthy release… Slow inhale…lengthy release… A new darkness fell into the darkness she saw behind her eyelids. It was not just black and she could hear Luke make Ena laugh. A balanced silence washed over her. The darkness welcomed her like an old friend.

Now…Luna whispered and it echoed in the darkness. I just need to feel my power…

Slow inhale…lengthy release… Slow inhale…lengthy release…

It was easier this time around to see her power. A majestic white crowded around her, tamed and vast. While many thought powers were limited, her power was limitless. She felt the ancient Magic she carried inside her flow like a river in her veins, in her soul, in her heart. It was so warm and clear and bright and she laughed a little as she embraced her power. This is my first Magic—my first power. I could never forget how it feels. But I need to feel my other Magic—my Second Spirit.

Luna let go of the grasp she had on her Magic but not all the way. She knew the tether between her and her First Spirit would never break no matter where she went within her mind. Mentally, she rooted around for the second anchor to herself. Nothing appeared for what felt like hours and all she knew was darkness and the string between herself and her First Spirit. But then, she felt that second anchor to her being hidden as though shy from her mind. There you are. She brushed over the anchor, but unlike her First Spirit that was a pure white, this Second Spirit was different. White was there, of course, but it was like a guitar neck with a string or red, of black, or blue, or green, and of yellow, and a fraying gray. So this is my Second Spirit. She plucked the strings and a melody swayed over her, hypnotic, like a siren. It's so different than my First Spirit. I can feel Syra's power, but…there's more to it. It's almost like my Second Spirit is holding back, but why?

Either way, she had little time to dwell on it. Please, I need your help, she prayed to the Second Spirit of her power. Show me the possibilities I've been looking for. Please. She plucked the strings again.

And the melody grew louder until the Second Spirit expanded—until it consumed her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The Black Dragon was back, but it was alone. And it was not the Black Dragon from before. This Dragon was different and smaller than the Black Dragon from before with scales that gleamed like gemstones and black sclera with burning red irises. Its wings looked like a bat's, leathery and prestigious, as it reared on its hind-legs to confront another Dragon with no hesitation. The other Dragon burned too bright for normal eyes. A mass of orange, it fanned its wings that almost look like they had been lit aflame. It roared a sea of flames to douse the Black Dragon and pushed it back—

The scene shifted.

A forest. She was in a forest. But the forest was not what it should have been. What should have been healthy grass and unrestricted trees had been consumed. Chaotic scarlet consumed every living and nonliving thing in its haunting glow. Healthy trees rotted under the pressure of scarlet. Wildlife that had frolicked and survived stood no chance as scarlet warped them, fed them, and groomed them into burgundy monstrosities ready to kill at first strike. The focus sped through the atrocity, sped through the chaos of the wilderness until it drew closer and closer to the source of this madness. For a moment, the focus could see the source—

The scene shifted.

'Wait,' Luna weakly called as red and blue and orange and black and white and gray spiraled around her to carry her to the next possibility. 'Wait… Trying to…see…friends…'

The focus entered what appeared to be Fairy Tail, but something felt off. The faces of the guild held some unrecognizable ones. The faces Luna remembered had altered and wizened. She saw Mary Jane, but her friend had grown an inch or so and thickened out in a beautiful way. Those sun-kissed tresses had elongated and controlled into a ponytail. She was wrapped up in a slightly older Peter who rivaled her height by an inch or two. She saw Gary who looked battle-weary with messy black locks that carried a streak of white and his bangs parted down the middle. The long stubble beard suited him. But what was odd was Nashi was not at his side. Another woman sat close to him with cutting hazel eyes, wavy hair, and acrylics that looked more like claws.

The focus carried back through Fairy Tail until the faint noises could be picked up as it went down a side hallway. Noises carried on that sounded like a mixture of arguments and heated groans. The focus had no shame as it peered through one of the doors and into a spacious storage room to bear witness to—

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luke, Ena, and Silver were alarmed when they heard a scream. Luke was on his feet, Ena had summoned her sword, Silver pulled his hands for the water from the pitcher to gather over his hands and wrists, and both Star Hounds were up and growling. The group sprinted to the bathroom and Luke forced the door open. "What's wrong? What's—?"

But the group saw Luna on the ground with swirls in her eyes, nose bleeding, and her face beat red. There might have even been steam coming out of her ears…and her mind…

Icarus and Lelantos sniffed Luna and checked her for injuries as Ena sighed and dispersed her sword. "L, what are you doing on the floor?" She moved over to her best friend to prod her.

"You scared us," Silver scolded as he hovered over Luna. "What's the matter with you?"

Luna blinked to see Ena and Silver in her bleariness. "Sorry—" But the memories caught up with her when she saw the two of them together and she was back to a blushing mess.

"You are a mess, girl," Ena sighed.

"But she's our mess." Silver chanced a nervous glance at Ena. "Ri-Ri-Right?"

Ena wanted to ignore him, but she found that resolve weakening, and her shoulders relaxed. "Right"—she looked up at him with a small smile—"you lovesick idiot."

Luke scratched his head as Silver happily engaged in bicker with Ena while Luna was a nose-bleeding mess on the ground. "I don't get what's happening, but at least it doesn't smell as tense," he muttered. He hunkered down and pulled his little sister into a bridal carry. "Come on, Lu. Let's make sure you eat the rest of your cake before you're put through pampering Hell."

As Luke carried Luna out, she snapped back to her senses to peek beyond Luke and watch as Ena and Silver exchanged insults but the delivery was innocent, playful even. What I saw was just a possibility, she reminded herself. That wouldn't happen. They aren't even friends. She leaned into her brother. But…why did it feel so right?

---

The Anti-Ethernano Investigation Chamber was not as scary as it sounded, thank you very much. The reason it was not used so frequently was that Anti-Ethernano was difficult to amass into large quantities let alone to embed into stone and glass. The way the chamber was set up was a tome with one flat facing wall and the entirety of that wall was a one-way mirror that allowed the rows of tier-seating to study the subjects inside. A regular steel table had been given to the chamber with seats, a pitcher of water, two glasses, but there was nothing more.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the Anti-Ether Investigative Chamber housed in a seven-sealed barrier within the Ishgaran Magic Courthouse. This is used for high-level interrogation for high-profile criminals brought to this court to weaken them extremely. Sealstone is unable to be used due to sealstone only working on Magic and Anti-Ether neutralizes all powers. Investigators are given Ether-infused clothing to wear to keep themselves regulated. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Skade had been brought into the chamber first, but he was given the respect he should have gotten. No longer degraded as a quadrupedal animal led on a leash, his collar remained, but he was allowed to walk on his hind paws and permanently free from his muzzle. His ears flicked in annoyance at the buzz around him from the humans talking in their odd tongues and he knew it was about him, but he kept his fur settled. The guards allowed him to sit before they unshackled the guards on his hands and undid his collar. He cracked his neck and chuffed his amusement when one of the newer guards jumped a bit when he moved freely. Though, the freedom cost him when he felt the pressure of the Anti-Ether chewing away at his power.

One of the guards came in with a tray with a white liquid within a well-sealed bottle. The guard set it before the Winter Devil. "Take a sip every fifteen minutes," she instructed. "This is straight Ether. It will keep you from completely falling unconscious."

Skade nodded his head in gratitude.

The guards stood by as they radioed in their check-ins and minutes ticked by until Nashi was brought into the room. Her courtroom attire had been changed for what appeared to be a loose jumpsuit with the Magic Council logo. She muttered her assurances and feigned smiles she understood and took the bottle of liquified Ether into her gloves hands. The guards filed out and locked the door behind them.

And then it was just Nashi and Skade.

Nashi glided over to the table and sat down.

Relieved hickory connected with awed icy-blue.

Nashi let out a breath. She wanted to cry. She wanted to laugh. She did not know what she wanted. "I've missed you." Her first words to an even longer conversation.

Skade gave her a toothy smile. "I have missed you too, Malã'ika."

Nashi nodded. "How-Ho-How…? How have you been? How are you?" She cringed. "I know that's not the right thing for me to say, but I…" She ducked her head. "I just wanted to make sure we were…you know…"

"Look at me, Malã'ika."

Nashi tipped her head back up.

"There is no amount of apologies I could offer to make up for my behavior," Skade told her as gently as he could. "I was unable to cope that you had been harmed and you lived with this pain for years. I blamed myself—"

"It wasn't your fault—"

"And I know this now," Skade assured, "after a…conversation I had with myself." He shifted, but he winced when a torn part of his wing scraped against the ground.

Nashi snapped to her senses and got to her feet. "Oh, you're still hurt!" She went over to his side and her heart broke seeing his wounds up close and of sound mind and body this time around. The medical team had applied basic first aid with Ether stitches and had sucked out the puss and helped scrub off the blood, but they had not done any more than that. "Why didn't they treat you?" She tried not to feel nauseous at the deep wound she saw on his side. "They should've done more for you."

"They did what they could for a human," Skade relayed. "I am not human."

An epiphany had Nashi. "No, you aren't," she whispered. "Not in this form." She and Skade met eyes at the realization. "Can you do it? I know it will be painful, but… I think I can heal you that way. I can't heal you when you are fully a Devil, but…"

Skade nodded as he got up. "I will try."

Another realization came to Nashi. "But will they—?"

Skade shook his head.

Nashi swallowed and took a step back. "This is going to surprise some people."

"That it will." Skade glanced at the mirror. "But I do not care." He hunched over and sucked in a breath. "Let us begin."

Nashi wished she could never hear the noises Skade made ever again, the moans of a dying animal. But she forced her eyes open to watch for herself as Skade rocked and shook as he exchanged his Devil physique for a form much more suited. His wings did not disappear. They were far too damaged for him to retract and the pair were all-too-aware of that fact. But frost steamed out from Skade's form as his large size decreased to that of mortal man. He kept himself from howling when his hind paws stretched and flattened into the feet of man. Tail gone, his muzzle rescinded as his fur changed for skin. The Ether stitches held up no fight against a transformation and it showed when the Ether stitches broke and black blood spewed forth.

Skade heard nothing but ringing and felt nothing but pain, but he knew Nashi was in a panic. Guards had filed in, alert and alarmed, but Nashi held them back and demanded they give Skade space. The Anti-Ether barreled down on Skade and he felt its sting as his Curse's strength slipped away from him even more drastically than before, but he was almost there. Another twist and shove and he fell to all fours, but in his bleary state of mind, he saw flesh rubbed raw and oozing blood before him. His claws were forgone for nails and he knew he should have felt lighter, but the blood loss and his own power being sucked from his very being made him feel anything but light. He had no strength left as he clattered to the ground in an agonized grunt.

For moments, Skade could feel that same darkness that had dragged him under when he was captured. That ragged darkness where the whispers of his Curse invaded his mind with promises of power, promises of greatness, promises of a hunt like no other, and the prey plentiful. Hands touched his all-too-sensitive skin and he knew his body was being turned so he lie on his back. His mouth was forced open and a rush of liquid filled it with a bitter taste and a bland smell. Someone massaged his throat and he was forced to swallow down the liquid. But as his half-lidded eyes stayed open, they latched onto familiar hickories that had followed him throughout his lifetime.

"Hey… Are you okay?"

For a moment, the past was his present. He squinted at the light and the warmth. He hissed when that purity vibrated within his being.

"I'm going to use Magic to heal the rest of you."

The true present wove in with strained soothes. "Just a little more." It was Nashi. Her tone calm but it desperately wanted to break. "Come on, Skade, I know it hurts, but stay with me. Just a little more! I'm nearly there, please, I'm nearly there—!"

For a moment, the past pushed through the present with white feathers and a pure smile. "What's your name?"

"Skade…! Skade!"

The present was back with a vengeance that had Skade open his eyes and those feathers and smile were gone with the worried face of a mature Nashi Dragneel. Her worry broke into relief as his eyes opened and she half-laughed half-cried when the glaze in his eyes sparked back into life. "Oh, thank god," she exhaled as she brushed her hands over her face. "Thank god it worked."

Nashi looked down at Skade—the humanized Skade. I knew it, she thought tiredly. My healing sands couldn't work on him in his Devil Form. He's too close to his powers. But as a human, it might sting, but it's still manageable. But… A blush worked its way up her neck and to her cheeks. I just…never thought he would look so…different…

Human Skade used to retain much of Gary's own looks, but he exchanged black hair for white and cerulean eyes for icy-blue. But his body had changed and maybe that could be chalked up to being stuck so long in his Devil Form that his neglected Human Form let nature take its course. His white hair had grown out into shoulder-length locks, shaggy and someone needed to cut his hair to make his layers even. Stubble had grown too far and now he had a shadowed beard, not too long and not clean. The healing sands had not been able to leave him unblemished, so he had jagged scars cut across his body in a darker tan than the paleness of his skin. Once his wings had been healed, they retreated within an instant like they were ready for a nice rest. And that just left a very, very, very naked Skade to Nashi.

Nashi mentally shook herself from such thoughts. I just healed him and my mind is going into the gutter. I need to calm down. This is serious. Gary tired me out enough last night. I don't need to be—her eyes slipped past the V-line Skade carried—thinking about…—her eyes drank in the sight before her—that…

A chuckle.

Nashi would have jumped if she did not have Skade's head in her lap. Her eyes snapped back to his and she saw the grin he sported. "Wh-What?" She cleared her throat. "What's so funny?"

"Your lust smells sweet to me," Skade told her and he basked in the embarrassment that swallowed Nashi. "It is amusing. I lie helpless before you and you still lust for me, Malã'ika. I hope you do not plan to take advantage of me in my weaker form. Although… I would not oppose to you taking advantage of me," he added cheekily.

Nashi snorted, blush be damned. "You are so lucky we are in a court of law or I would hit you," she grumbled. "But I'm mad at myself for not suggesting this earlier."

"It would not have mattered," Skade sighed. He reached out a hand to catch Nashi's cheek and would have purred if he was able for feeling her supple flesh. Just a touch as simple and chaste at this had him relaxed beyond his years. "I was too injured then. My Human Form is useful for travel and other things, but it does not hold the same power as my true avatar."

Nashi brushed back his overgrown bangs. "I like both of your forms," she murmured to him. "Equally handsome and equally a pain in my ass."

"Careful, Malã'ika," Skade warned. "I might be mortal now, but enough of my power is restoring to put true pain on your ass."

Nashi reddened within an instant. "Skade—!"

"But that is not what I want to do with you right now."

Nashi blinked and her fury and abashment were drained from her for perplexed curiosity. "What do you want to do with me then?" A breath escaped her when both of Skade's hands had cupped the sides of her head and tugged her down to him.

"This."

The first kiss was different than her kiss with Gary and she loved that about it. Her first kiss with Gary was slow and emotion-filled. It was the kiss you gave when you did not want to hurry a damn thing when you showed the one you were with how much they meant to you. And Nashi knew she would treasure that always. But her first kiss with Skade conveyed something different. This was his apology. This was his relief. This was his appreciation. This was his passion. This was him. And she could not help but want to accept kiss after kiss—accept him.

They pulled apart for a brief moment to get air and Nashi got out in a choke, "I've really missed you." She searched his half-lidded eyes with her own and, in that moment, she could see Gary and Skade looking at her. Tears prickled her eyes as she leaned into Skade's touch. "I missed you so much."

"I am sorry I put you through so much pain on my account, my Angel," Skade whispered. "Do not cry for me."

"Stupid dog." Nashi sniffled and hastily wiped her cheeks. "I'm not crying for you."

Skade breathed cold air onto her face, a steady stream of his winter. "You were always such a bad liar." He brought her back down for their foreheads to touch. He did not mind one bit when Nashi trembled and the warmth of her tears hit his face. "I am here, Malã'ika. Let me be here with you always."

The restraint Nashi had snapped within that moment. Her repressed cries tore into the world as raw sobs, ugly and honest. Her body fell limp as she poured out to him what she had given to Gary. Her anger, her sorrow, her self-hatred, her pain—she gave it all to him in its purest form. And Skade accepted it all for what it was. He had no desire to quiet her. He only had a desire for his touch to remind her that even in the darkest of times she faced, she was not alone. Give me your pain, my Angel, Skade whispered into one of the many threads that bound him and her as Devil and Namer. He could feel Gary's own voice add to his own. We are here.

And, so, she did.

Behind the mirror, behind the glass, the jury, the judge, the court personnel, and the lawyers watched. A few of the jurors had been impacted at the emotion they saw and blinked as they withheld their own tears. The sister who had spoken before had watery eyes as she looked on in approval. Ocrevus might have seemed unmoved, but he sat back in his chair and watched the two with a fierce intent. Lucy had been invited to watch and she could only give her own smile as she viewed Nashi and Skade. Seeing them… It's like seeing Natsu and me… She looked up at the ceiling. They'll make it through this. All three of them. I just know it.

°•°•°•°

Miss Wilson and Mister Wilson and Mirella (Talia in an older form of herself) had all watched from the tunneled opening as Nashi hunched over Skade, her emotions unlocked.

This is good, Mirella—the real Mirella feigning as Miss Wilson—thought to Kyler and Talia. Now that they've seen Skade transition into a human form, we can talk about integrating him into society. Pazuzu—

Waleed stepped towards them with a nod and leaned against the wall. Warrod agreed. He has the space, the wealth, and he can easily take down Skade should anything happen. We just need to meet with the Minister of Magical Creatures, finish up the work, and get the ball moving. He glanced back at the interrogation chamber. Have you spoken to Nashi about the deal?

No, Kyler answered, firm. It's one thing for her to engage in a relationship. She's too young to commit herself as an official mate.

I agree, Pazuzu assured. That's why I had a counteroffer. She will have a semblance of protection as Skade's partner. But if she falls pregnant with their child, she will need to be moved to the conservatory.

Mister Wilson looked like he wanted to argue, but Mirella (Talia) shook her head. I agree with Pazuzu, Talia conferred. We can revisit the issue at a later date if Nashi doesn't agree. She cocked her head. I sense the jury has no more doubts. They are more shocked about Skade's transformation. But I can't read the judge's mind. That is odd.

He's a high-level Telepath to block us out, Mirella regarded. But that's a good thing. I'm sure people in the past have tried to influence him. I'm sure he had his own telepathic defenses up to warn him if it happens. She fought down a grin when she saw Chinlien and his co-counsel marching up to her. I love how I can feel his anger. Being empathic is so satisfying in moments like this. Don't you agree, Talia?

Very much so. Talia did not sound amused, but she did look curious. Mammon is calling me. I will be back. She stepped away just as Chinlien went toe to toe with Miss Wilson.

"Don't think this is over for a second," Chinlien warned her. "Not all of us by this little charade you're playing."

"The funny thing about Magic Court is you physically can't play a charade." Miss Wilson crossed her arms. "See, unlike your barbaric system, wizards rely on Truth and Compulsion Spells. So my client over there truly likes Miss Dragneel and she him." She blinked and smiled. "You should be happy at young love, Mister Broussard."

Chinlien curled his lip. "It's disgusting she resorted to bestiality just to get dick," he growled. "Don't think I'm done with this case"—he leaned down so he could glare into her eyes—"or you." He left the chamber with Remy in tow.

Waleed smirked. Kyler, you might have some competition.

Mister Wilson snorted. Hardly. But it makes me wonder what's about to happen. He spoke out of anger, but it didn't feel right. He cut his eyes to Miss Wilson. Mammon is watching Lady Hendrika, right? Something tells me Mister Broussard won't be happy with the information—or lack of—that she's been feeding her.

We've got audio and visual. Miss Wilson shifted her weight. But that does bring up my concerns. What is Miss Little Hendrika's source about to give her after this? And what does her source want with Gary and Skade?

---

Julia kept glancing down, but she knew doing so was fruitless. No one could see what was going on. No one cared. All they saw was her walking what appeared to be a young and spry collie-mountain dog mix who looked to be maybe two years of age. Julia kept Kore firmly on the leash and the Hellhound was good about not sniffing every single thing on sight or tugging at the leash. Considering the Hellhound could be centuries old, it made sense she had good manners. But it was easy to see Kore was unused to being seen by people or walking among them restricted.

This is so weird, Julia whispered. I own a Hellhound—a Hellhound that followed me home from Margaret Town. And I'm taking her for a walk. She raised her eyebrows when Kore stopped alongside the other pedestrians and sat dutifully at Julia's side at the stop sign the people were given.

A springy university student in her jogging gear and big hair tied into a bun cooed at Kore. "Oh my god, your dog is so cute…!" she crooned.

Julia smiled. "Thanks!" You should see her without the collar. You might scream. "You can pet her if you'd like. Her name is 'Kore'."

"Oh, thank you!" The student allowed Kore to sniff her hand for a few seconds before stroking Kore's head. "You're such a good girl!" she cooed. "Yes, you are! Yes, you are!"

Julia bit back her snort when Kore impressed distaste onto their bond. I'm pretty sure Hellhounds don't like baby-talk. When the light turned green and the pedestrians began to walk, the university student offered her good-bye and jogged away. Julia and Kore resumed their leisurely walk, but Julia knew Kore was reading every single soul in the vicinity. I can't believe Cerberus is Tesla's father and I've been spying on him. She's going to get so angry with me. She blew back her bangs. Everything has been so crazy. Gale and Luna with their time powers… Tesla is made of Anti-Ether… Gary's on trial… A sigh escaped her. I just need a break.

A few minutes later, Julia and Kore approached the gated entryway of a dog park. Even in December, the dog park was cleared of snow and ice and open for business. A couple of girls had brought their beagles in their little sweaters and giggled amongst themselves while their dogs were unleashed and played together. An older man and his senior Great Dane were playing a lackadaisical game of frisbee fetch. A couple walked around the paved track with their malamute and sheepdog. The gatekeeper let Julia and Kore in after Julia showed her own ID and Kore's ID and Julia had to smile when Kore perked at seeing all the different dogs. She bent over to unclip Kore's leash, but Kore did not run. She looked at Julia with questioning in her eyes.

"This is a dog park," Julia explained to her disguised Hellhound. "You're free to play around here as long as you stay within the dog park."

Kore understood and nosed Julia's hand before she trotted off.

Julia sighed and folded up the leash as she found a place to sit. A few benches were close by and she took the one that had no others occupying it. Kore was off-put when a hyperactive pitsky tried to assert its dominance, but she put a stop to it with a show of teeth and feigning a quick move towards it that had it backing away. Julia snorted and shook her head. "Don't mess with a Hellhound." She took out her Compact to get back to the trial. It seemed the trial was having the jury deliberate at the moment, but the paparazzi and news anchors were desperately trying to get comments from all those that they could.

I hope everything's going okay, Julia prayed. Please come home safe, Gary. The video of the trial was interrupted when a call from Gale came through and she picked it up. "Hey. What do you need?"

"How do you know I even need anything?"

Julia raised an eyebrow as she watched Kore growl when a mastiff attempt to sniff her rear. "Considering you're out on an assignment, it means you need something. What is it?"

A grunt. "So I'm running a little behind so I'm switching up my plans. Do me a favor and sneak her second gift into her bedroom?"

"You want me to break and enter?" Julia's eyebrows raised but not because of the favor asked. She watched as Kore took avid curiosity to a perky Belnich Shepherd she recognized. The young male dog seemed to sense Kore was different and offered for her to sniff him first which she hesitantly complied to. "What part of misdemeanor do you not understand?"

"Stop being dramatic; it's not breaking and entering. Uncle Natsu knows and made sure to leave the spare key out. Just do it for me, okay, Lady J?"

Julia sighed. "And what do I get out of it?"

"Greedy ass. Fine. I'll take you to that fancy vegan place in Crocus. Deal?"

"Peaches?"

Julia shut her eyes and cringed. "Deal. Bye." She ended the call and cursed. "I just can't catch a break, can I?" With a longwinded exhale from her nose, she opened her eyes to see Dash approaching her, but he was not alone. A little girl wrapped her hand in his and she looked maybe no more than ten-years old. She had beautiful chai beige skin with a dust of freckles and had Dash's eyes, but orange hair in springy curls was around her, free and natural. Julia smiled when she saw the little girl and wiggled her fingers. "Hi, Iris."

Iris partially hid behind Dash. "Hi."

⌜TWIN TRITONIA CITY

Name: Iris Ross

Age: 9

Magic: Vector

Occupation: Student

Likes: dogs Dislikes: pickles

Special Note: Iris is Dash's half-sister and Jet's daughter! Unlike Dash and Jet, Iris can only control the position, velocity, and force of other objects and not herself!⌟

"Peaches." The relief was audible in Dash's tone. "I've been trying to call you—"

"I've been busy." Curt. Julia nodded as Wally coaxed Kore into playing. It was painfully obvious the Hellhound had never been raised for anything recreational. "Looks like your dog is trying to have fun with mine."

Dash's eyes widened as he looked over. "You have a dog? Since when?" He set Iris down onto the bench and took a seat besides Julia.

Julia wanted to move, but she held her ground either out of petty spite or something else. "I got her a little while ago." Not exactly a lie. Kore had followed her home only weeks ago. "Her name is 'Kore'. She's a mutt, but I love her."

"Where did you adopt her from?" Dash asked as he watched Kore take the bait, though she stutter-stopped when Wally darted away, confused. Wally circled back and tried to engage her to chase him again. "She's beautiful. How old is she?"

"I adopted her from the Magnolia APL," Julia said smoothly, "but the age was hard to guess. They said she could be around two-years-old to three." She sighed when Kore sat down and impressed her own puzzlement when Wally nudged her paw and darted away a few steps only to come back and nudge her again. "But with the way she acts, she could be a senior dog."

Kore cocked her head towards Julia to indicate she heard, and Julia felt a mental teething bite as retaliation.

"Well, Wally likes her," Dash commented, grinning when his shepherd did not give up on Kore. Wally got to his belly and crawled forward to Kore to nudge her paws with his nose. "I'm surprised she hasn't tried to bite him. He tends to annoy some dogs with how hyper he is, but, most of the time, he has manners."

Julia snorted. "Just as long as he doesn't start humping, I think Kore will be fine."

Dash snickered. "So, outside of getting a dog, what else have you been up to?"

The wall Julia had let down a little talking about Kore was brought back up and bolted so it would stay. "Nothing."

Dash sighed before he turned to Iris and extracted a bag of treats for her to take. "Iris, why don't you practice with Wally all his commands?" he proposed. "But you have to stay in my sights at all time. If Wally walks off, you come back to me, okay?"

"Okay." Iris took the treats and skipped over to Wally and Kore. The Belnich Shepherd perked and his tail wagged hard when he saw Iris, but Kore was more reserved.

Dash made sure Iris and Wally were well within his sights before he turned to Julia. "What happened at Miles' house—"

"Isn't my business." Julia sat back and crossed her legs. "What you and Amber have or do isn't my business, Eiji, I assure you. Because you and I had sex once means nothing else." She shrugged. "You and Amber have a toxic history. It's natural you'll comfort her on her bad choices in life. Exhibit A: trying to come onto Gale even when he refused."

"Which is something I confronted her on." Even Dash looked visibly put-off. "That stuff isn't acceptable on any grounds. Gale deserves an apology for that and for Amber to stay away from him."

Julia only tipped her head. "Amber never gives apologies unless they're to you. And, honestly, I don't think Gale wants an apology for her. He's already making sure they don't cross paths. And you better believe I will defend him over her on any day of the week—with or without you in her corner."

"I'm not in her corner," Dash claimed, exasperated. "That's what I've been trying to tell you. I shouldn't have comforted her. That was my mistake." His leg bounced, but unlike the normal person, his leg bounce made his entire leg blur—courtesy of his Magic. "I felt bad, which isn't an excuse, I know, but I did. She told me some personal things and her feelings and I guess I just felt bad I rejected her with everything else she has going on."

Julia had no sympathy. "Plenty of people come from worse divorced homes and are better people than she is," she reminded tartly. "You're one of them. Cane's one of them. Tesla came from an adoptive mom and she has a better personality. So excuse me if I find your speech lacking."

Some people would roll onto hard defense for Julia's lack of politeness. Others would become too frustrated to want to continue on a conversation. But Dash was neither one of those people. He took what she said into account and resonated with it. His leg's blurred form sharpened itself back to normal until it drew to a stop. "You're right," he agreed. "Amber has it good. She has two parents who love her, but she takes it for granted for no reason. I shouldn't empathize with someone who disrespects their parents like that." He looked over at Julia. "And you're right about you and me. We aren't dating or in a relationship. But we're still friends, Peaches. And our friendship is important to me."

Julia cut her eyes to his, still icy. "I'm listening."

"I'm sorry for the way things have been going," Dash apologized. "I want you to know Amber's no longer invited to the stuff our group does. Once you left and the pieces fell together, the group decided it's better if she doesn't come anymore. If we can't trust her to act like a decent person towards one of us, then we can't trust her. And I talked to Amber that until she shapes up, I don't want any part of my friendship with her." A shake of his head. "I'm sorry for hurting your feelings that night; I am, Peaches."

"Don't worry about it." That icy resolve melted a little bit. "I'm being a little bit of a bitch too," supposed she. Bumping his shoulder, she murmured, "Our friendship is important to me too. Thank you for standing up for Gale. I know he says it doesn't bother him, but I know it bothered him once he sat down and thought about it. But he's had a lot going on, so…"

"Yeah, so I noticed." Dash smiled when Wally nudged the treat Iris offered him for the paw shake to Kore. Kore took a sniff and was unimpressed, leading Wally to try and nudge it towards her again. "How long is he gone this time around?"

"Just today," Julia breathed. "He saw Livy off this morning and now he's on an assignment which means, now, I get the honor of bringing one of Luna's presents to her house."

Dash parroted, "'One of'?" A snort. "Dude really wants to make it special, huh? Normally, I wouldn't care, but considering his feelings and her boyfriend…" He slid his hands on his thighs. "But, well, it's not my business. Want me to give you a ride to his house then to the Dragneel's?"

"Sure." Julia smiled knowingly. "But since you have Iris, this means we're not doing anything non-biblical."

"Jet has Iris," Dash reminded. "I have to take her back to his place for her dinner which means anything is possible. Everyone says the best way to make-up is through sex."

Julia laughed. "Yes. Whores like you and Cane say that to get into a woman's pants." Shaking her head, she wondered, "How's his black eye, by the way? We all warned him if he kept trying with Tesla, Jax wouldn't hesitate and look what happened." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Dear god, when Tesla tried to help him, my panties were shaking with the look Jax gave her. I don't understand how she can manage it."

"Cane had it coming," Dash sighed. "But it's freaky watching Jax get violent." A simper escaped him. "Speaking of which, everyone was sorely disappointed Jax and Gary weren't on the provincial league hockey team this year for the Grand Winter Games."

"And by 'everyone', you mean pretty much every single or taken woman." Julia shook her head in revulsion. "Ugh, it's so gross. You know how many times girls tell me 'oh-em-gee, your brother is so hot' and I'm like, 'no, I do not think my brother is hot because that's wrong'." She arched her back to crack her spine. "Already girls are getting so angry Gary's off the market since Nashi came out about her relationship with him."

Dash sobered. "It's insane what's going on," he acknowledged. "I never thought Nashi would be into bestiality." He shivered. "Kinda gross."

Julia withheld her tongue from anything rude and forced herself to keep calm. "I guess so, but it's her life," she said meaningful. "And Gary has no problem with it. We shouldn't judge them for their relationship choices." Time for a topic change. "Speaking of relationships, what's the actual deal with Cane and Tesla? I know for a fact Tesla would never cheat on Jax."

"Nah, it's nothing like that." The pair of them watched as Kore lied down, bored, and Iris and Wally took to staying by her side. "You know Cane's an antagonist. Well, I guess, before Jax and Tesla got together, Cane…might have fooled around with her—"

Julia gasped and hit Dash's arm. "No…! Oh my god, this is making so much sense!" A thought occurred to her and she hissed as she cringed. "Oh, yeah, that black eye was definitely called for if he's seen her naked and kept taunting Jax. Jesus, what was he thinking?"

Dash made a noncommittal noise. "He wasn't thinking. His dick was thinking." He messed with his hair. "Not like they had sex, but, well, you know Jax." He cocked his head. "Honestly, the dude's a total mystery. Who in the Hell turns down being an S-Class Mage? Especially with his talent?"

"That was a big upset," Julia remembered. "I don't think anyone in Fairy Tail's history turned down the chance to be S-Class. All Gary said was Jax had a good reason and he was fine right where he was." A one-shoulder shrug. "Whatever. Neither one of them make any sense, but we deal with them anyways." Getting to her feet, she did not even need to call Kore for her Hellhound to perk and trot over to her with Wally itching for her attention and Iris bringing up the rear. She bite back her laugh when Kore impressed bewilderment for Wally's actions. Aloud, she told Kore," Look, Wally likes you. You have a friend."

Kore stood still when Julia clipped on her leash as Wally prodded the side of her muzzle with his nose. But something in Kore snapped and she unearthed a growl at the poor Belnich Shepherd that had Wally jump away. But rather than him walk away and know he pushed too far, he tried his hand again and, this time, slower.

"Or maybe not," Dash chuckled as he clipped Wally's leash. He scratched behind Wally's ear. "Sorry, buddy, but you can't be friends with everyone." He tugged Wally back when he ignored his owner's words to try and get close to a tense Kore. "Ah-ah! Sit!"

Wally sat.

"Sorry," Dash apologized as he patted Wally's side. "He's just excited."

"Not a problem. Kore is a little stuck up." Julia smirked when Kore huffed. "Are you sure you'll have room for her and I?"

"Iris, Wally, and I walked her from my place," Dash explained. "I'll drop off Wally at my apartment and we'll take Iris to Jet's house before we go to Gale's." He crouched down to be eye level with his little sister. "Is that okay with you?"

"Are you coming to dinner?" Iris hoped.

But Dash shook his head. "Nah, not this time," he told her. "I'm sure Jet wants to spend time with you on his holiday." He poked Iris' forehead when she pouted. "But I promise I'll come get you tomorrow so we can go to Toys-For-Me and the Magia Store bright and early, okay?"

Iris smiled to show she was missing a tooth. "Awesome! I can't wait!" She grabbed the leash from Dash's hand. "Come on, Wally! Let's go back to Dad's house!"

Wally barked and padded alongside Iris as she led him back to the gates with Dash and Julia and Kore following. Julia side-eyed Dash. "So what's going to happen for Christmas? Are you going to Jet's for it?"

"Nope. I'm heading out to my mom's house."

"Really?" That intrigued Julia. "I thought you weren't a fan of your siblings over there."

"Step siblings," Dash corrected, making a face. "And not really. But my mom begged for me to come over for Christmas, so I am after Iris opens her presents. I'll drop her off at her mom's before I head over to mine. But I warned her if Thing One and Thing Two so much as look at me the wrong way, I'm out."

Julia nodded. "Fair. You step-brother and step-sister are…well, disgusting." She patted his wrist. "Good luck. You'll need it."

"You'll need it too."

"What? Why?"

"Because"—Dash gave her a broad grin—"if they piss me off, I'm taking it out on you in more ways than one." And he laughed until he choked when Julia punched him in the stomach.

---

The Yule Ball or Yule Cotillion was nothing short of wondrous winter wonderland. Whites and blues and silvers graced the grand ballroom with interactive ice sculptures and magicked snowflakes. The stone knights that guarded the circular hall had been decorated with garland and tinsel, but they would activate on silent command if a threat arose too great for the military to handle. Unlike at the ball at the end of the Grand Magic Games, because nobility across Fiore and celebrities had been expected, tables had been set up with assigned seating and a four-course meal that you selected from the menu offered. The bouquets were a mixture of wintry flowers and actual flowers made of ice alongside candles that smells of spruce and pine and arctic nights. An entire orchestra and a few guest singers had been offered their own stage for the event. Waitstaff had been dressed in black and silver, but they were allowed to wear Santa hats or reindeer antlers if they so choose.

All the ministers had made an appearance with their partners or dates and would be sitting with the queen alongside interim Prime Minister Arcadios and a few others higher up in the hierarchy. Mest had made an appearance with Aella as his date and both were laughing as Natsu grew desperate for the sweet-smelling food he could scent. Warrod had come to the event alongside the infamous Jura Kneekis who had brought along Lupita from the Lamia Scale Guild who came in a sleek gold one-shouldered dress. Guild Masters had been invited and some had sent representatives in their place while others came on their own. Goldmine had made an appearance and Bacchus whereas Kagura had come in place of her Guild Master. Bob from Blue Pegasus had retired long ago, but he had come as a testament to his status in the Magic Community and had brought along Blue Pegasus' new Guild Master.

The Royal Announcer made sure everyone who walked through the great doors were properly announced in name and in title and one of the escorts made sure they were taken to their seats. Everyone was announced.

Except…

"I so can't wait until I can be announced," Luna grumbled from her seat.

"Would you quit moving?" Ena ordered. "You're going to ruin your look."

Ena had outdone herself for Luna's look for the evening. The well-controlled tutu dress in a pale sky blue, but up the dress crawled snowflakes and ice crystals that, when the ice crystals reflected, could be seen Ena's signature. She had magicked the fabric for each spin Luna had done, the snow and ice would eat away at the pale sky blue as though crystalizing her into the ice queen herself. Ena had even sticked on a fading cape forged of translucent white so when Luna walked, it was as if a wintry breeze trailed behind her. Luna's blonde tressed had been swirled artistically into a chignon with complimentary side locks to frame her face and Ena had even crafted for her a little three-pointed crown made of silver. But the mask was what Ena was happily proud of. She had gone with the classic Colombia-style masquerade mask for Luna, but it was only half a mask crafted in white and embroidered with crystalized silver like the snow itself fell upon her face. But the best part was the spell Ena had woven in that not only changed Luna's eyes to a simple blue, but the mask was spelled to convince anyone near that she was unrelated to Natsu and Luke.

Ena, herself, had not wanted anything flashy since her red hair made her stand out enough, but Luna had convinced her otherwise. So, she conspired to make herself a Santa-theme dress crafted of a red velvet with white faux fur on the short cape she had given herself. She had allowed two dress skirt slits, but the purpose of those slits was to make sure she could still breath once the ball was underway and to allow people to see the duchess satin she had sewed inside the dress. Her red hair had been pinned into a Gibson tuck and a veil had been tucked in of a snowy white to match the faux fur.

Luna sighed. "Sorry. And I'm sorry you couldn't be announced. I mean you could have—"

"But not without you." Ena shook her head. "L, it's both of us or neither of us. Seriously, I don't care that I didn't get announced. I'm just happy people kept stopping you to ask about your ensemble." She lifted her chin with pride. "And, naturally, I got a few business cards and gave them a few of my own. You being mysterious to all these people really helps. The mask makes you stand out." She clapped for herself. "Your fashion designer is a brilliant lady."

Luna giggled. "She is and I love her."

"And she is your exclusive designer."

"Obviously," Luna teased. "I don't want to be a fashion disaster."

"That's my favorite model," Ena quipped back.

A mutter. "Even the bathrooms are fancy. Sheesh."

Ena and Luna looked up to see Silver had returned in his suit. He had brought along the suit he would be wearing for the Fairy Tail Masquerade, but Ena had been hellishly insistent he not leave their suit without her sprucing it up to match the aesthetic and had appropriately chosen Jack Frost as inspiration. His suit jacket was a natural navy with black cuffs, but Ena had sewed in her Magic to make cyan snowflakes that dribbled down Silver whenever he moved and froze when he was still. He had opted for a tie, but Ena had brought along prototype bowties (more for Luke's sake than anyone else's) and paired him with a black bowtie with white outlined aspen leaves.

"Of course they're fancy! We're in a palace!" Luna reminded him.

Silver harrumphed. "But I felt so poor…!"

"And you'll keep feeling poor until you make something of yourself," Ena supposed as she took a sip of her champagne.

Silver growled. "You…"

Silver's insult was cut off when Luke sat next to his sister. His hair had been slicked back, and, while he had been skeptical Ena could make a suit from him tailored to the yuletide them, Ena had taken up the challenge by designing him a metallic floral suit dedicated to poinsettias with pops of that same pink of Luke's hair color and a metallic pink bowtie to pull it all together. He had once again forgone his glasses so everyone could see his dark eyes. "Dad's busy mingling meaning he's trying to bribe someone to let him sneak some fire." He gave an eye roll when Luna giggled. "Her Majesty should be coming out soon to welcome everyone to the dinner." He looked at their predominantly empty table. It had been strategically done this way so Natsu could be accommodate with his monstrous appetite as well as the flames they would be presenting him.

Igneel should be here, Luke thought, and Mom and Nashi too… He looked up to see Luna had touched his arm with understanding in her blue eyes.

"You okay?" Luna murmured.

"Yes," Luke got out gruffly. "Just got caught up for a second."

Luna's eyes roamed over the table. "I miss him too," murmured she. "But as long as he's safe, that's all we can ask for, right?"

"Right," Luke sighed.

Luna leaned in closer to her brother and whispered, "Have you seen any more of the trial? Mama called me to wish me a happy birthday and she told me the trial was going well, but I wasn't able to watch yesterday or today."

"I haven't." That disturbed Luke. "I'll probably duck out early to see find it and watch the highlights. Did Nashi go on the stand?"

Luna nodded sagely. "She did, but Mama said she only wanted me to watch today's highlights." She frowned. "I kept asking why I couldn't watch what happened yesterday, but she just said it's better if Nashi tells me herself—whatever that means. But she said you should be able to watch it." She then inquired, "Could you tell me what happens?"

"I'll do my best," Luke assured, though distracted. Why wouldn't Mom want Lu to watch the trial? What happened? How could I have not seen the rest? He picked up his champagne. What's wrong with me?

Eventually, once everyone had been announced, fingers foods were served alongside fruity cocktails and sweet winter-inspired drinks. The orchestra were playing a majestic holiday overture for the guests as people talked politics and ventures and finances. At one point, Gigi had surprised Ena and offered Silver a kind smile before dashing Ena off to meet the nobles who had been fawning over the designer of Luna's dress. Natsu spoke on behalf of him and Lucy, but he still snacked on whatever was in reach, much to the honored guests' distaste. Luna and Silver battled out the hour together by walking around, bowing and curtseying to the right people with Silver introducing himself and Luna introducing herself as—

"Layla Heartland?" Silver murmured. "Seriously?"

"It's what my mama made me pick out for my name," Luna grumbled, clearly put-out. "And E changing my eye color was also the agreement for me to actually come here. I'm supposed to be a student from Mama and Granny Anna's school—"

"Saint Layla's School of Starcraft." Silver patted Luna's arm in consolation. "At least you can say you're celebrating your birthday at the palace. Not anyone can say that. Even the queen herself came to present to you your birthday present from her and Lady Madelia."

Luna smiled at the close memory. "That's true. Normally, for my birthday, we would spend it in Magnolia. Which was fine," she rushed to add. "But it's so weird how everything's changed. I left Magnolia and I've been to all these cities"—and I've been to another country, she would not add aloud—"and now I'm at the palace? It's such a rush! How do you guys not get so caught up in it?"

"It's easy when it's your life," Silver supposed. "I mean it's not like I'm leaving Magnolia all the time. But since I was nine, my parents and even Gary took me out on smaller jobs they'd do to get me in the feel of it. And then, when I joined Fairy Tail at ten, I was used to navigating everything. Going to new cities wore off a little bit since then."

Luna sighed. "I feel so lazy," she quietly admitted. "I remember Nashi and Luke and Igneel were always out on jobs and making new friends and doing all this and even Papa tells me he was barely in Magnolia when he was my age."

"My dad said the same," Silver confessed. "But he also said it was different back then. With all the tech we have and all the new stuff coming out, our parents want us to do all the stuff they couldn't to. Like swim team." He rolled his eyes. "Oh my god, I love my mom, but god, she is so loud at my meets! And I know she does it to support me. But I also know she was happy I like swimming on team because she had wanted to do it when she was younger. Oh!" He thought of another example. "And look at Gary."

"What about him?"

"Well, look at what he does," Silver told. "Not his art stuff, but I mean like hockey with the Guild Provincial League and skating and stuff. Dad's a natural on skates, but Gary told me Dad never really explored it since he was a little too busy battling it out with super bad guys and saving worlds to do normal stuff."

Luna laughed. "How does the most reckless guild in Fiore save the country and a whole 'nother dimension?"

"Right?" Silver laughed alongside her. "For real, though, it's pretty crazy all the stories our parents tell us, y'know? But I guess that's why they push us so hard now. They don't want us to be caught up in fight after fight for our lives. They just want us to have normal lives." A snort. "Honestly, it sounds pretty cool to be fight Dragons and monsters and save countries and be the hero and stuff."

Luna hummed and she imagined Shenlong the Sea King in her mind. Well, Shenlong's not that much of a fighter. With a shiver, she remembered the awful Black Dragon she and Gale had encountered during the past. But I definitely wouldn't want to fight Dragons. And saving the past and the present and a whole country is a lot more tiring. She internally sweatdropped. And my parents did this regularly?

"But that hero stuff doesn't seem for me."

Luna popped out of her thoughts to tip her head in Silver's direction. "Why do you say that?"

A one-shouldered shrug. "I don't know. I just don't feel like I'm very heroic." Silver's eyes touched the floor. "Heroes don't dish low blows like that to guildmates."

Now Luna rubbed Silver's arm. "You shouldn't have brought up something that sensitive to her, no. But at least you apologized and didn't try making excuses." She bumped him with a smile. "Just try not to upset E again, okay? I don't think you and her sword need to be best friends any time soon."

Silver chortled. "Yeah. Crazy witch might impale me one of this days. Oh, that reminds me. What exactly happened when you were on the ground like that?" He noticed how red Luna's face was turning at an alarming rate and grinned. "What, did someone send you something a little racy, Lulu?"

No, but I saw something racy, Luna wanted to say. But I don't think you'd believe me if I told you. She was saved from answering when the lights flashed twice and someone brought everyone's attention to the stage where one of the Royal Announcers was on stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats," the announcer decreed. "Dinner shall start in fifteen minutes once Her Majesty has arrived." Seats were taken and conversation lulled once the orchestra gave their tuning A and the lights dimmed. The trumpets started their starting fanfare as the Royal Announcer said: "Presenting Her Majesty Hisui—Queen of Fiore."

Everyone moved to their feet once more as the orchestra and the singers crooned the Fiore National Anthem as the spotlights condensed onto the overhanging box seating that. Hisui was revealed in a beautiful pale green tutu dress with an elegant train and a sheer cape with the Fioren crested sewed in gold. Long sleeve gloves of satin white and her crown own and polished, she smiled at the applause and waved at her people.

"Gigi made that," Ena whispered to Luna, overly pleased. "My mentor is amazing!"

Once the national anthem had finished, Queen Hisui spoke and let her voice ring around the hall: "My friends and esteemed guests, I am delight to welcome you to Mercurius Palace this evening for this yuletide season. Visits by friends around this nation and others always reminds me of friendship and peace between peoples and prosperity and I am so relieved we have another opportunity to exchange cultures and demonstrate the immense importance of togetherness." She gestured around the hall. "Please, drink, be merry, and let us enjoy this night to inspire friendship and harmony."

The orchestra started up again and the dinner had commenced. The appetizers, soups, and salads came and Silver, Ena, Luke, and Luna shared baked biscuit wreath dip, fried mashed potato balls, stuffed mushrooms, and Christmas brie while Natsu was salivating at the endless food he had been given (and ignored the nobility whom looked horrified of his appetite). Hisui had long since come down to be seated alongside the ministers at their semi-circle long table and spoke with her ministers and made sure Lady Madelia had her at the table. It surprised many people when Draculos appeared out of nowhere with his poor assistant Iris dashing in and startling the Royal Announcer of her quick presence. He took his seat with Iris as the semi-circle and ignored the distasteful looks the minsters and other Spiritless nobility gave him.

Finally, before dinner was set, a glass was clinked and all attention was turned to the queen and her ministers. Hisui had risen from her seat with her flute of champagne and a kind smile on her face. "Friends, please raised your glasses with me." When she saw everyone did so, she continued, "We toast to a fruitful winter and to allow ourselves to spread the love and wealth we have all experienced this year unto others. Many of you have come near and far to join my table and I could not be happier having such friends. We toast to the jewel raised tonight to aid struggling families in this time in hopes we give them this very happiness that we have. And we toast to the celebration of this year, of our trials and failures, of our losses and victories—and"—her eyes fluttered to Luna—"of growth for the young and in hopes they prosper even more so than we have done."

Luna's smile widened.

Hisui looked at her ministers. "I have severe gratitude to my ministers to whom I have undoubtedly relied in during times of crises. And"—she aimed her smile at Draculos—"I am grateful to have such a strong friendship to Magic Council Chairman and Lord Magic-Speaker Draculos who has guided me through succession. I am thankful to every person in my kingdom for their support, for their love, for their opinions—for my people are the core of my strength. This ball is not just a celebration of the holidays or religion or of presents or charity. This ball is a reuniting of passion and relationships—and I am so very thankful you are all here to share it with me." She lifted her glass. "A toast to Fiore!"

"To Fiore!" the audience chorused and glasses clanged and tingled before people took their respective sips.

"Now let us enjoy a feast from the finest chefs Fiore has to offer!" Hisui announced.

Dinner came by in such an extravagant way. Meats and fish and plant alternatives of all kinds had been prepared and cooked for this ball with a plethora of starch and vegetable sides all tailored for the season. Natsu had been given his own fire to devour and munched on it happily. Luna had been enormously happy she had been given one of her favorite dishes that had not been on the menu and a little note had been passed on to her from her godmother. Silver had surprised himself and Ena when he offered for her to try one of his sides that she had not gotten and she had accepted the offer to find the food delicious and had to gush about to Luna, which meant she did not see the little blush Silver had on his cheeks. Aaron and Arcadios were in a deep discussion while Hisui made sure Madelia had everything that she had needed.

During dinner, the guests were delightedly entertained with professional dancers from the National Ballet of Fiore performed themes from The Nutcracker Suite. Luna was entranced the entire time as she watched the dancers. Opera and classical singers had performed as well to be given ardent applause. The conductor even had the audience join in with silly bits he and the orchestra had planned. Dessert had come and gone with Ena pleased as punch with the chocolate cake she received while Luke sweatdropped how fat his father had gotten from the endless array of food he had been spoiled with.

And then, at last…

The Royal Announcer decreed: "We shall now commence the first dance of the cotillion. Presenting Her Majesty Hisui, Queen of Fiore, and Aaron Marignano, Defense Minister of Fiore."

Aaron stood first and bowed low as he extended a hand to Hisui. She took it with a soft beam and allowed him to lead her to the ballroom floor. The spotlight had caressed them as they got to the center and Aaron knelt to kiss her knuckles. "You look beautiful tonight, Your Majesty," he murmured. "I am grateful to have you for a partner."

"There's no need to bow to me," Hisui told him.

"But there is," Aaron insisted kindly. "You are the ruler of this nation, a representation of hope and peace for your people." He rose to his feet as dark eyes connected with jade. "How could one not bow before such a worshipped symbol?"

"You're far too kind, Aaron," Hisui sighed. "You are giving me credit where it isn't due."

"Your Majesty, if I may"—Aaron shifted them both into their first positions for their waltz—"you don't give yourself enough credit for being the sword this country needs."

Before Hisui could say anything back, she caught the conductor looking at her for approval and inclined her head. The conductor set for a one-two-three twice before he gestured to the first violin to start. The waltz melody was carried by the first violin in a mournful song that stretched and echoed a loneliness. The bass clarinet offered one-beat-per-measure consistency for the violin to know its pace while the harpsichord and French horns peeked in-between. Aaron led Hisui into a basic waltz that would circle the entire ballroom. As the orchestra added instruments to the haunting melody the violin had given them, it was as if this whimsical song had spun Magic around the room as the walls projects snowflakes and ice crystals that languidly took to circling the room and sparkling off the chandelier.

The chorus rushed in with a flurry and the countermelody struck just as the winds climbed down from the upwards run of which they accompanied the strings. Now the brass had taken over the melody while the strings worked on a countermelody and the other woodwinds strung together a harmony to tie it altogether. The harpsichord was the backbone of the waltz with its running eight notes that followed both melody and harmony.

Aaron spun Hisui and the audience was dazzled as Magic ate away at her large tutu dress until she was left with an embroidered mint green long-sleeve tulle ballroom dress with a sweetheart neckline. Even Aaron had been caught unawares and could only grin when he saw Hisui's own to match his.

Luna's eyes were comically wide and she looked over at a proud Ena. "Did you do that?" she whispered.

Ena leaned in to whisper back, "I had an NDA. Gigi told me he wanted to add some flare to Her Majesty's dress. He said he'd record it for me, but I never thought I'd get to see it in person."

Manners be damned, Luna reached over to hug her best friend. "I am so proud of you, you know that?" she whispered fiercely. "That was amazing and you are amazing and I hope you never stop designing."

"Never," Ena promised as she hugged Luna back. She caught Luke's eyes and he mouthed, That was awesome, Bambi. She giggled and mouthed back, Thank you. A finger tapping her shoulder pulled her away from Luna, and she looked over to see Silver had done it for her attention. "Yes?"

Silver swallowed. "I just… I wanted to say." He blew out a breath and mustered a small smile. "What you do is pretty unbelievable. I'm sorry I made fun of you for it. You're really incredible."

Ena blinked, taken aback by the compliment. But she accepted his words with an acquiescing nod and smile. "Well, to be fair, I didn't even know you were on a swim team and you're swimming against high schoolers. Jasper told me all about the records you hold and the amount of gold medals you have—"

"When did he tell you that?" Silver asked, bewildered.

"When we were in the closet that night," Ena replied. "I asked him some questions about the team and told him I didn't even know you were on me. He filled me in." She shrugged and took a sip of her champagne. "You have quite a good friend on your hands. He speaks very highly of you." And she turned to watch the performance in which she did not see the befuddlement on Silver's face.

He blinked twice. They talked about…me?

The waltz ended in an uproar of applause. Aaron walked Hisui forward and she curtsied for the audience then he went to bow. Both of them gestured to the orchestra who stood and bowed for their crowd and the first violin and harpsichord player were honored as soloists. Lady Madelia came forward with a Microphone Lacrima for Hisui and the queen spoke to her people, "Now, friends, please join the floor at your leisure for more performances by my esteemed guests: the Fiore Philharmonic Orchestra."

Everyone applauded once more as Aaron guided Hisui back to her seat as Arcadios took the floor with his date to start the second waltz. The Swan Lake started with gentle strings. Nobles and parliament members had joined the floor with applause for each new pairing. Mest had roped a reluctant Aella into a dance. Iris had been surprised when a familiar young man had come to sweep her away for a dance and Draculos have his amused approval when he saw how flustered she had become. Aaron denied the requests for dances unlike his fellow ministers who took to dancing with their partners in stride. Natsu chatted with some exuberant Magic-enthusiasts who wanted to talk shop about Natsu's strategy during the Grand Magic Games last summer and about Nashi's words during the trial.

Luna sighed as she watched the couples waltzing to the beat. "I wish I could be over there."

"Then, I'll make it happen."

Luna looked up when Luke had risen and offered his hand. She glanced over at their preoccupied father. "Are you sure?"

"It's your birthday and we are at one of the biggest parties in Crocus. I think Mom and Dad understand." Luke took her by the hand. "And I want my little sister to dance with me. Will you give me the honor, fair princess?"

Luna giggled and rose to her feet. "Why of course, my prince." She let her brother lead her onto the dance floor and in the sea of fluttering dresses and radiant smiles.

°•°•°•°

Ena watched the two with a sigh. "I'm happy L gets to celebrate her birthday like this. I know she dislikes she can't be herself, but it's for her own good." She nursed water this time around. "Still, not many people can say they celebrated their birthday here out of all places or that their godmother is the queen of Fiore." She shook her head and smiled as Luna led Luke in the waltz. "Honestly. Fairy Tail Mages have a thing for celebrating in style, huh?"

Silver did not respond. He was too busy caught up in his own thoughts. They talked about me and I got mad at Fernandes. What's wrong with me? I had no right to get mad at her. She's been a great friend to Lulu… Her fashion designs… They're incredible. He swallowed thickly. She's never done anything wrong to me. I mean she might call me names and stuff, but it was never serious. She even wanted to help me with Paige. Maybe… Maybe…

"Fernandes?"

Ena did not spare him a glance. She was too transfixed on Luna. "What?"

Silver fidgeted. "L-Look, I know…we're not 'friends' or anything, but, um… I, um…" He hated how sweaty his palms had gotten. It was worse for him being a Water Mage. Unlike his mother, who could make tsunamis in her rage, when he was anxious, he subconsciously turned parts of his body to water. And he desperately did not want to do that right now. "Would you…? Would you maybe want to…?" He started again, "Would you care to—?"

"Darling!"

Ena turned around and beamed when she saw Gigi and his entourage. "Gigi!"

Gigi turned to his entourage. "Everyone, this is Miss Ena Fernandes, the designer I've been raving about all night." He held his hand out to Ena. "Come, darling, I have some people who are interested speak about the mind behind that transforming dress." He winked. "And a few who are looking for their own."

"Wouldn't want to keep them waiting." Ena took his hand and told Silver, "I'll be back, okay? Watch over my things?" With that, she put on her best smile as Gigi introduced her to the nobility just vying for her attention…

…and left behind crestfallen Silver slightly angry at himself.

°•°•°•°

As Luke twirled Luna back into him, she surmised, "Impressive. Have you been watching my dancing?"

"You're not the only one Mom made learn how to dance," Luke reminded. "We all just didn't take it to your level." A disturbed look crossed him. "And Aunt Virgo and Uncle Capricorn were completely menaces. I'm just grateful I survived their lessons." He smiled when Luna laughed. "But you're enjoying your birthday, right? Sans the façade and everything."

"I am. I really am, I promise," Luna affirmed. "I mean I miss Mama and Nashi and Igneel, but they all have work to do. And Igneel did leave me a birthday present, So I can't complain." She searched his eyes. "How are you really doing, Luke?"

Luke gave a longwinded exhale. "I don't know." Truth be told. "It's just… Everything moved so fast and so slow at the same time. And not having Igneel around anymore while he does who knows was a low blow; I'm not gonna lie." Anguish marred his features. "I was hurt. I was angry. There was so much I hadn't told him. I was still upset with him for doing something as dangerous as he did with Dimaria. What he risked. I was still worried about him after everything at the Harvest Festival. And now? I'm worried as heck for him being out there. I know he's done solo jobs before, but… Not like this. Not like him leaving and we can't even reach him."

"I know," Luna said, voice hushed. "I know, Luke."

Luke gave a shaky breath. "He's not just my brother—he's my best friend. And he just…left…"

Whispers of shadows.

"It's like…he just didn't care…"

A choking smell of sulfur—of the flames of despair.

Black spread on the back of Luke's hair as his eyes darkened. "He just left us behind like we didn't matter… He's my brother, Lu. Why couldn't he just tell me?" His mouth moved as his canines extended. "Why did he just leave?"

Whispers fanned to giggles fanned to hisses and gurgles.

A warm hand spread onto Luke's cheek.

Raging black connected with sincere blue.

"Luke," Luna startled softly and had paused them mid-dance, "Igneel won't be gone forever. He'll come home. He'll come back to us. You believe that. But you're hurt and that's okay too." A kindred sadness burned in her eyes. "You don't have to be okay all the time, Luke. Angry or not, sad or not—it's okay. It's okay to not be okay. We're still here for you. So please don't be upset alone."

Luke blinked. The weight around him, that indescribable pressure, that need that he could not place—it vanished. The darkness in his eyes brightened as a warmth he did not know he had missed thrummed in his chest. The black that ate at his hair quickly retreated to let his hair flourish under pink. Honeyed amber returned to his eyes as the breath that was stolen to him came back. He blinked again and the world blurred. "Luna?"

Luna cocked her head, confused. "Um, yeah…? Are you okay?" She inspected him closer. "Huh… Your eyes are back to normal."

"My…eyes…?" Luke pulled a hand to touch his face and flinched. "Where are my glasses? Why aren't I wearing them?"

"Oh, um, they're at the table in my clutch and because you said you didn't need them," Luna told him, perplexed. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Luke squinted his eyes, unused to the blurriness he saw. "Uh, yeah, yeah, I am. Just my eyes hurt. And I think I'm starting to get a headache." He gestured to the tables. "Are you okay if we get my glasses and come back?"

"Oh, sure! That's fine—!"

But they were stopped when someone tapped Luke's shoulder. Both brother and sister turned to see—

Luna's eyes widened. It's him…

A man stood before them dressed to the nines and steeped in black, from his tailcoat, to his cape, to his white-eyed black mask. But gold had accented the black and brought out his air of regality. Taking off his top hat, he bowed low at Luna and offered his gloved hand to her in a gesture for a dance.

Luke could barely see a thing, but he got the gist of what was happening. "Or you could stay here and dance with this, um…gentleman?" He could not see how shaken Luna looked beyond the fuzziness. "Is that okay?"

Luna swallowed as she stepped away from Luke to observe the bowing gentleman before her. "It's fine." Realizing her voice came out in a whisper, she said louder, "It's fine. Do you need help getting back to the table?"

Luke snorted. "I'm part blind, but I can still see shapes." He patted Luna's shoulder. "Just look at me when you're ready to switch partners." He left without a backwards glance. But I have a feeling you won't want to.

Luna could not stop staring at the man before him. It's him…from the Hallow's Eve Spell-tacular! Cane told me he didn't perform with me. But if that's true, then… She whispered to the man, "I know you were the one who danced with me. Who are you?"

But the man did not answer. He just bowed lower to her.

Luna gulped. "If I dance with you, will you tell me?"

The man lifted his chin to cock his head.

A deep breath. "Okay." Luna curtsied like she was taught before lifting herself and taking her hand into his firm one. Her breathing hitched when the man drew to his full height. She knew she was short, but he made her feel that difference with his height. He was not too tall, but to her, she knew the top of her head came up to his chin.

The conductor gave a sharp one-two-three-one-two-three and the downbeat struck.

Luna knew from the first downbeat of the timpani and the throatily low harmonics of the strings that this was the Masquerade Waltz and she remembered the steps like she was taught. She saw couples had changed and some pairings stayed together as they bowed and curtsied to another and took up their first positions.

LUB-DUB…

Why is my heart beating so fast? Luna whispered to herself.

The waltz began, subtle and mischievous, and Luna held back her surprise when her partner mimicked the rise of her arms and his hand was at the right height for her to feather her own into while her other hand laid atop his arm. Movements kept light and floaty, they swirled with the other pairings and fell in line to the draw of the orchestra. The first spin came at ease and Luna fell back into the rhythm with her mysterious partner's guidance. But she was even more surprised when he remembered to spin her out alongside the other ladies of the hall and both of them allowed their free arm to sour before falling back together in a push and pull waltz. A smile touched her face when her partner spun them out for her flutter her arm into first position. She felt his gloved hand guide her waist and spin her back to him.

Who is he? Luna wanted to know. His hands… They just feel so familiar…

The waltz spun a tale of lighthearted mischief. It wove the story of the masquerade—the masks and the truth hidden beneath it. It showed the passion from the one trying to reveal the truth, uncover what was behind the mask. It depicted the one desperate for the truth behind swept away in the dazzlement of the festivities around them and could not keep track of the mask they were looking to claim. The orchestra swelled, and Luna giggled a little when her partner did the straight lift and caught his own little grin. The conductor stretched the beats to charge into the next refrain and Luna laughed freely as her partner kept her well within reach as she let the swell of sound carry her. That freedom and trust was not an easy feat anyone could accomplish. This trust, this liberation—it was only attained when your soul was shredded down and bonded with another.

Who is he? Luna wondered again. Why does he feel so familiar?

The mischief was back, but it climbed higher and higher. The finale was approaching!

Skirts twirled and heels spun as everyone approached the aggressive finale with the musicians. For Luna, she remembered the traditional steps, but, in her head, she remembered the alternatives steps she was taught. She was prepared to keep it traditional when her partner surprised her as he rolled her out.

He knows my dance?

Luna took it in stride as she walked around him and fell into the spins he set up for her, not realizing how eyes had flown to her dress as a snowy white and crystals crawled up the pale blue of her dress. He supported her through the lift and spun them both around until he guided her back to her feet for a longer spin that had people gasping as her pale blue was gone and she was dressed in white with crystal snowflakes. But she was too consumed in the dance to care. Her partner and her fell into one last one-two-three steps together until he twirled her and allowed her to step back and trust him to dip her one the final two big beats of the waltz.

Silence…

Then…

…thunderous applause.

Luna was brought back up, chest slightly heaving, but she took it with a well-rehearsed smile. Hand in her partners, they both did a thankful bow before turning to each other for a curtsey and bow respectfully. As Luna looked back up at her partner, she had to ask, "Who are you?"

But, much to her disappointment, her partner offered his arm instead of an answer.

Luna took it and allowed him to guide her off the ballroom floor as the next song began. Once they were away from people, Luna had no time to interrogate him when Ena came rushing up to her, excited. "I didn't know if we'd see the white, but it looks so amazing!" She took Luna's hand. "Come, come, come! Everyone wants me to talk about my process and I need my model!"

A moment of hesitation. "But—!" Luna looked back to see her partner had vanished…just like before. Shoulders sagging, she consented and let Ena guide her to the posse she and Gigi had accumulated.

°•°•°•°

Luke had taken to living the hall altogether with his glasses and Compact. The reception hall was a giant circle encompassing the ballroom where some had taken their conversations to more private affairs. From the large windows, you could see the glitz and glam and glow of the flowering palace, but much to Luke's happiness, another flurry had appeared. Not enough for snow, but it still made him happy. "Let's hope we have a white Christmas this year." He turned away from the windows to find the restroom.

Rubbing his forehead, Luke checked his messages then the rest of his notifications on his Compact. I feel so weird…and tired. I don't know; it's like… It's like part of me was asleep and now all of me is awake, but I'm still tired. It's weird. He went to his message thread to Mystogan and he had seen none of them had been answered or read. He typed out another one:

« Just wanted to check-in Sensei and make sure everything is okay. »

Luke found the restroom and used the facilities quickly. When he came out, he was not ready to go back to the ballroom just yet. Instead, he made himself at home at the complimentary velvet accent chairs away from the main crowd. Guards did routine sweeps for unsightly behavior and a few of the partygoers passed him with laughs and drinks in their hand. He tuned them out as he brought out his Compact once again and went to search the LacriNet. I can't believe I've been missing the trial. What's wrong with me? And why would Mom tell Luna not to watch it?

Luke found one of the Fioren streams to the trial with just the highlights. He selected ⟪ Mute ⟫, got the Minstrish captions, pressed play, and he watched…

…and watched…

…until…

Honeyed amber widened. How…? W-Why…? Why would they…? His hands shook as he read the captions, as he witnessed Nashi's face deteriorate into a stark whiteness until she could not take it anymore. N-No… They… They told the world that she… She was…

Whispers of shadows.

I don't understand. Why would they…? Why…? Honeyed amber darkened only just. The baby… They just… They… He gritted his teeth.

A choking smell of sulfur—of the flames of despair.

Those bastards, Luke seethed as his hands tightened on his Compact. They had no right to do that to Nashi. That was her pain alone. That was her story. And they just…! They just…!

DING-A-LING.

A rush of never-ending warmth.

"Please don't be upset alone."

The pressure rescinded. The darkness threatening his eyes was gone. The shaking quelled until he fell still.

Luke fell forward and shut his eyes. A deep, shaky breath. "Momentai…" Just breathing the word made him expel the rage that had burned like molten lava inside him. Eyes open and a clear honeyed amber, he paused the video. "I need to talk to Dad about this," he decided. "I…can't see the alone." He checked the time. "And I'll talk to Nashi when she gets back." He rose from his chair, more certain of himself. "It'll be okay," he told himself. "Deep breaths." He pocketed his Compact and moved away from—

Honeyed amber cut down the empty hall and he pivoted. "Who's there?" he demanded to know.

Nothing.

Nothing responded to him.

Luke did not trust it and he scanned the lone hallway. A presence… I know I just felt something just now… It was a split second, but I know it was there. And it had bad intentions. He searched one more time before he let his Zen Magic take over. He took off his glasses and allowed gold to consume his eyes. In the darkness he had been obscured to, he felt many vīryas around him and their colors, all delirious or greedy or kind, but no being in the vicinity had malicious intent. His eyes faded back to normal and he shoved his glasses on. Better keep alert just in case they're hiding.

Luke turned away and went back down the hall to go back to the ballroom.

But down the hall, further away, there was a heatwave that rippled in the middle of the air. A stray few particles of dust crossed the heatwave…

…to show behind the heatwave, a shadowed menace in a cloak and a mask was restrained with a knife against their neck by another cloaked person, short and fair. The knife pressed closer into the masked person's throat as words were hissed by the masked person's captor in a harsh brogue: "You are coming with me."

°•°•°•°

Luna smiled and nodded at all the compliments and remembered all the rehearsed answers she and her mother had gone over when they were on the Compact together.

"My girl, where on Earth Land did you learn how to dance so beautifully?"

"My mama is a dancer. My grandmama was her teacher and personally trained me in ballet and ballroom dancing."

"Where do you go to school?"

"I'm a second year at Saint Layla's School for Starcraft."

"Did you come with your family? We would love to meet them."

"No, my lady. I came as a representation to my mama's invitation to the ball. She is, unfortunately, sick at this time, so I accepted the invitation on her behalf."

But, at one point, Luna fell silent and allowed Ena to change her position so others could observe what she was taking about with all the processes she had done on the dress. Smiling but bored, Luna allowed her eyes to glance around until she locked eyes with Silver who seemed embarrassed he was caught for some reason. When Ena was showing the back of her dress, Luna mouthed to Silver, Come here.

Silver scrunched his brow and mouthed back, Why?

Luna gave him raised eyebrows and mouthed again, Come here.

Silver looked dismayed, but he did as she asked. She was whirled back around and smiled and nodded as Ena continued to speak and Gigi helped her along. Silver came to her side, eyes looking at the entourage curiously, and whispered to Luna, "What did you need me here for?"

But he was staggered when Luna took his hand and murmured to Ena, "Oh, Ena, darling, it would seem you have an admirer who would like to dance with the famous designer of my dress."

Ena paused and craned her neck to see it was only a blushing Silver. She was ready to shut him down, but she knew better than to be rude in front of company. Feigning a smile, she shook her head. "My apologies, but I'm in the middle of a conversation," she declined.

Much to Silver's mortification, Luna's glee, and Ena's misfortune, Gigi laughed and declared, "Ena, darling, let the poor boy dance with you. You look fabulous in your ensemble and everyone should see what it looks like fluttering about." He clapped his hands towards the other guests. "In the meantime, I suggest we continue our discussion over cocktails out in the lobby. My darling has your cards and she will get back to you about her rates." He winked at Ena and led the others away.

Ena squealed when they were out of earshot. "Did you hear that, L? I'll get back to them! That's so much power!"

"I'm so happy for you, E!" Luna hugged her best friend close. "And I'm so proud of you! Your mom's going to be so proud of you too!"

Ena pulled back with a wide beam. "I can't wait to tell her!" She pulled Luna so they could go back to the table. "I should go call her right now—!"

"After your dance with Silver."

Ena frowned and let go of Luna to confront her. "What are you—? Oh!" She did not expect Luna to shove Silver towards her or for the Prince of the Sea to lose his balance, but Ena was no stranger to flexibility, and she caught Silver only for him to flail, and, much to his shock, she ended up dipping him.

Silver sputtered. "Fernandes—!"

"L, I didn't come here to dance." Ena pushed Silver back to his feet (and both girls ignored his mutters about indecency and how boys should dip girls) and told Luna, "I came here to network. Dancing is your thing, not mine."

"Yeah, but you know the basics of ball room waltzing courtesy of moi," Luna tittered. "And Gigi said it himself. Go dance, girl! Enjoy the moment!" She pushed both her best friends towards the dance floor even as they protested. "Go on, go on! I am not taking 'no' for an answer! You both haven't danced all night and now is your chance, so get to it!" She held up a finger once they got back to the table and narrowed her eyes at Ena and Silver. "Hey! I'm the birthday girl. What I say? Goes. And you two did tell me no fighting, didn't you?"

Silver wanted to heave another protest when Ena deflated. "Fine…" she sighed. "Whatever you want."

"S-S-Seriously?!" Silver gasped.

Ena raised an eyebrow. "It is her birthday. We have to honor her wishes." She held out her hand with a small smile. "Come on, Fullbuster. A dance won't kill us."

Silver eyed the hand, then Luna's warning look, and he slipped his hand into Ena's. "Fine. But I'm leading."

Ena snorted as they walked away. "Like you would ever lead me."

Luna grinned to herself. Maybe my vision wasn't wrong after all. She stole her clutch and took a quick sip of water. "I feel sweaty. There's a powder room somewhere, right?" Taking her clutch with her, she picked up the skirt of her dress and carried herself out of the ball. She was able to meet her father's eyes once and pointed to the doors and he nodded and went back to catching up with Mest. She emerged from the ballroom and into the hall with a large breath. The hallway was noticeably cooler than the ballroom and she was relieved at that.

Luna walked down the hall, set to find the powder room, but her eyes caught the windows and she fell into awe as a soft gasp left her. She approached the glass and watched the flurry with sparkling eyes. The little flakes kissed the decorations the palace had been given, but even beyond that, you could see the elegance of Crocus and its string of red and green and white and blue and gold. She saw a square in the distance with a large Christmas tree with its golden star. Wow… Everything here is so pretty… Almost like what Bleu and I saw in NAC…

A frown marred her features. She took out her Compact, but she saw no texts or calls. I wonder where he is… He said… She sighed. "It doesn't matter what he said." Deciding to take advantage of this moment, she opened her Camera app and took a few steps back to capture the scene she saw before her. She tapped away with her teeth biting her bottom lip as she tried to get the right angle and frame for the view.

STEP… STEP… STEP…

A fangy grin. "Yo. Skippin' the party to take some pictures?"

Luna took another couple of shots before she decided to check them. "Yeah. I guess it's a little lame, huh?"

She froze.

Her eyes widened. No… But he said…

"Nah…"

Luna whirled around and those blues widened. It's him…

The grin widened. "You're just a rebel."

No… Luna stared up at the same man who had danced with her at the Hallow's Eve Spell-tacular and swept her off her feet; the same man who had waltzed with her like they had been doing so for months. It can't be… She shook her head as she took a few steps back only to hit the coolness of the glass window. Her bottom lip trembled. "Gale?"

A chuckle. "Looks like the secret is out." Gloves hand came up to remove the mask and show those vibrant rubies. "Happy birthday, Blondie."

Luna just… She could not believe it. "But… H-How…? N-Now and back then… You were…"

Gale twirled down his top hat and put his mask inside it. "I was." He stepped towards her. "It was me."

Luna shook her head. "That's not true. That's…not possible." She had to believe it was not possible. She had to. "Y-Y-You were gone. You said you were on a job. You… You didn't answer your Com…" So rattled. So confused. "You even said you hadn't made it on time—"

"I did," Gale admitted. "I didn't want you to know it was me."

"E would have told me," Luna inserted. "She would have told me—"

"I asked her not to."

But why?" Luna had to know. She needed to know. And she hated it. "Why did you…? Why did you do all that? Why are you doing things like this? And th-th-then you j-just show up here like it's nothing and you dance with me and then you just…! You just…!" Her words slowed when Gale laid a hand on her cheek. "You just… You just…"

Gale searched her eyes. "Take off the mask."

"No." A weak decline, but it was still one. "P-Papa said—"

"Take off the mask, Blondie." Gale tugged at the mask. "I wasn't asking."

Luna swallowed and shaky hands slid up her face. She closed her eyes and pulled the half-mask away from her face. She felt Ena's Magic leave her and almost missed it in a way. She could feel Gale take the mask from her, but she could not—

"Open your eyes, Blondie."

Luna shivered when those words hit her eyes. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because this isn't happening," Luna decided in a whisper. "This isn't happening and you aren't in front of me. You're on a job and you said you'd call me. You're not here."

"Principessa." Hands fluttered over her hand line then massaged her cheek. "Look at me."

It was so hard to ignore a command like that. Luna drew her eyes open and intense ruby burned into vulnerable chocolate. "Why are you here?" Luna whispered. "Why you?" Her eyes slid away from him. "No. Don't answer that—"

"I brought one of your presents with me."

Astonished, Luna watched with wide eyes when Gale took a step back to procure a box from inside top hat. He winked at her. "A trick I learned from Dazzler." He opened the box for Luna to show—"

"My bracelet from Shenlong?" Luna watched as Gale delicately took her hand and slipped on the bracelet. "But how did you—? And why did you—?"

"Shhh…" Gale set down his top hat and the box to take her wrist into his hands. "I need to concentrate." He closed his eyes.

Luna's brow furrowed. "But what…?" Words trailed off, she felt the buzz of Magic in the air. Eyes sped down to focus on Gale's hands on her wrist and cupping her bracelet. Peeking through the cracks, she saw the glow of his Magic, a haze of emerald and black. But the glow shifted into a pulsation of white.

Gale drew back his hands, let out a breath, and opened his eyes. "There."

Luna's eyes rounded in pure wonder. "It's beautiful…" She cradled her bracelet and wrist. Those sea-touched gems that looked like flakes of scales remained, but more gemstones had been added to it, a pearly white with opalescent blue undertones and when a pad of her finger touched one of the gems, it glowed under her touch as though happy. "Are these…?"

"Moonstone." Gale nodded. "Yeah. It took me a while to figure out the chemical compound and the hardness, but the minerals were easy enough. It matches my sunstone."

Luna looked up and searched his person. "Where's your sunstone?" But when Gale slid off his tailcoat, she shrieked, "What are you—?"

"Oh, would you relax?" Gale shushed. "You wanted to see where my sunstone is." He set his tailcoat down on the nearby accent table. He uncuffed his sleeve before he rolled it up and on his bicep, a nicely-sized armband encompassed his muscle in its polished state. It took on a vitreous orange with subtle black to it. With his teeth, Gale took off one of his gloves to put a few fingers on the armband and it glowed just as Luna's moonstone had.

"That's incredible," Luna breathed. "But… How did you manage to do that?"

Gale shrugged. "Like I said, I just had to hammer down the chemical formula and the hardness. Everything else is easy for me." He nodded at her bracelet. "Touch your bracelet to my band."

Luna did as she asked as she gasped when both the sunstone and gemstone gleamed. "Whoa…" She pulled back her bracelet and the gemstones went back to their natural luster. "This is…the most thoughtful gift anyone could have gotten me." A smile just for him. "Thank you, Gale."

Gale smiled back as he rolled down his sleeve. "You're wel—" He ate his words when a finger was thrust in his face.

"But you're still not forgiven for surprising me like that," Luna groused. With a huff, she spun away from him and looked out the window with her arms crossed.

Gale grinned and chortled as he put back on his glove and his tailcoat. "You're a tough sell, Blondie. I'll give you that." He stood behind her and both of them watched the wintry scenery at a standstill before them. They listened to the church bells chime for the time. They could see the people out in the streets as they went from bar to bar in the great capital of Fiore. They listened the wafts of music that haunted the walls from the ballroom only a few feet away.

"We're lucky to be alive."

Gale watched a cross between sadness and wistfulness express on her face through the reflection in the window.

"Think about it," Luna insisted. "Look at all the dangerous things we've done. The Demons, meeting Dragons, going back in time—we're just lucky to be alive." She met his eyes through their reflections. "You especially. You took a Demon head-on and you're still standing. You faced Igneel when he nearly burned down our home. You faced Bluenote. You're really lucky, you know?"

Gale shrugged once more. "Nothing's killed me so far."

"But doing all of that—alone or on a team—that's really dangerous." Luna's eyes fell. "It makes me worry about you and me and everyone else. We keep facing all this danger. We could've been trapped in the past and never come home. Or we could've been killed with that Dragon. Bluenote… Bluenote could have killed you. And what's next? What's going to happen to us next? What happens when we can't face what comes next? What happens when it's too much for us?"

Gale stewed in his silence as he took the time to say his words. "We fight anyways."

"For what?" Luna hotly countered. "Until when? Until we die?"

"Yeah."

Luna looked up and was stunned at the daunting look in those ruby eyes.

"Until we die." Gale looked out the window. "People don't realize Magic Guilds aren't like Spiritless Guilds. There's no simplicity to what we do. There's no fallback. Sure, Fiore has a military, but we're the last line of defense for this country. We signed on to be that when we decided to be legal Mages. The queen didn't ask us for shit. It's what the Guild Masters and Mages all around decided. We don't have a choice in running away to a shelter. If we do, then who will fight? It doesn't matter if the turf isn't ours or if we're outmatched in power and numbers. We fight until the last breath. And we hold nothing back." He looked down.

Stunned ruby clashed with teary chocolate.

Gale rubbed the back of his neck. "Shit, I didn't mean to get all dark on you there, Blondie, and make you cry," he apologized.

"N-N-No, it's fine." Luna sniffled. "I'm okay."

Gale groaned and wrapped an arm around her waist for a side-hug. "No, you're not," he sighed. "If you're overwhelmed, take what I said with a grain of salt. It's not fair we have to do this, I know. Other Spiritless kids get to focus on prom and crushes and we get to learn battle strategies and train. It's not fair. But you don't have to do this."

"I'm not crying because I'm overwhelmed," Luna sniffled as she batted away tears. "I'm crying because… Well, because I'm just so worried. Not about me or my own life, but for you and my family. I'm not stupid. I've heard my parents and our guildmates talk about when they were younger and everything they faced. They knew they could die, but they kept pushing on anyways. But…" She sniffled again. "I just keep thinking… What if I don't get strong enough to protect them? What if they die because of me? In Bellum, you nearly died because of my choice." A shake of her head. "I don't want to make that choice again that could kill you."

"Blondie…" Gale grabbed her him and forced her to lock eyes with him. "Hey. I'm not going anywhere."

Luna rolled her eyes. "You don't know that—"

"No, I don't know that," Gale agreed. "But I do know this. Come life or in death, I will not leave you, you hear me? You're gonna have to exorcise the shit out of me before I leave you alone. Even if you do your little yelling routine and we get on each other's nerves, I will haunt your ass." He grinned when Luna let out a wet laugh. "You like that, huh? I heard that adorable giggle, Blondie, don't deny me."

"Quiet, you." Luna doused her humor with sobriety. "But Gale…"

"No 'but's," Gale quieted. "Enough with the 'but's. Only but there will be a discussion of from here on out is how fine my ass looks in this pants." His grin broadened when Luna laughed for him again. He twirled her side logs with a finger before caressing her cheek. "Now. Repeat after me. 'You're not going anywhere'."

Luna smiled. "You're not going anywhere."

"No, I am not. Smart girl," Gale praised cheekily and pulled Luna into him when she tried to swipe at him. "Did I mention you look absolutely beautiful, birthday girl?"

"You didn't and it's a tragedy you didn't until now," Luna teased. "How dare you not shower your princess with compliments upon gazing at her? Away with you, you fiend!"

Gale snickered. "I am all but a barbaric Dragon, my princess. Pardon my lack of manners. Dragons prefer a different method when they appreciate a beauty such as yourself."

"Oh, really…?" Luna drawled, batting her eyelashes. "And what would that be?"

"We're a tad blunt in our words, my princess, and hold nothing back. We have no filter, you see. For example"—Gale feathered the shoulder of Luna's dress—"the pure white of your dress pales in comparison to the color of your skin." He lifted his chin. "And nothing rivals the way your eyes twinkle in the moonlight."

A pretty pink spread across Luna's cheeks. "Gale…"

"And the way you blush," Gale murmured lowly, "makes me want to talk more to see how red you can get. It's adorable."

More pink spread to the tips of Luna's ears. "Gale…" She slipped from his hold and patted his hands as a strained effort to keep them in front of her and off her body. "Thank you for the compliments," she appreciated with care, "but you shouldn't say all those things. You should save them for the girl you're in love with, not to tell a friend."

If she hoped that would discourage Gale, she was mistaken. He turned the tables as he held her hands. "That's just it, Blondie. It is something I should tell you."

Apprehension hurried onto Luna's face. "No, Gale," she insisted. "No, you shouldn't be telling me this—"

"Blondie—"

"No!" Luna retreated from him only to hit the table and sent a panicked glance around her. But no one else was in the hallway. "No, I don't want to hear anything you have to say," she snapped. "This…! Th-This isn't okay! I-I'm with Bleu now, Gale—!" A growl cut her off. She shrunk when Gale loomed over her, hands on either side of her to bar her from darting away.

"Don't say his name right now," Gale told her, but his voice carried a rugged growl more so than his human voice. "Please, Blondie. Just don't."

Luna nodded minutely and tried a different wording, even if her words came out breathless and tight. "Gale, please," she beseeched. "Please don't do this. This isn't fair." Tears filled those chocolate eyes once more, but not to weep for a noble cause. To weep for the future. "If you're my friend, you'll let me go right now." She saw the decision war in his eyes and pressed, "If you ever cared about me, you'll drop this and we can forget this ever happened, Gale, I promise you. Just let me go."

Pain spread in those ruby eyes. "Blondie—"

"Gale, please, don't—!"

"—I'm in love with you."

Luna shut her eyes as a high-pitched cry left her lips. "Take it back," she croaked. "Please, just take it back."

"I can't." Anguish spread in his words. "I can't, Blondie. You know I can't."

"Why not?" Luna was desperate to grasp at straws. "I mean you can't be in love with me, Gale—!"

"I am." Gale refused to let this go. He shoved away the pain for his resolve to shine through. "I'm in love with—"

"Stop—!" Luna controlled her voice. "Stop saying that," she pleaded, tone hushed. "Please, j-j-just…! No… Oh, goodness, please, no…" A need for all this to be false shone through her eyes. "Please tell me that isn't true."

A wave of offense rolled within him, but Gale shoved against the Wild. It was not the time. "I'd never lie to you about this," he swore to her. "I'm in—"

"Stop saying that!"

"Why?" Gale demanded to know. "It's true!"

"But it can't be true, Gale! It c-can't—!" Luna covered her mouth and shook her head. A trembling wheeze later, and she breathed, "You can't s-s-say that to me now. You don't have the right to…! Why would you say that to me now? I'm with—! I'm with someone else now, Gale, you can't just…!" She bowed her head and covered her face as a sob racked her body.

"Blondie, please don't cry," Gale begged as he tugged her hands from her face. The Wild made him want to whine and coddle her, but the burning desire to make her understand was too strong to ignore. He wiped away her tears and tried to meet her eyes even when she made every attempt to make sure it did not happen. "Blondie, please. I didn't mean to make you cry."

Luna sniveled. "But that's the thing—you did." Another unstable breath. "We can just… We can just forget this ever happened, okay? I-I-I've been drinking champagne and we're both just tired and saying things right now that we don't mean—"

"I'm not saying this just to regret it later," Gale retorted, irked. "I mean every word. Luna Anna Dragneel, I am in love with you. I love everything about you—"

But Luna shook her head. "No, you don't—"

"Yes, I do—"

"How?" Luna snapped. "How could you love me? How could you love me and just sit there and never tell me? Are you really being this petty because of Bleu—?"

A loud snarl. "Fuckin' A, Blondie, I've been in love with you for as long as I've known you—!"

"That can't be true!" Luna accused. "You're lying—!"

The Wild demanded to meet this challenge with full scales, and Gale barely restrained the instinct. "I am not lying to you!" he bellowed. "What aren't you getting? Why do you think I'm lying to you about something like this?"

"B-Because that means I've—!" Luna snapped her lips shut. Her eyes swept away from his. "Let me go."

"No." Gale cared little for the glare of tears Luna gave him. "What were you going to say?"

"Nothing," Luna spat at him. "Nothing that matters."

"It matters to me—"

"It shouldn't—"

"Why the fuck shouldn't it—?"

"Because I'm with someone else!" Luna cried as despair won out against anger. "I'm with someone else, Gale, and I-I like them—a lot. I want to be his girlfriend—!"

Gale shut his eyes to slam back the Wild from taking over. "Blondie—"

Luna was not finished. "I want to be with him! Even if what you said was true, it doesn't matter. It's too late. You're too late. You waited too long—"

"Then, why didn't you say anything?"

Luna worked her mouth. "What?"

Gale snapped open his eyes and those rubies were a glow as a ring of emerald appeared in them. "Why didn't you say anything?" he repeated without fear. "I'm not the only one who fucked up here, Blondie. You could've said it at any time, but you didn't—!"

"Because I don't feel that way towards you!" Luna did not know if she was shouting or sobbing. "I don't—!"

"Bullshit," Gale hissed. "Don't lie to me, Blondie!"

"Gale, stop it!" She was sobbing. The salt and warmth of her tears were potent. "Please just l-l-let me go! W-We can just forget about this—!"

Another snarl, deeper and guttural, stirred in Gale's chest. "Blondie—!" But he put a pause on his next words. He took in her tears, the pain on her face, the way she shook beneath him. A grotesque horror filled him at the sight. What the Hell am I doing? The ring of emerald faded away. "Blondie, I…" He sighed. "I'm sorry for pushing you when you aren't ready," he said, timbre delicate. "I'm sorry for scaring you. I am in love with you and I want you to remember that. I'm going to prove it to you one day." He pulled away from her. "But I don't want you to remember it like this."

Luna sniffled and looked up at him. Fearful chocolate clashed with sad ruby.

"Blondie," Gale murmured, "I—"

But his words were lost when Luna grabbed her things and ran from him.

A feral growl tore from his throat and his body shifted, but a strong force rooted him to the ground. Not just a force. Actual vines had come up from the ground to bind his feet to the ground. He stabbed anger at Sycaña as glowing rubies watched Luna's retreating figure. Sycaña, let me go—!

No! the Earth Dragoness refused. It's your instincts. I should've foreseen this. Such juvenile behavior. Anything that runs becomes instant prey to you, but you can't do that with humans. Stay calm. She fed him a stream of serenity to glaze the aggression of the Wild clawing to give into its nature. Relax, Little Gem. She is not prey. She is not to be treated as prey.

A ragged breath let Gale as he panted with Sycaña's emotions smothering his instinct to chase.

But that was when that crucial pain set in that had him stagger and sway as he watched her runaway…from him. Blondie… I'm sorry…

°•°•°•°

Luna ran with aching in her heart and tears in her eyes. Nothing made sense. Or so she tried to convince herself because it hurt more when things did make sense and fall into place and she felt even worse. She kept running and did not even know where she was going. She just knew she had to get away.

"Blondie—"

"Gale, please, don't—!"

"—I'm in love with you."

He's lying, Luna desperately wanted to believe. He's lying. He has to be lying.

"I mean every word. Luna Anna Dragneel, I am in love with you."

"No!" Luna closed her eyes. "You don't mean that—Ooof!" She blinked away the shock of running into someone and tried to steady herself when a pair of warm hands helped her. She scrubbed her face from her tears (and took a moment to thank the ladies who had put on make-up and Lacrima setting spray that would withstand anything) and blubbered, "I-I-I-I'm so sorry—!"

"No need to apologize, Young Miss." A warm voice, deep and settling. "But you are in need of this."

Luna sniffed and saw a handkerchief had been offered to her. "Oh, no, I'm okay—"

"Please, Young Miss. I insist you take it."

Luna did not have the heart to decline and she blamed it on emotional exhaustion. "Thank you, sir." She took the handkerchief and blotted her face and made sure to get underneath her eyes. "Again, I'm really sorry for running into you."

"Like I said, it's no trouble." Such a chivalrous declaration. "But you did seem in a hurry. Do you need any help? Are you running from someone in specific?"

Luna remembered those intense red eyes, but she perished the thought for an uneven smile. "No, no, I just, um… I got caught up in the moment is all. This is my first royal ball, you see, so it's been a little overwhelming meeting so many people."

"Oh, dear." A note of concern. "Are your parents nearby? Should we get them? Perhaps you should sit down—"

"O-Oh, please, I'm okay!" Luna finished with her face to sniff once more and widen her smile. "I'm sorry. I should have introduced myself." She curtsied low. "I am Layla Heartland. I'm pleased to meet you. I'm sorry for the state I'm in."

"No need to bow," came warm chuckle. "I'm no one special at this cotillion. I'm actually nothing more than a prosecutor." He must have seen the confusion on Luna's face for he divulged, "A lawyer. I just investigate crimes of the guilty and take them into court. So, as I told you, I'm nothing special."

Luna shook her head and distanced herself from her despair to perk up to his kind stranger. "Oh, I disagree, sir! Lawyers are important when it comes to defending the innocent and putting away the guilty," she explained. "My friend has this really great lawyer proving his innocence right now. It's amazing what lawyers can do. So I think you're really important!"

A chortle. "You flatter me, Young Miss. I wish my son felt the same way as you do."

Luna frowned. "Oh… He doesn't like the law? Is he a troublemaker?"

"Not so much of a troublemaker. He just believes certain laws should be changed even though the laws in place were meant to protect the good from the evil."

Luna's frown deepened, but she withheld her tongue.

A smile. "Speak your mind, Young Miss. My son appears to be a little older than you. It would be nice to have a fresh, young mind give their input on this."

"Well…" Luna tried to phrase this as best she could with the little information she had been given. "I don't know that much about laws and stuff, but I do know there are laws meant to protect us. But sometimes, those laws meant to 'protect' us actually hurt a lot of people. Like in Bellum, they're trying to make all those laws that restrict Magic. I guess, to a Spiritless, that makes them feel better, but what about all the wizards out there? They won't feel protected. They'll feel really hurt."

A hum. "I suppose so…"

Luna quickly added, "But that's just my opinion. I don't really know that much about laws and everything, so please, if I offended you, I didn't mean to—!"

"You did nothing of the sort, Young Miss," came smooth soothe. "It's nice to hear a younger person's opinions." A gentle nod. "Thank you for your insight. I appreciate it."

Luna nodded, eager. "No problem—!"

"Treasure?"

On instinct, Luna pivoted to see Bleu had emerged a little bit down the way. A relieved beam lifted her mouth as she saw how dapper he looked in his navy-blue suit and tie. "Bleu! You're here!" She turned back to speak to the man before, "I'm so sorry…" But no one was there for her to apologize to. "That was…weird…"

"Treasure."

Luna giggled when Bleu hugged her from behind and pepper her cheek in kisses. "Bleu, stop it!" she laughed. She turned around in his arms to be greeted with a heated kiss. "Charming," she teased him.

Bleu rested his forehead against hers with a breathy chuckle. "I missed you. Don't I get a little slack?"

"Maybe a little," Luna supposed as she sagged into his arms. "It's really good to see you."

Bleu smiled. "Yeah? Luke told me you went out here so…" Eyes narrowed, his smile diminished to a frown. "You were crying. Why were you crying?"

To lie or to tell the truth. Both could hurt. Luna swallowed and instead requested in a small voice, "Can we not talk about it right now?" Hurriedly, she added, "We'll talk about it later, I promise. Just not right now, please? I just want to enjoy being here and being with you."

Bleu let the subject drop as a softness rekindled in his stare. "Okay," he agreed in a murmur. "We'll let this go."

A thought occurred to Luna. "Wait… How did you know I was me? Did E tell you about my dress or something?"

"Well, she did, but then you turned around and I saw your face—"

"With my mask on?" Luna touched her face and horror filled her. Oh, no… I didn't put back on… She scrambled to put the half-mask back onto her face and could feel Ena's Magic latch onto her. "Here. How do I look?"

Bleu cocked his head when he saw her blue eyes. "You have blue eyes if that's what you were asking…" Puzzlement bewitched his face when he saw her sigh in relief. "Why so happy about having blue eyes? Should I be worried you've been wearing contacts all this time?"

"No, silly. But, technically, I'm still a secret." Luna did a little eye-roll. "Apparently, my parents think I still think I need to keep a low profile until I get stronger, so, for me to come here, I had to agree to the mask. Yeah, it gives me blue eyes, but Ena made it so the mask doesn't give away anything that makes people think I'm related to Luke or my papa."

Bleu's eyebrows shot up. "Wow. That's some impressive spell work."

"It is." Luna smiled in pride of Ena's handiwork. "E is amazing. I don't know where I'd be without her."

"I know where I'd be." He nuzzled his forehead to hers. "She and your other friends and Luke all helped out making this happen. They said they can keep your dad distracted for the next hour, but they hold no promises afterward."

"They did all that for me?" Luna questioned, disbelieving. "For us?"

Bleu shrugged and pulled away to fix her side locks. "I told you I was coming to the cotillion and I wanted to see you. I had Ena's number still in my Compact and Luke gave me his, so it was easy to coordinate. I wanted to see my favorite person on her birthday." A fit of nervous jacked his smile. "Is that okay?"

"That's more than okay. That's perfect." Luna slid a hand onto his chest. "You're perfect, Bleu."

Bleu laughed. "I'm a far cry from perfect, Treasure. Out of the two of us, you're the perfect one." He shushed her protest with a quick kiss. "No arguing with me."

Luna feigned a pout. "But I'm the birthday girl."

"Yes. But if the birthday girl wants presents, she needs to not argue."

Luna comically brightened. "I get presents?"

Bleu laughed and released her, but he kept a hold of her hand. "Of course! And you better like them because I have Mary Jane and Ekho and NJ and Ena breathing down my neck if you don't," he forewarned in good humor.

Luna giggled and let him lead her away from… Just away. This is what I want. This is who I want. Just Bleu. She moved forward and Bleu slowed to wrap an arm around her waist and she rested her head on his shoulder while he thumbed her side. A silly smile adorned her when he kissed her hairline. This is what I want. She did not need to convince herself. It was the truth—her truth. This was what she wanted.

…but she hated she remembered other hands on her and those passionate red eyes.

---

Don't wanna Stop Stop koi suru kokoro ni

Kimi no Love Love ima tsukamaetai

Yasashiku sareru tabi ni sukoshi

Kitai shite shimau

•

Oh Never let me go dakishimete

Never let me go kimi janakya iya yo

Stop stop koi wa tomaranai

Negai wa hitotsu dake Stay by my side

•

Ah ah ah ha

Ah ah

Stay by my side

---

TO BE CONTINUED…

Talk about a night of passion! No wonder this episode was called "Clarity!" With the trial wrapping up, confessions on the mind, and a battle coming, tune in to the next episode of Fairy Adventure to find out how our heroes will figure out their next plan of attack—or next plan to profess their love!

---

The village was simplistic and that gave it the charm it needed. Full of brick houses and wooden cabins and cobblestone roads, the people were quite pleased with their way of life where they still used horses and carriages or even broomsticks for the young Mage. A mighty cathedral was the heart of this village and the bells rung its song to clear to the villagers the time of night. Oil lamps were lit at this time of night with the pubs full of the exhausted working class in need of a drink, but the shops had turned off their lights after their last customer and locked up for the evening. A bloodhound helped cart a clock storekeeper's repairs back home. A couple blossoming in their love for each other took a late-night stroll on the town as she leaned into him and he blushed like a bride. What drew tourists mostly to the town outside of the town being preserved for historical purposes was the amount of flora that bloomed, almost like every home was a greenhouse. Wildlife sprung up without restraint and was the pride and joy of the citizens.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the Infiorata Village, home of the Fiore Flower Festival and the only village close to the Boundary Forest. The citizens here are Traditionalists and Wiccans who live a simpler lifestyle. While they are open to technology, they prefer living off what nature has given them and giving back to nature. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Hotel Lemon was more technologically advanced than other areas of the village with LacriNet connection, full modern-day amenities, and even DALs for visitors to use and Communication Lacrima as well. Some tourists had come here to see the beautiful spectacle on Christmas Eve that the villagers would be performing as a testament to their faith. For others, this was a simple pitstop onto other cities.

Mystogan had snagged a suite and set up shop with his PAL, research notes, books he had brought, and had set his glasses to Gale-Force to bolster his studying. The anomalies popping up in the Boundary Forest were what he had pulled up alongside his own investigation with the villagers, especially the Wiccans who were more in-tune with nature.

Missing persons' reports have gone virtually unnoticed by the media, Mystogan groused. The Magic Council centuries here to stop any more unofficial investigators are a joke. I had to strong-arm them to hand over their reports when they insisted nothing suspicious had been going on. He chewed on his thumbnail. But I don't buy that for a second. He glanced at his Compact before he gave in to the urge and picked it up. He looked at his messages to Aine, but none of them had been delivered.

Why is she ignoring me? Is she sick? What if she's back in the hospital? Mystogan fretted. He went to Ena's contact and typed out a message—

"Listen to me. You might be a renowned Mage and the work you do is important, but, Misty, you are a horrible brother."

"What possible favor could you be doing to your little sister who needs some sort of father figure in her life?"

"She's barely a teenager and you're trying to act self-righteous like you emotionally scarring her and shunning her is helping her more than damaging her?"

Mystogan put down his Compact with a growl. "I'm doing this for Ena's own good. She'll grow stronger from this. I know she will."

"How dare you?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The focus looked at a furious Erza who looked stressed and mad all at the same time. Those dark chocolate eyes alit with passion, she thrust her blade at her own son. "You are not my son if you think mistreating my daughters will help them more than hurt them!" Erza proclaimed. "How dare you disrespect either of them! How dare you disrespect me!"

"Mother, I'm not disrespecting you or them!" Mystogan snapped. "Dad did—!"

"You will not use your father as an excuse for your atrocious treatment of my daughters," Erza hissed venomously.

"But, Mother—!"

"No!" Erza withdrew her blade to sheathe it, but she turned her back on the focus. "No more, Oberon. I've tolerated this behavior for far too long. I should have put a stop to it, but I had hoped you would grow out of this immature phase and finally realize you need to distance the hate you have for your father from yourself. Instead, I've just enabled you. But I won't anymore."

A torrid of confusion and fear. "Mother, what are you saying?"

Erza laid her sword on her desk. "As of this point, Oberon, until you can distance the hate in your heart from the person you could become, you are my subordinate in name alone. But you are not my son." Not a flinch. Not a quiver. "You are not the brother to Aine or Ena. And you are not welcome in my house anymore."

Fear blossomed into panic. "Mother—!"

"This is your doing, Oberon." Erza straightened her spin, but she did not look at her son. No, her subordinate. "You professed how much you hated your father and how he tore this family. Congratulations, Oberon—you have turned out just as you painted your father to be. And you will keep being your own villain until you can acknowledge your wrongdoings."

So many emotions. The anger, the pain, the apprehension, the need to be acknowledged. "Please, this is ridiculous!" Mystogan beseeched. "You can't—!"

Erza took a seat at her desk and turned her focus onto her DAL. "And you're in luck. An S-Class request via an external investigation company came through. I had been planning to give it to Penelope, but she's swamped with another assignment I have for her. I'll have Lane draw up the paperwork for you. You may go."

The focus shook side to side. "Mother, please, you're being absurd—!"

"I believe Master Erza asked you to leave." The focus swung to see Number Five had said those words and looked into the focus with this stoic swirled eyes that meant business.

Rage overtook Mystogan and he seethed, "Fine! Don't claim me as your son, Master! I don't need you too! I didn't need a father. I don't need a mother either." Even as pain made him regret those words, he was far too struck with rage and stormed out of the office without so much as a backward glance.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

But the regret ate at him now. Rage poisoned the heart and mind and body, but it had rattled Mystogan into exhaustion with bags under his eyes and his skin was a little paler than before. Regret consumed rage with a vendetta and soured him so much, he took off his glasses to rub his face. He needed a shave, but he had been pouring himself into his work. What am I doing? A sigh escaped him as he pushed himself away from the desk his suite had come with. Forget it. I just need to get some sleep. I'll feel better in the morning. A yawn stretched his mouth as he lumbered over to the bathroom to start getting ready for bed.

°•°•°•°

A scope tracked an Ether signature as it went into another room. It zoomed closer to watch the subject until the scope changed back to regular night vision. The binoculars pulled away to show the face of a scrawny man with his nose and mouth covered from a scarf. He looked odd in his gothic attire that stood against the traditional wear of the villagers, but no one took him as odd since they could not see him as he sat comfortably on a roof. Two Mauthe Hellhounds laid at his side as they munched on spare souls they had hunted down for their dinner.

"His Ether is lowering at a faster rate than expected," the man reported. "He should be good enough to capture in two days." He tilted his head. "Wouldn't you agree, Lee?"

⌜ROSE GARDEN CITY

Name: Sheridan Stoker

Age: 31

Magic: Shadow Charmer

Likes: coin tosses Dislikes: people

Special Note: Sheridan is a Shadow Charmer meaning not only can he communicate with Dark Creatures and Dark Spirits, but he can use their powers! Sheridan decides how his victims die or any dispute via coin toss! ⌟

Lee stood there with his new hand as he petted his familiar. A cigarette was in his mouth and he took an unhealthy drag of it. "Yeah," Lee agreed. "I'd say he'd be about done." He sighed. "This job has been pretty boring, but at least the pay is good."

Sheridan chuckled. "You're just upset because you don't get to be near your favorite dog."

"Well, there's that too." Lee flexed his new hand. "But I wouldn't have minded paying that Dragneel kid a visit and test out my new powers. But then Maxim told me the Black Dog himself said the entire stupid family is off-limits and if I touch one of them, I'm getting my other hand ripped out with no replacement." He shrugged and flicked his cigarette away. "Whatever. Money is money." He laid back on the roof and closed his eyes. "Just two more days and we can collect our reward." He prodded Sheridan. "And don't you dare take the fun out of this job and screw up the guy, you got that? We need him alive,"

Sheridan returned to watching his target. Mystogan came to the window to shut the blinds. Sheridan's eyes crinkled in glee. "I make no promises."

---

Chibi-Luna looks at the class as she sets up herself. "Good day, class!"

"Good day, Teacher!" her students sing back to her. "What's our Fairy Lesson today?"

Chibi-Luna proclaims, "I'm glad you asked! Today's Fairy Lesson is on Wu Xing, the City of Metal!" She turns on the projector to show Wu Xing that was built with metals along and nothing else in a vast expanse of a valley. "Wu Xing is in Sela by the Republic of Zhōnguá and Josea. The people of Wu Xing can speak both Minstrish and a dialect of Zhōnguánese called Xiaobe. But some people also speak Quốconese which is a dialect from the Republic of Báchnam." She goes to the next picture to show the people of Wu Xing in their traditional dress. Some women wore áo dài (a long sleeve split tunic dress) worn traditionally in Báchnam while men could be seen wearing tangzhuang (a tang suit) that was naturally warn in Zhōnguá. However, the consistency of it was that a brass Dragon and metallic Dragon chasing each other in a circle encompassing in a ring were embroidered onto their clothing and many adopted metal armbands or other jewelry.

"The people of Wu Xing are descendants or current immigrants of other Selan regions," Chibi-Luna explained. "Wu Xing is considered a melting pot independent state due to the culmination of cultures that reside there. However, the one fundamental fact about those who live in Wu Xing is they practice a special type of Metal Magic that combines Magic and Alchemy. Some would consider this a taboo and it can be if it's used to metals like gold or rarer metals, but that's not the way there. Wu Xing was founded by two Dragons called Brassora and Castern who used this land to teach humans their Dragon Slayer Magic. When the Dragons died, it was rumored their hearts rise in Wu Xing and, while their Dragon Slayer Magic couldn't be taught, the power their hearts give the land allows the people of Wu Xing to practice amazing Magic like you haven't seen."

A student's hand goes up. "So Olivia and Galileo trained there?"

"Uh-huh! With the chief of Wu Xing, Mina," Chibi-Luna confirms. "Olivia is returning to Wu Xing too so maybe she'll learn some cool new Magic while she's there! Who knows?"

DING-DING-DING!

"That's the bell!" Chibi-Luna informs. "Next time, on Fairy Adventure: JUDGEMENT OF CHARACTER! And please leave a comment or review! The board has been curious about what you're excited to see next and your predictions!" She winks. "You never know. Certain things said could be a misdirect! See you next time! And enjoy our new format!"

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

Ena Fernandes – Xanthe Huynh

Luke Dragneel – Alan Lee

Levy Redfox – Kristi Kang

Olivia Redfox – Laura Bailey

Gajeel Redfox – David Wald

Galileo Redfox – Josh Grelle

Orochi – Aaron Roberts

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Panther Lily – Rick Keeling

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Natsu Dragneel – Todd Haberkorn

Silver Fullbuster – Yuri Lowenthal

Dazzler Lafayette – Kristi Rothcock

T'oree Denv'rz – Kimberly Brooks

Nashi Dragneel – Lauren Landa

Mirella/Miss Wilson – Edie Mirman

Ocrevus Trumphour – Jeremy Schwartz

Chinlien Broussard – Leonard Wu

Samara Preobrazhensky - Olga Kurylenko

Igider Hawad - Hakeem Kae-Kazim

Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel – Cherami Leigh

Kyler/Mister Wilson – Ray Chase

Sister Maria – Maggie Smith

Waleed Wintour/Pazuzu – Bill Butts

Skade – Sean Schemmel

Ryuichi Hisaishi - Yuki Furukawa

Lance Dreyar – Johnny Young Bosch

Veleda – Laura Stahl

Katherine "Kat" Knight – Abby Trott

Hylia Lynk/Tesla Greer – Galena White

Jang-ta "Jaxton" Yang – Eddy Yeung

Bundy – Greg Dulcie

Brusca – Caitlynn French

Mirella Lynn/Talia – Serena Varghesa

Julia Fullbuster – Michelle Ruff

Iris Ross – Lara J Miller

Eiji "Dash" Ackermann – Leraldo Anzaldua

Zelda Lynk – Gabrielle Union

Hisui E. Fiore – Morgan Marby

Aaron Marignano – Kevin M. Connolly

Gianni "Gigi" Gieves – Billy Porter

Checkmate – Jeannie Tirado

Mister Demiurge – Leo Fabian

Sycaña – Christen Auten

Lucifer "Bleu" Demiurge – Xander Mobus

Oberon "Mystogan" Fernandes – J. Michael Tatum

Sheridan Stoker – Tom Baur

Lee Gavrilo – Travis Willingham

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Recap Narrator – Melissa Fahn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Ending Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING THEME

⟪ Mela! ⟫

Ryokuoushoku Shakai

Lyrics by & Composed by

peppe & Shingo Anami ⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 1

⟪ Absences ⟫

Stamatis Spanoudakis

Album

Moments Gone

Composed by

Stamatis Spanoudakis⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 2

⟪ Swan Lake, Op. 20: Waltz ⟫

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Album

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 & Nutcracker, Op. 71

Composed by

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 3

⟪ Masquerade Suite: Waltz ⟫

Aram Khachaturian

Composed by

Aram Khachaturian⌟

•

⌜ENDING THEME

⟪ STAY BY MY SIDE ⟫

TWICE

Lyrics by & Composed by

Atsushi Shimada, Fredrik "Figge" Boström & Malin Johansson⌟