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!

65. Adventure 065

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.

---

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.

---

LAST TIME, on Fairy Adventure, Olivia went off to Wu Xing for the next part of her journey and we wish her well! Meanwhile, Natsu, Luke, Luna, Ena, and Silver go to Crocus for the Yule Ball thrown at the palace and it seems like Luna might be seeing some interesting visions regarding her friends. Skade's trial took a turn for the better as Nashi got to say what was in her heart and revealed evidence from Margaret Town and "Mister Wintour's" words show Skade isn't the bad guy Chinlien is painting him to be. Lance meets Veleda in his dream to learn he is meant to be a God Slayer—the first to bring back the era of God Slayers and usher in a New Age. But a war could be coming in the distant future and he needs to make sure the God Slayers and Fairy Tail is ready. Tesla and Jaxton's quick trip for food ends with Tesla accidentally meeting two Magic Hunters and their Hellhounds which spells trouble. Speaking of Hellhounds, Julia's own is living the life as a normal dog, but it must be so weird to have a Hellhound as a pet. At the trial, Nashi helps Skade heal in his Human Form and it leaves no room for judgment as people see the affection they share—though, Chinlien isn't finished yet. At the Yule Ball, dances are shared and Luna learns her mystery partner is none other than Gale, her best friend…and the boy who he in love with her. Luna runs away for Bleu to find her, but she can't forget those red eyes.

'This is who I want. Just Bleu. This is what I want.'

Oh, Lu. Be honest to your feelings. And, um, anyone else worried for Mystogan?

---

Mercurius Palace was only busy due to the hustle and bustle of nobility leaving the confines of the palace properties. Some who were indirectly related to the crown had the pleasure of staying within the palace, but most had been given private homes residing in Crocus. Natsu, Luke, Ena, Luna, and Silver stayed in their private wing with their own bedrooms, but with-it being time to go, royal attendants made sure they did not lift a finger getting their belongings to the Lacrima Car that would be waiting for them as they finished up breakfast. They had been offered breakfast in their private dining room and Natsu eagerly chowed down. Luke was the only one in the room who could keep up with his ravenous appetite. Ena took more measured bites while Silver kept glancing at her every few bites he took.

Ena had enough of the lingering looks to send him a flat stare. "Are you just going to keep glancing at me or are you going to tell me what you actually want?"

Silver colored, red-handed, and coughed to mask his embarrassment. "Nothing. Just wanted to know what was taking Lulu so long was all," he lied.

Ena took his words as truth and frowned. "She promised she'd be back before we left. She's having a private breakfast with her godmother right now." Her head cocked. "She seemed so quiet when she came back to the ballroom and later last night too."

"I know," Silver agreed, worried. "Do you think everything is okay? Do you think she, um…?" His eyes slid to Natsu. "Do you think things didn't go as well as she wanted on her birthday?"

Ena picked up on the cryptic message and shook her head slightly. "No, I don't think that was it." A hand on her chin, she let her stare gaze at nothing. Was this Gale's doing? Is she this quiet because he confessed? Dark eyes softened. Oh, L… I hope you'll tell me soon about what's going on in your head.

°•°•°•°

Luna ought to have been grateful she did not need to wear a mask in this portion of the castle. Hisui had made sure no one outside Lady Madelia was inside the little greenhouse the palace had been gifted years ago. The greenhouse was a welcomed addition to the palace and Hisui found it relaxing to come feed and water the plants in this sliver of oasis. With wicker chairs and a sturdy table, it made the perfect haven for Hisui to relax in for afternoon tea and, when she had spare time, for light reading. But in this instance, Hisui shared her haven with her goddaughter and Madelia. Madelia had tucked in her food and insisted she serve Luna and Hisui for the duration of their breakfast. Hisui had arranged for a spread of Luna's favorites, but she frowned when she saw her goddaughter was not giving into her hearty appetite and seemed to eat more moderately.

"Is there something wrong, Luna?" Hisui asked gently. "You've sighed for the fifth time now."

Luna sighed again. "It's nothing, Godmama," she murmured. "I guess I'm just a little tired."

Hisui lifted up her teacup for a few sips. "I'm sure I'd be tired too dancing like that with a mystery man," she teased.

Luna's cheeks heated, but she did not fumble and stutter. The blush was from a more shameful embarrassment. "He's not a mystery man anymore." Tentatively, she looked up at her godmother—the Queen of Fiore—for answers. "Did you know it was Gale?"

"I did." Hisui quietly thanked Madelia when she offered for more tea. "Your mother was the one to ask for Gale's attendance to be kept a secret, but the young man himself wanted to plead his case before me." A light smile. "He was very convincing, you know. I could tell he's quite taken with you." She watched Luna's eyes fall back to her plate. "And it's not something you want?"

A flinch. "I… I don't know," Luna whispered. "I mean I do know, I just…" A heavy groan as her palms dug into her face. "I don't know, Godmama. I'm so confused."

"Well, why don't you tell me about it?" Hisui proffered. "I promise not a word goes back to Lucy if that's what you want. I might be a queen, but I'm quite the secret keeper—especially for my favorite goddaughter."

Luna snorted. "I'm your only goddaughter." But mirth shone throw the shame in her eyes. "You promise you won't tell Mama?"

"I promise as a Celestial Spirit Mage," Hisui vowed.

That was enough for Luna's shoulders to slump and for her to relax. "Okay," she decided. "Well… Okay, here's the thing." She struggled to know where to start. "So… I really like this boy. His name is Bleu and he's…"—an adoring smile slipped onto her face—"really kind and sweet and funny. And he has amazing taste in Magia movies and he's just—…" Tips of her ears pink, she cleared her throat when she realized she was babbling. "Sorry."

Amusement touched Hisui's features. "Keep going."

"Well, anyways, I like him and I want to be his girlfriend," Luna told her, but her confidence faltered. "But then… I…" Shrinking in on herself, she confessed, "I really liked Gale. I really did. And last night, he…he told me he's in love with me."

"Oh!" Hisui's eyebrows shot up into her bangs. "You didn't know?"

Now Luna stared at Hisui incredulously. "What? You knew?"

"I thought it was obvious," Hisui stated in her defense. "Trust me when I say I receive many letters and requests from people to attend the palace and, mainly, it's to meet me or to strengthen their connections with others higher up in society. But the fact that this boy didn't care I was his queen and all he wanted to do was just have one dance with you let me know he truly cared about you—that he loved you."

Luna threw up her hands. "Well, how was I supposed to know? I'm not a mind reader!" Annoyance flooded into her voice to mask the ache. "He never said anything! I thought he…! Well, he said he was in love with someone else, so…!" Irritation fading out, a dejected Luna mumbled, "Was it really that obvious?"

Hisui scooted closer to Luna to rub her back. "Oh, Luna…"

"I just don't understand," Luna breathed, blinking away anymore tears. "Why would he wait all this time? How could he love me? We're not old enough for all that."

"No one is too young for love, Luna," Hisui told her. "You just have a different sort of love and understanding of it at different stages of your life."

"But why did he wait to tell me this now?" Luna wanted to know, miserable. "I'm with Bleu now. Gale… He lost his chance."

"Did he?"

Luna peered up at her godmother in disbelief. "Well, yeah, he did. I'm with someone else."

Hisui tried again with different words. "Luna, you said you liked Gale, past-tense, yes?" When Luna hesitantly nodded, Hisui questioned, "Then, why didn't you tell him that before you were with someone else?"

Luna opened her mouth to defend herself, but what words could she say? What excuses could she give that made sense? None. Shame piled onto her and she felt its weight just like she felt the weight of her tears. She hated this feeling. And she hated it was her own fault for this feeling. "I don't know." A lame answer but an honest one. "I don't know why I didn't. I just… I guess I just didn't think I needed to?"

"Many don't," Hisui relayed. "Many don't think they need to speak about their feelings." An old sadness tainted her features. "And by not speaking about your feelings, you just might lose the person you cared about the most. And I know you care about Gale, Luna. You wouldn't always talk about him when we're together if we didn't."

Luna reddened. "I do that?"

"A little, yes," Hisui laughed. When Luna groaned and leaned against Hisui for support, Hisui then asked, "Tell me, if you weren't with Bleu, how would you have received Gale's feelings for you?"

Luna remembered everything she had said to Gale yesterday and the sting she had felt when she said them. It was easy to say those words to his face, but now… "I don't know." A numb admittance. "I don't know, Godmama. I care about him, sure, but… But I'm with someone—"

"But you didn't say you'd reject him."

"Because I don't know!" Luna cried. "And it's too late anyways! I'm dating someone else who I really, really like—!"

"But you seem to like Gale too." Hisui inclined her chin when Luna looked up at her, betrayed. "Don't give me that look. You would have told me you'd reject Gale even without being with someone else if you didn't care about him in that way, young lady. You need to find out for yourself just how far your care for Gale goes."

"And then what?" Luna needed to know. "What am I supposed to do then?"

"If you care about him as a friend, then you have nothing to worry about," Hisui advised. "You can be friends with him and be with the boy you truly like. But if you find out you care about him as more than a friend, then, Luna"—she smoothed a hand over Luna's cheek—"you need to be honest with Bleu and Gale the same way you are honest with yourself. If you care about both of these boys, will it truly make you happy to choose one over the other?"

The tears came and Luna hugged Hisui who hugged her back. "Can't I just date them both?"

Hisui laughed and shared an amused look with Madelia. "No, Luna, you can't. Unless you truly think both of them would be okay with that, it wouldn't be fair to either of them or you." She pulled back to cup Luna's chin. "You'll figure this out, Luna, I promise," she regarded softly. "Be honest with yourself. I promise you it gets better when you are."

Luna pouted. "Why are you so wise?"

"Because I'm the queen. I have to be wise," Hisui jested, kissing Luna's nose. "And you are a princess. That makes you almost as wise as me."

"I feel more confused than wise," Luna muttered.

"And queens and princesses get confused too," Hisui conceded. "But we try are best to find the answer when we are confused. You'll do the right thing. I know you will." She kissed Luna's forehead. "Now come on. Finish breakfast so we can make sure you all can get back to Magnolia safe and sound."

Luna took up her fork, but she asked, "What are you going to be doing the rest of the day, Godmama?"

"Boring queen things," Hisui sighed with a tug on her lips. "I have more paperwork to settle and a few appearances to make. One of the ministers is dead-set on a meeting with me tomorrow to discuss the possibility of Skade being made an honorary citizen of Fiore. They want to petition against the idea." She winked. "It's a good thing I have more power than them."

Luna giggled. "You are your own knight-in-shining armor, Godmama."

"I suppose I am." Hisui laughed alongside her as a deep pain drudged its way back up. After all, I have to be nowadays…

°•°•°•°

The car ride was a little excitable. Natsu had not wanted to be knocked out and insisted he could take the car ride, but Luke refused to hear one lick of his father's excuses and force-fed him a potion that put in him a dead sleep (and had the Guards all on alert that this teenager was carrying that powerful of a knock-out potion). Luke kept busy with his headphones on as he listened to music and read a book. Silver decided to take an early nap while Ena was sketching on her tablet. Luna kept to herself as she watched the scenery go by and the palace fade in the distance.

With a glance over at the unconscious Natsu who was snoring and drooling up a storm, Ena whispered to her best friend, "Do you want to sleep over at my house?"

"Maybe," Luna whispered back. "I just have a lot to think about."

Are you thinking about Gale? Ena nodded. "Just let me know." She sat back and continued to sketch when a text message came in from her mother. It read:

« Please tell me you're still coming home today? I think you, Aine, and I need to sit down and talk »

Ena frowned. Talk about what? She dismissed the notification and she felt lethargy catch up with her. There's nothing to talk about. I know my place in my family. And that's all I need to know.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

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

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi had packed up her things in her hotel room and had put on comfortable attire for the flight home. As of now, she and her mother were waiting for the Lacrima Car and Mister Wilson to get them back to the D.I. Sky Port and to go through customs. Býleistr decided he wanted to lay about as a lazy lion, so Nashi used him as a pillow for herself as she held up her Compact to watch the trial. As a human, Skade was testifying about more details regarding Bellum and the jurors were more comfortable asking him questions about what he saw in Bellum and why he was stripped from his home.

"It seems like everyone is more comfortable with Skade now," Nashi noted. "After he transformed and we were finished, they had the med team check him out and they did an Ether Scan."

"And you gave it to those Healers," Býleistr chuckled. "You're a force to be reckoned with. I was impressed when you popped off like that. Kinda hot."

Nashi rolled her eyes. "Well, they kept demanding to know why Skade hadn't transformed into a human before until I screamed at them their shitty first aid couldn't handle him in time before he was drained. Even that Broussard lawyer was trying to write a narrative how Skade was falsifying his person or whatever!" She snuggled her cheek against his side. "Ugh, I'm so happy we're getting close to a verdict. I just want all this to be behind us and Gary can come home to me—" Red tinged her cheeks. "I mean, just come home."

Býleistr chuckled as there was a knock on the door. "Yeah… Sure… That's what you meant."

Nashi pinched Býleistr's side before getting up. "Remember, I have the power to turn you into a cat." She huffed and marched over to the door while Býleistr grumbled. Opening the door, she smiled when she saw it was Mister Wilson alongside a concierge and a luggage cart. "Hi, Mister Wilson. Is it time to go?"

"It is," Mister Wilson confirmed. "Come, Miss Dragneel." A hand was extended to her with a warm smile. "Let's get you home."

°•°•°•°

The drive to the Sky Port was only long due to traffic. The District of Ishgar housed many administrative wizards and politicians and otherwise, so it was expected for a traffic delay. Mister Wilson had rented a large four-wheeler for them with a partition to separate them from the driver. While some took this as a necessary precaution with higher profile clients, it was more as a necessary evil as Mister Wilson took off his hat and eased back into Kyler and Býleistr could grow into his Hybrid Form without dealing with open jaws and strong fear.

"How are you feeling?" Kyler asked. "Be honest. We're protected."

"Relieved. Scared. Lousy." Nashi laughed as a blush appeared. "And definitely impatient for Gary to come home already."

Lucy chortled. "You know Juvia is going to be leaping for joy and might flood the whole city with how happy she is for you two," she teased her daughter. "She called me last night and has it all planned out about celebrating your newfound relationship."

Nashi groaned while Býleistr and Kyler laughed at her expense. "Please tell me you told her 'no'," Nashi begged.

"Actually, Natsu did." Lucy eye-rolled. "He was being such a drama queen. He still is being a drama queen." A head shake. "That man-child. Honestly. I told him you're an adult, but you know how he is."

"I know." Nashi ducked her head with a sheepish grin. "It's why I didn't answer any of his calls." Hickories turned to meet turquoise. "So what happens now once I go home? Will you still attend the trial? Will you keep me posted about everything else?"

"I'll keep you posted on what I can," Kyler assured. "While most have determined Skade's innocence is a done deal, Mirella, Talia, Pazuzu, Mammon, and myself aren't entirely sure."

Lucy frowned, but she understood whereas Nashi did not. "I see," Lucy murmured. "I've been a little apprehensive myself."

"What? Why?" Nashi looked between the Enoch and her mother. "What's going on?"

Kyler sighed. "Yesterday, once you were sent home, all the legal counsel in attendance—including myself—and Skade had a private meeting with the judge. He admitted that the jury had come to an agreeable consensus one-hundred percent after the interrogation display. As such, he let us know, with the jury's decision, we wouldn't need to continue to proceed. But"—he heaved his shoulders—"Mister Broussard apparently has one last witness that he did contact 'prior to the trial'. They've only now just agreed to testify with their own legal counsel and will be arriving tomorrow."

"What?" Nashi's eyebrows slammed upwards. "Are you serious?"

Býleistr growled. "How the Hell is that legal?"

"He got the deposition before the trial," Kyler explained, irked. "However, Mister Broussard had a private meeting with the judge and, once we came back in, the judge complied with Mister Broussard's request. So the questioning today is just to talk more about Skade's powers until lunch before they'll restart tomorrow at nine A.M."

"This is insane." Agitation clenched Nashi's hands into fists. "Everyone knows he's innocent. Why can't he just come home already? What the Hell is this attorney doing? He can't pin the blame of Bellum on Skade! Everyone knows Skade's innocent!"

"And they know that, sweetie," Lucy soothed with a hand on Nashi's arms. "However…"—chocolate flitted over Kyler's profile—"it's not that they're concerned Skade and Gary will be charged with terrorism on Bellum. It's the fact that they could be charged on something else entirely."

"Like what?" Nashi pressed, needing to know. "They know what happened between me and them and in Margaret Town. What else are they supposed to charge him with?"

Kyler grimaced. "We aren't sure. Mammon and Talia are working on it. But, until then, we're kept in the dark." He saw the anger Nashi exuded, but he could read underneath it. He could read her panic and fear. "Whether he is charged with another crime or not, there's no need to worry, Nashi. We've already set up a meeting with the Minister of Magical Creatures for Devils to be petitioned as an endangered magical species and we'll be meeting with the Bureau of Magical Development to recognize Devil Slayer powers as a 'Lost Art'. Guilty or innocent, Skade and Gary are protected."

But that did not calm Nashi's nerves as she looked out the window. "I guess so."

The rest of the drive to the Sky Port was quiet as everyone stewed in their thoughts. Kyler had arranged for them to use a private Sky Boat, but how he managed to procure one and pay for one were questions Nashi did not know she wanted to ask and get the answers for. They had personal administration check their passports before they proceeded. Býleistr came out the car as a cute Mallow Coon, but he scared the flight attendants when he shifted into his Lion Form and chuffed, pleased at their reactions. As Mister Wilson, Kyler helped Lucy out of the car first and towards the Sky Boat while other crew members gathered the luggage and packed it on the ship.

It surprised Mister Wilson when Lucy hugged him. "You have every right to visit our home any time," she whispered into his ear. "You and Mirella and Talia and Muta. Any time, you hear me? And you better as my daughter's older brother."

Mister Wilson hugged her back, albeit briefly, before releasing her. "Of course. I have so much to teach her and so much to discuss with you. I'd like the honor of meeting your husband." In a lower voice, he regarded, "There's much all of us need to discuss."

"Duly noted." Lucy accepted the gracious help of a flight attendant as she climbed up the steps and into the Sky Boat.

Mister Wilson came back around for Nashi who still had that pensive look on her face. "Chin up," Mister Wilson urged. "The hardest part is over now, little sister."

"Then, why does it feel like it's only just begun?" Nashi heaved a heavy sigh before darting her eyes up to catch his. "I just want Gary home," she admitted aloud. No blush. No embarrassment. No taking back her words. She meant it, even if her voice was small and vulnerable. "I miss him a lot, Kyler."

Sympathy fluttered into Mister Wilson's features. "I know you do," he hushed. "I know your pain."

Nashi knew he did. "How did you do it? How did you…feel like this and not want to cry?"

"Who said I didn't?" Mister Wilson offered a sad smile. "He'll come home to you, Nashi—they both will. We just have to be patient. And don't let anyone's words make you think any different." He pointed a finger at her. "I want you to reach me if anyone attacks you for your relationship. Those radicalized puritan crusaders are bound to try and show up at your door step or slander you online. Don't ever make contact or stoop to their level. You are a strong and fierce woman who cares about two different entities and no one should make you feel ashamed for such a beautiful emotion." Anger flared in his eyes. "But I have no problem putting them in their place."

A fond smile tugged at Nashi's lips and she embraced Mister Wilson. "You know I always wanted to have an older brother who would kick ass and take names for me," she giggled to him.

"I'm glad you found that in me," Mister Wilson jested back as he hugged her just as tight. "It doesn't matter how far I am, Nashi. You have me here for anything you need. The Seraph and the Guardian within you will help you find me if you need me. Trust them." He pulled away to touch her cheek. "And trust yourself and your decisions."

"Okay," Nashi murmured. "I will, I promise." She got on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Take care, Kyler. Love you."

For a moment, Mister Wilson was startled enough for a ring of turquoise to show in his eyes. But he softened and kissed her forehead. "I love you too. Talk to you soon."

Before emotions could rattle Nashi even further, she scurried away and accepted the help of a crew member to board the Sky Boat. Sure, the interior of the private Sky Boat was something out of a movie with fancy carpet and plush seating spaced out for comfort rather than sequestered economical purposes. They even had a few tables and a bedroom was in the back and closed off to be used once the flight had begun and held steady. But Nashi did not have the time to bask in all the luxuries as she plopped down next to her mother and leaned on her for support. Býleistr changed back into a cat to climb into her lap and offer cuddles.

"Was it ever hard for you?" Nashi wondered to her mother. "About Papa being who he is?"

"No." Lucy wrapped an arm around Nashi's shoulders. "It wasn't. It was never hard for me because I cared about him too much to care if he was human or Demon or Dragon. I cared for Natsu himself."

Nashi looked out the port window to see Mister Wilson was speaking to the pilots with gentle warning. "Did you know you loved Papa when you knew he wasn't human?"

"I didn't at the time," Lucy confessed. "I loved him as a close friend and cared about him more than that. It wasn't until we went on that one-hundred-year quest when I realized I loved him more than I thought." A pause. "Do you think you love Gary and Skade?"

Nashi shut her eyes as though trying to withdraw from the world and her own confusion. "I don't know," she choked. "Isn't that pathetic?"

"Not at all," Lucy hushed. "You're still young, Nashi, and you're still figuring things out. You don't need to know right now. But I know you care about them as more than a friend and as a guildmate." She nuzzled the top of Nashi's head. "To me, that's a big step to recognize. That's enough for now."

A wet exhale. A tear slipped. "I'm going back to Gary's place when we get home," Nashi decided. "I just… I want to be there when… I can't leave there—"

"I know." Lucy's words were the soothing relief Nashi needed. "I did the same thing with Natsu. I think it's a wonderful idea. And I think that alone will mean so much to Gary for you to be there at home, waiting for him."

Home… The word echoed into Nashi's mind and she caught up on the subtle hint her mother was giving. She did not mean the condo in itself or even Fairy Tail or Magnolia. Home… Nashi ran a hand down Býleistr's spine and cracked open her eyes to look out the port window once more. She witnessed Mister Wilson shake hands with the pilots before heading back to the car. Just come home, Gary, Skade, please. Come home to me.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 065

Judgement of Character

あなたが何者であるかを証明するものだ！ 恐怖に立ち向かい、今の自分となりたい自分のために戦え！

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mary Jane knew she had to take it easy. Some of the pains of the IUD had come back, dull but prominent enough that she winced. So she had buckled down within the house alone with her mother working at Fairy Tail and coordinating the event for tomorrow and her father had an emergency call he had to take. Before her parents had left for the day, they had given Mary Jane the books she could read if she wanted to guide herself in the right direction to practice Magic. Of course, these books held more rudimentary spells Magicians more often used than a Mage, but, to a Mage, these spells should have been a piece of cake.

…or so she wanted to say.

Mary Jane camped out in the living room as she worked up a sweat trying to keep her static going as a steady stream of lightning kept between her fingertips, but the exertion made her break concentration and keel over panting. "What's wrong with me?" she whined, breathless. "I used to electrocute Igneel daily without breaking a sweat! And now I'm sweating just from Com-charger lightning! This is pathetic!" She fell back, annoyed and exhausted.

What's wrong with me? Did I really lose this much of my Magic after Margaret Town? Mary Jane decided to stretch out to relieve some of her tension. It's weird being this out of shape. I can't even feel my Darkness Magic anymore, just my lightning. It's like…it never existed in the first place. The thought made her nauseous. But…if my Darkness Magic is gone… Does this mean I'm a Lightning Mage? No, that doesn't seem right either. A hand went to her acorn button charm and she looked down at it.

"Igneel," she whispered, "what did you see in me that I didn't see? Did you see what my Magic would be like? Send me a sign."

But nothing came.

Mary Jane sighed and dropped the charm. "I thought so." A little smile graced her lips. "You wouldn't have told me if you were here anyways. I wouldn't have wanted you to." She pulled her feet together and bent forward to wrap her hands to the soles of her feet and stretch out her back. I need to figure this out for myself. What sort of Mage am I now? What sort of power do I have now? And what do I do with this power?

RIIIIIIIING… RIIIIIIIING…

The automated messaging system announced: "You have an incoming call from Makarov Dreyar."

RIIIIIIIIING… RIIIIIIIING…

Mary Jane abandoned her stretches, wide-eyed, as she raced to the Home Communications Lacrima as it announced once more who was calling. Taking a breath, she answered the call with a smile. "Hi, Granddaddy!"

A jovial laugh. "Mary Jane, my babochka, how are you?"

"I'm great!" Mary Jane cheered, her smile widening. "How are you? I'm surprised you're calling. Does Miss Katja know you're using your Compact?"

"You know I was never one for following the rules, babochka," Makarov reminded in great mischief. "Anyway, I called the house to see if I could get a hold of that grandson of mine—"

"Oh! Daddy had an emergency call this morning, so he'll be out of touch for the day," Mary Jane relayed in slight pout. "He was supposed to be working with me on my Magic studies, but, well, you know how that goes."

"That I do, babochka, that I do." An enchanted sigh. "I remember the days when I was sending all those brats on jobs left and right. I got a little worried I might be pushing them too hard, but my brats always rose to the occasion. There was no challenge too great for them… Some people thought I was being cruel not making Laxus the Guild Master, but Erza was always chosen in my mind as a successor. I hope she's doing well. I'm sure Jellal is holding her back from going off on those brats every moment of the day, right?"

A pang hit Mary Jane and she swallowed it down. "Of course, Granddaddy." She shut her eyes as a void filled the line. Oh, no… Please don't…

Makarov came back on the line, happy as a peach. "But I'm sure you and Esmeralda give everyone a run for their jewel, don't you, girl?" A throaty laugh. "Everyone says you have that same personality as your father, but your mother was quite the spitfire back in the day."

Mary Jane worked her mouth. "Y-Y-Yes… So you told me, Granddaddy."

A sigh. "Can't believe your brother got himself off to the military. It's a shame. He could've been using his Magic in so many other ways and he chose being a damn military dog." A harrumph. "No one can say Nik doesn't like breaking outside the norm. That boy."

Another stretch of silence filled the call.

Mary Jane clamped a hand over her mouth as she held back her tears. Please… I just wanted some more time to speak to him as me for once. Please just a little more time.

"Anyway, Veronika, let me know when your parents come back home. I have much to discuss with Laxus. I love you."

"I love you too, Granddaddy," Mary Jane choked.

Makarov hummed and ended the call.

Mary Jane set down the Home Com and blinked away any of her despair. I shouldn't be upset. It's fine. I'm fine. I'll talk to Granddaddy later. It's okay. She combed her fingers through her ponytail as she went to sit back down. Besides, I don't have time to be sad. I need to focus on my Magic studies. But just as she sat down, she heard a pair of keys jingled and the front door opened as the alarm beeped twice. Paws scraped against the wood floors.

"Hello?"

Mary Jane's brow furrowed. "Lance?"

Lance emerged into the living room just a minute later with Illumi unleashed and padding over to Mary Jane. She laughed as the senior Fulgumiho covered her in sniffs and licks, whining like he was pleased to see her again. "Nice to see you too, Illumi," she giggled. She managed to get the Fulgumiho to roll over onto his back so she could dish out belly scratches. "Hi, Lance."

"Hi, May-Jay," Lance greeted, amused, and he took note of all the books around her. "Doing some practice?"

Mary Jane offered an exaggerated eye roll. "Trying to," she grumbled. "I just don't understand. I could make storms of lightning and now I can barely hold a charge. It's like my lightning is completely foreign to me even though I've been using it all this time." Shrugging, she gave a silly grin to Illumi." Anyways, if you're looking for Daddy, he's out on an emergency thing and Mom's at Fairy Tail."

"Shit," Lance cursed as he sunk down onto the floor next to her. "I was worried about that. I wasn't able to reach their Coms, but I thought they'd be home."

"Sorry. Mom said she'd be home by dinner, but I don't know when Daddy's coming home," Mary Jane confessed, apologetic. "That's what I basically told Granddaddy when he called—"

Lance's eyebrows rose. "Granddad called and you answered?" He sighed when Mary Jane flinched, a little hurt. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap, but you know if he's calling, you shouldn't be answering. When it's from Miss Katja's Compact or Miss Anna's are the only times we should be answering." He rooted around for his Compact in his sweats. "I need to tell them he has his Compact back before he starts calling Mom and Dad."

"I… I just wanted to hear his voice."

Lance glanced up to see pain in scarlet-cerulean. Dropping his Compact, he swept Mary Jane into a hug without hesitation. "I know," he murmured. "I know it's hard, Mary Jane. Trust me, I know."

"It's just not fair," Mary Jane sniffed.

"I know," Lance soothed. "I know."

Illumi sensed the dampening moods as he rolled back to his stomach and placed his grayed muzzle into Mary Jane's lap and sighed.

Mary Jane pulled away to brush her cheeks with her hands. "Anyways, what did you need to talk to Mom and Daddy about?" she addressed. "Is it important?"

"It can wait," Lance deduced. "I haven't been able to reach Master and she's out of office today, apparently. I wanted to talk to Dad since he's second-in-command, but I can wait until he's home." He gestured to the books. "Why don't I help you out with your studying?" he offered.

Mary Jane remained dubious. "Are you sure?"

"Sure." Lance whistled and Illumi got up to pad away and curl up into his nine tails. "You can always ask for my help regarding this stuff, Mary Jane."

"Right… Um…"

Lance blinked when he saw regret flash across his little sister's face. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. Just…" Mary Jane messed with her hair. "I wish I took you up on training a while ago. I was being so mean and stubborn before. But you're really incredible, Lance. You're the Railgun. It was stupid of me not to accept your offers back then. That would have been anyone else's dream and I took it for granted." Her eyes turned downcast. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't worry about it," Lance calmed. He was a bit surprised about the apology, though. "It was a different time then. We're moving forward. It's never too late to move forward, Mary Jane, especially with me; I want you to know that, okay?" He poked her shoulder. "You're my baby sister which means I'm stuck with you."

Mary Jane made a face. "Stuck with me? You know, I liked it better when you were tiptoeing around me and I was stuck with you."

A chortle escaped Lance. "I'm sure you do," he teased her. "Come on. Let me get you started with the basics and then, since we're both free until Mom and Dad get back, did you want to go out today? We can call Nik and Ronnie while we're out."

"Oh, yes, please!" Mary Jane squealed, excited. "Lisa-Jane told me Spencer is coming to stay with them from Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve and I have been dying to grill her about it!"

"At least she can't kill you," Lance said dryly. "If Nik or I did that, I don't think we'd survive her. And Nik barely survives her as it is." He shifted until he was comfortable. "Now, get into form and show me what you can do so far."

Mary Jane grimaced. "Okay." Brows furrowed and lips tight, she straightened her back and held her hands out with only inches between them. A grunt left her as she conjured her violet lightning. Sparks trickled back and forth between her fingertips and she let out a terse breath for those little sparks to turn into a feeble lightning stream between her palms. But when only a few seconds had gone by, the stream retreated and Mary Jane was left panting. "See? Pathetic." A growl. "What's wrong with me? I was never so weak before."

Lance regarded his sister with a wary intent. I wonder… "Mary Jane, did you ever consider you can't use your Lightning Magic anymore?"

Mary Jane leaned back with her hands as support to catch her breath. "I thought about it a little bit," she admitted. "I flat out can't use Darkness Magic anymore. My lightning is there, but it's weak. I just don't understand why that is. I don't understand why what happened in Margaret Town changed me for the worse."

Lance doused himself in a debate. Because what happened in Margaret Town didn't change you… It reverted you… But if I tell her, will she remember? And if she does, would I be able to control her and bring her back? No. I don't think I'd be able to. Mom was always the only one who could bring her back. But still… "Have you tried meditating?"

"Why?" Maybe before, Mary Jane would ask the question like he was insane for bringing it up, but as of now, she only asked out of innocuous puzzlement. "I didn't meditate that much to bring with. I was a natural back then and my Magic didn't require hardcore meditation."

"It won't hurt to try it." Lance folded his legs. "Meditation is a key way for beginning Mages to help learn about their First Spirit. Being able to recognize it, see it, and feel it helps you push your Magic out externally. Maybe you lost touch with your powers because you can't recognize your First Spirit anymore."

That made sense. Mary Jane nodded and folded her legs as well, facing him. "Okay. I'll give it a try."

Lance showed her his hands. "For this meditation, you're going to clasp your hands like this, but leave your pinkies up and flat against each other." He nodded when Mary Jane copied his movements. "Good. Just like that." He got up and, in slow movements, he channeled the electricity in the air and mixed it with his own. The atmosphere vibrated and a relaxing buzz filled the living room.

"What are you doing?" Mary Jane felt her body tingle.

Lance continued to guide the lightning with two fingers per hand in such fluid movements. "When I teach meditation classes, I help students stimulate their minds with this. It opens up the nodes in your body and helps you think about anything at all that you've been burying for so long. This should help with finding your repressed First Spirit."

Mary Jane's eyebrows went skyward. "You teach meditation?"

Lance smiled. "There's a lot you don't know."

"Talk to Lance more." Whisps of Igneel's voice floated to her with words from his letter. "He has so many answers to the questions you have."

Is this what Igneel meant? Mary Jane wondered.

"Set your hands at your core," Lance instructed and watched Mary Jane do so. "Good. Close your eyes and take deep breaths."

Mary Jane closed her eyes. "Do I say anything?"

"No." Lance's voice sounded distant. "Just silence. Breathe. Think. Connect."

"Think about what?"

"Think about what makes you the person you are, Mary Jane." A buzz electrified the room, but it did not feel threatening or as a warning. "Think about yourself…and your power will soon follow…"

Slow inhale…steady exhale… Slow inhale…steady exhale…

A new shade of darkness filtered over Mary Jane as her breaths droned into silence and all that she felt was her slackening heart beat and a serene buzz drifting around her and igniting her from the inside out. A coolness washed over her, not at all biting and rude like the winter, but it kept her calm and brought her down from burgeoning negativity she felt. This was peace. She had known this feeling when her mother hugged her or when she and Peter held each other or when Igneel held her, but to feel this sense of peace as an individual… There was nothing else that could compare.

"Think about what makes you the person you are," came the echo of Lance's voice.

The person I am, Mary Jane repeated, her whispers sounding loud in the confines of her mind. Think of the person that I am… That I am… I am…a failure.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

She was falling.

It was not a quick fall. The darkness would not allow her to drown too fast. It sucked her into its void with no remorse and she let herself fall deeper into this prison. The life that sparked in her eyes once had dulled into nothing. The void stripped her of the luxuries called positivity and light. They all but abandoned her. She was all on her own. And that was okay. She liked to be on her own.

'I am…a failure.' The downtrodden word pulsated with a sting to it. 'I'm weak. I'm selfish. I'm scared.' Each word hurt her even more, but she needed it to. This was her retribution. This was her punishment. This is what she deserved. 'I'm angry. I'm nothing. I'm a bitch.' The last word stung and shook her to the point a cry whimpered out.

'Mary Jane.'

An aura of fiery gold reflected in her lifeless eyes. 'Igneel…?'

'Never, ever call yourself that again, you hear me?'

Piercing emerald cut through the golden energy saturating her darkness. 'You should know how proud I am of you.' Like ripples in a pond, his voice carried and relieved the hurt she inflicted on herself. 'You're strong and kind. You're beautiful. You're amazing. I never want you to forget that.'

But the pain would not go down so easily. 'Igneel, you don't understand,' she whispered. She could not cry here, but somehow, that same sadness erupted from her. 'I'm not this good person you think I am.' She remembered the whipping Jacob had dished onto her back. She remembered the agony. But she remembered being content with that pain. 'I don't deserve what you think I deserve. I didn't even deserve you as a friend…and you left me…' The fiery aura was gone as the darkness won out, echoed whispers feeling the void.

'I…am nothing,' the void told her with a chorus of her own voice. 'I am nothing…'

'I'm…nothing,' Mary Jane repeated. 'I'm nothing…' The void carried her deeper and deeper until a chilled breath escaped her. 'I am nothing…'

A slippery hissing laugh. 'That's it, Mary Jane… You are nothing.'

Scarlet trickled into the void through the cracks like sludge. It gurgled and slithered in its madness.

'You will always be nothing,' came whispered coo. 'But I… I will make you into something greater the world has ever seen.'

The chaotic scarlet drowned out the void and caressed Mary Jane like a newborn. With a gentility that felt surreal, the scarlet energy slid against Mary Jane's skin as though cautious, but when Mary Jane did nothing, the energy grew more confident in its strokes and climbed onto her flesh.

'You do not have power… I can make you strong. I can make you the strongest amongst mortals,' came hissed promise. 'I can make them fear you. I can make them worship you.'

The scarlet crawled up Mary Jane's legs and arms. 'I am nothing…'

'Yes, my Child. You are nothing without me.' Large hands forged of scarlet cradled Mary Jane now. Glowing red eyes opened, intense and unnatural, and they focused on the tiny mortal they had possessed in their hands. 'I will make you strong. Together, we will make the mortals fear us. Together, we will become strong.'

'Strong,' Mary Jane repeated as the scarlet turned her flesh and turned her hair. Her body became made of that vile madness and she had nothing within her to fend it away. 'What is…'strong'?'

"Punish me all you want, but I swear to you, I won't let you touch her!" came distant snarl. "I won't let you touch MJ!"

The cerulean eye that remained refused to give in to the scarlet that consumed Mary Jane's body. 'Igneel…' Cerulean sparked with life, with sadness. 'Please, just go away. I'm not worth it. I'm nothing.'

"I d-d-don't care." The memory resurfaced. The focus watched as a dirtied Igneel crawled to her with tears in his eyes. "Pl-Please don't make me go away. Please."

'Igneel…'

DRIP…

A tear slid down her cheek. 'I'm not worth your friendship. I'm not worth anything. I tried to kill you. You should stay away from me.'

DROP…

Scarlet crawled into her cerulean eye. 'You should have let me die.'

"How dare you!"

Surprise fluttered through Mary Jane as a purifying white energy forged Luna and the memory of her dreams came forward. 'Luna?'

"I can't believe you! I've watched my friend nearly die and it wasn't his choice! And you have the nerve to choose death?"

The scarlet that threatened to overtake that last shred of color was forced to stop. 'Luna, you don't understand—'

SLAP!

The sting of Luna's slap back then came back now.

"Can't you think of the people who love you and need you?" Luna demanded. "Think about your parents! Your family! Fairy Tail! Igneel!"

A tear made of cerulean dribbled down Mary Jane's cheek. 'I tried to kill him—'

"Did you know Igneel is willing to kill for you?" The white energy forged a hand to cup Mary Jane's cheek as more cerulean tears fell. "He'll give his life to you because he'll never give up on you. Mary Jane, you were never a bad person. You just made mistakes." A kind smile as new words came. "Don't make those mistakes now. Not when Igneel is waiting for you."

The feeling of Igneel surrounded her in a subtle heat and brushed away her tears.

"So you can't let go…"—Luna's voice faded as her energy disappeared—"not when you have a friend who needs you."

'A friend who…needs me…'

Scarlet rescinded.

The heat intensified.

'You cared about me when I did awful things to you,' Mary Jane whispered. 'You stayed by my side through everything.' More memories resurfaced of her point of view. She watched as Igneel laughed and ducked from her attacks in her efforts to throttle him out of her room. She watched as Igneel lay on top of her, eyes blearily, as an invisible whip beat him down. She watched as Igneel held her on the burnt streets of Magnolia. 'You never gave up on me. You thought I was worth every whip, every punch… How could I give up so easily?'

Her body was free.

'NO!' came roar. 'You foolish mortal! You need me! You need me for your power! You are nothing without me!'

"No." Mary Jane stood in those scarlet hands…with clear blue eyes. "I'm not 'nothing' without you. I am something. I am someone. I'm Mary Jane Dreyar, the daughter of Mira and Laxus. I'm Peter's girlfriend. I'm Igneel's best friend. I am Fairy Tail.' Cerulean pools glowed. "And when Igneel comes home, I'm going to return everything he's done for me." Blue glowed from her palms. "I will become…the one who will make him smile this time!"

Feral rage flew into those large scarlet eyes as the void tore up scarlet. 'You need me!' came violent snarl. 'You need me to be strong! You need me to have power!'

"I don't need to kill the people I love to have power!" Mary Jane snapped. "I don't need to be this way! I can still be me and have this power! So, for the last time, and I am not asking you"—cerulean broke free from her hands—"stay out of my fucking head!"

A shrill scream tore around Mary Jane and she felt the maddening scarlet swirl, swirl, swirl, and dive down as though trying to swallow her, but when it crashed down for its final attack, Mary Jane stood tall and she felt nothing. Because there was nothing there. The scarlet had dispersed…

…and all that was left was a red orb.

Mary Jane cupped the orb and it pulsed at her touch. A burning sigil erupted onto its face, that of an eight arrow-pointed star. Scarlet had returned to one of her eyes as she weighed the orb in her hand, still suspended in the void. "So this… This is what's been inside my head?" she wondered. "This is what's been making me do those awful things?"

'Yes and no.'

Mary Jane turned around to see a blue orb waiting for her. She freed one hand to cup the blue orb and watched in awe as a circle with six detached stars burned onto the orb. "It's you," Mary Jane recognized. "You were the one who spoke to me about saving Igneel."

'Yes.' The orb pulsed as it spoke.

"Are you…my First Spirit?" Mary Jane had to know.

'We both are,' the blue orb told her. 'We are both the power you keep inside you.'

Mary Jane looked at the red orb. "What if I don't want this power? What if…I want to get rid of it?"

'You cannot.'

Mary Jane frowned. "Why not? Mages can exorcise Magic out of them."

'But you do not have Magic.'

That rattled Mary Jane. "But… Of course I do. I could do Darkness Magic. And my Lightning—"

'Such 'Magic' was not meant for you to handle,' the blue orb told her. 'They were never the true power you were designed for. We are the power you must use. Both of us. You cannot ignore one of us. If you do, you will die from imbalance.'

Mary Jane took that to heart. "But… What is my power? If I don't have Magic, then what do I have?"

'You have a power that was stripped away long ago,' the blue orb foretold. 'You have a power none can ever attain for it can destroy and create, the most dangerous of powers.'

"Then, why couldn't I use this power before?" Mary Jane demanded to know. "Why did it always take over me? Why couldn't I control it? Why did I…? Why did I try to kill people? That's not me. I'm not a murderer."

'Your pain triggered the only thing it could understand,' the blue orb told her soothingly. 'You have known great sorrow and your sorrow attracts a darkness you never understood. But once you understand your sorrow and the darkness, you will be able to use us both at will and to protect the people you love.'

Hesitation gripped Mary Jane as she glanced at the silent red orb. "I… I don't know."

'MJ.'

Mary Jane's eyes widened. She whirled around to find— "Igneel?"

He stood in the void—her void—plain as day, but he looked so different. Gold flames crowded his flesh like something she had never seen and made up his hair. A fiery emerald consumed his eyes, but all in all, none of that changed the cheery grin on his face as he looked at her.

"You're…here?" Mary Jane abandoned the orbs to try and touch his face. She gasped when the flames did not bite her and she could feel warm flesh. "But…we're in my mind. How are you…? Why are you…?" Tears congested her eyes and she threw all logic out the window when she grabbed him close and hugged him like he was dying. "Thank you for fighting for me," she whispered fervently. "Thank you for telling me everything I needed to hear. Thank you for being the bestest friend I could ever want." Flames wrapped around her and it took her a moment to realize Igneel was hugging her back.

"My MJ…" His words tickled her ears, velvety and full of affection. "What am I going to do with you?" His lips brushed against Mary Jane's cheek. "You can do this, MJ. I'm right here. I will never let you lose yourself."

"Do you promise me?" Mary Jane beseeched. "Can you promise me if I lose control again, you'll stop me?"

A touch of a smile and the wisps of a kiss. "Anything for my MJ." His gold flames spiraled and enveloped her. "Wake up, MJ. It's time to go to work."

Desperate, Mary Jane reached out into the flames and felt his hand in hers. Scarlet-cerulean sought calm emerald. "Stay safe for me, Igneel. I'm not asking. That's an order. You're going to come back home. I'm waiting on you."

Igneel inclined his head. "I'm waiting on you too," he replied, cryptic. He let her go as he cast himself into the void. "I love you, MJ."

"Igneel!" Mary Jane shouted as she strained to reach for him. But as his flames disappeared, she resigned herself to a sad smile and accepting eyes. "I love you too."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mary Jane fluttered open her eyes. That same peace she had slipped to had stayed and would not let her go. A deep breath expelled from her mouth as her spine and shoulders relaxed. Her frustrations, her worries, her fears—they had diminished. Oh, they were there. They would never not be there. But the peace overwhelmed bullying negativity.

"Wow…" she breathed. "I feel…incredible…" She unclasped her hands to extend one palm and watched as her power eased from within and carried over her flesh. A serene cerulean balled into her palm, familiar. To the other palm, she filled it hesitantly with the red orb, but relief anchored her when she did not hear that voice hiss in her ear. She felt that swell of power, yes, but it was her own. It heeded her command. So…this is my power… This is what it feels like… She closed her hands and dissipated the balls of energy. Amazing… In her heart of hearts, she hoped, Igneel… You just watch what I can do.

Mary Jane uncrossed her legs and stretched them. "Thanks for the meditation lesson, Lance, I…" But when she had widened her eyes to take in everything, she was able to notice what was wrong with this situation. The living room looked like a tornado had hit it. Thankfully, nothing was broken, but the living room was in disarray. Lance had backed away from her to stand with eyes wide and alarmed. She frowned, self-conscious. "Lance? What happened?" Then, it clicked. "Did I do this?"

"Mary Jane," Lance started, voice even, "I need you to be honest with me. What did you see while you were meditating?"

Mary Jane swallowed and hated anxiety was ruining her sense of peace. "I remember seeing nothing," she recounted. "Then, I saw something that's been haunting me for a while. And then, after that, once I controlled myself, I saw my First Spirit. And I saw… I saw…" Her hand subconsciously fingered her acorn charm. "I saw Igneel."

"'Igneel'?"

Mary Jane nodded. "Yes. I saw Igneel," she reiterated. "He helped me. And I think… I think I'm ready. I'm ready to start using this power I was given—my real powers." She winced as she took a look around. "But, first? Let me clean up. I don't want Mom and Daddy coming home to this and grounding me." She got up and dusted herself off. "Want to help me?"

Lance slowly nodded. "Sure."

Together, brother and sister worked together to arrange the living room it had been with Illumi keeping himself tucked within his nine tails. As Mary Jane minded her own, Lance could not help but glance from her from time to time as he reshelved fallen books and DVDs. That was…horrifying, he admitted. I did everything I could to confine her powers just into the living room, but even I'm exhausted. He remembered seeing her eyes open a fierce scarlet. He remembered her repeating I am nothing as that vibrant red overtook her body and threatened to overtake the entire house. He remembered choking on such intense energy that he had been forced to his knees.

But then, she turned back to normal, Lance recalled as her eyes turned a glowing blue and red. Her energy mellowed out, but… I felt another presence… Igneel… He must have been the presence I felt… He watched as Mary Jane tried to figure out which picture went where. Now I have even more things to report to Mom and Dad and Master… Without Mary Jane's memories, we should be fine, but…if she's awakened her powers even without her memories, then that means everything done was for nothing. And Igneel will never forgive any of us.

---

Peter stayed in his room today to stay home with the pets and work on his checklist for the up and coming semester and cross-reference with any materials that he did have. He listened to some music while he did so as the cats laid about in his bed. What was most surprising was the addition of a parakeet that felt at home on his shoulder that would bob up and down to the beat and chirped. Peter laughed and the parakeet dipped down so Peter could scratch its neck.

"You like the song too, Miki?" Peter teased and he laughed when the parakeet whistled. He gently nudged the bird onto his hand before going over to put Miki on his perch. "You stay here. I need to go to the closet." He went over to his Archive Lacrima to put a song to play next before going over to his little walk-in closet. His mother had been adamant he keep his clothes orderly through colors and it was aesthetically pleasing, but it drove him crazy at times. He searched on the bottom shoe shelves he had. "Now where are they…?"

Not seeing what he was looking for, Peter got up to look at the top shelf only to freeze. His hand caught the photo album and pulled it down to himself. His fingers brushed against the cover. Right. I have to decide what I'm going to do with this…

"You're sure I can keep this?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The focus looked from the cover of the photo album then back up to the face of his adoptive father. "I mean won't Mom get upset?"

"I talked to her beforehand," Bowie admitted.

A snort. "And how did that go?"

"Not that great," Bowie chuckled, raking a hand through his hair. "Of course she was upset I showed you the photo album, but I reasoned with your powers emerged, there was no reason to keep anything from you. I understand Jean and Alex had their wishes for you, but you deserve something to remind you of them." He sighed. "But I know your mom is more upset about the fact she feels like she was at fault for your parents' deaths."

"What?" The focus widened. "Why?"

Bowie lifted his shoulders and let them drop again. "She's always felt guilt. She knew Jean was an Alkahest and she was having family troubles, but she felt she should have pushed Jean to talk about her family more."

"But what does that have to deal with my parents' death?" A pause. "Was my biological family responsible for my parents' deaths?"

"On the record, no," Bowie told him with a shake of his head. "All of Jean and Alex's family had solid alibis for that night. But your mother has her doubts." Bowie nodded at the photo album. "She felt at fault that she never pushed harder for an investigation against your biological family. She always felt something was wrong. And I have to agree with her. Something else was going on. We just don't know what. It haunts your mom to this day she couldn't figure out the truth for both herself and for you."

"For me?"

Bowie tipped his head. "Jean and Alex were your parents, Peter. Your mom wanted to give you the answers you deserved, but instead, we just have the police report about a house fire and a suspected arsonist. But you know your mom," he sighed. "Once she has a gut feeling about something, nothing can change it."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Peter opened the photo album to the second page and saw his parents with cake and buttercream frosting smeared on their chins and noses and love in their eyes. An unknown emotion stirred within Peter. A longing to know the people behind the picture. If they didn't die in the house fire, then what did they die from?

"Peter?"

He slammed the photo album closed and stored it back onto the shelf. "Coming, Mom!" He exited his closet to see his mother had come into his room, but she did not look happy and his eyes zipped to the sealed envelope package in her hands to know why. "Oh."

"Yes. 'Oh'." Eloa looked so betrayed when she pointed at the logo that read ALEXANDRIA COLLEGE. "What is this? I thought we agreed we'd sit down and talk about this before you start accepting any offers?"

"We did," Peter agreed quickly. "But… Well…" Squaring his shoulders, he tightened his resolve. "Look, Mom, I'm sixteen. Mages have the right to join Guilds when they're ten and Magic Schools when they're twelve with or without parents approving. I want to go to school and learn about who and what I am. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I'm going."

Eloa collected herself and her thoughts. "Peter, I understand Magic Laws are different than actual laws," she started slowly, "but you are still my child. Going to this school…" She looked so torn. "Why this school?"

"You know why, Mom," Peter said softly. He came over to retrieve the thick envelope from her. "This is the school my biological parents went to. Maybe this means something. Maybe…I can find out more about them there and connect with them, I don't know. But I have to go there. Please understand that."

Eloa's dark eyes glittered with the threat of tears, but she blinked them away. "Can't we talk about this?" she pleaded. "I mean, you just finished your fall semester of high school. Couldn't you wait until next year when you've graduated—?"

"Mom—"

"I'm just asking you to wait until you've gotten your diploma from a normal school," Eloa cut him off. "Then, you could go to college and be normal—"

Gritted teeth. "But I'm not 'normal', Mom!"

Eloa was taken back.

Peter gave a terse breath. "I'm not… I'm not a Spiritless, Mom. I have powers—Magic. Alchemy and Alkahestry—I have them both. That's the part of me that isn't normal, Mom," he said, controlled. "Mom, as long as I have these powers, I can't be what you want and just graduate high school and go to college—"

"Yes, you can," Eloa insisted. "You can just ignore it—"

Peter laughed, insincere. "How can you expect me to do that?" he asked of her, incensed. "You want me to ignore the best thing that's happened to me? I'm a wizard, Mom, I can't just ignore that!" He set the envelope on his desk. "Mary Jane's family explained to me what happens when wizards ignore their powers—"

That was the wrong thing to say when his mother's eyes narrowed. "So she's been giving you these ideas then?"

"I asked the question, Mom," Peter snapped. "Don't blame Mary Jane or her family for what I want to know. They're the only ones I can talk about this—!"

"You can talk to me—!"

"But, Mom, do you hear yourself?" Peter demanded, incredulous. "You're blaming people you don't even know about 'ideas' that I'm the one having! You're getting geeked up about me going to Alexandria to find out about who I am and find out about my parents!"

Eloa smothered Peter's cheeks with her hands out of desperation. "I can tell you about your mom. You don't need to go to some Magic School to learn about them, Peter. You have us. We have their memory here at home where it's safe."

Peter gently removed himself from his mother's grasp. "Even if you told me about them, there's still a lot about me that I don't know, Mom. Like this." He held up his palms and, when his eyes turned a heated liquid gold, the symbols burned bright onto his palms. "Like why I have these symbols. And what my powers mean and how I can use them. This is who I am and I don't even know that much. That's why I need to go. I thought you would understand that."

"I do, it's just…" Eloa searched for the words. "I watched that power take so much from Jean. I can't let it take you too. Peter, your powers don't define you," she added when Peter shook his head with a disbelieving smirk. "You don't need powers like that controlling your life. You can still be normal. You can still graduate and go to school and get a job—"

"I can do all that as a wizard—!"

"Not when you let that power control you—!"

"But it won't—!"

"You don't know that!" Eloa snapped. "Those disgusting powers are the reason my best friend isn't standing here and raising you, Peter! They took her away! I won't let them take my son away from me—!"

"But I'm not your son!" Peter finally shouted. "I'm Jean and Alex's son and, yes, I said their names! I'm the son of an Alchemist and an Alkahest and I want to know what that means! It's my last chance to connect with them!" He jabbed a finger at Eloa. "You kept me from Magic, fine, but it doesn't matter anymore. I'm a Registered Wizard now, Mom; you can't tell me where I can and can't go anymore! This is my life! This is my choice and I'm making it! If you don't want to be there for me, fine. But I'm doing it anyways!"

He was prepared for his mother to snap back at him. He geared up for the vicious fight he had been dreading. Sure, they had had their spats and biting mutters about his powers and him being more interested in the magical arts, but they had not gotten this heated. He balled his hands into fists. I'm willing to fight for this against you, Mom. I'm sorry, but I have to do this.

So, it surprised him when Eloa closed her eyes for a moment. "We will talk about this later," she decided, voice tight. "Clean your room and make sure you're ready by five for the get-together at your grandparents' house tonight." She left the room and closed the door behind her.

Anger seeped away from Peter and he was drained all-too-fast. It barely registered Meela had come down from his bed to purr and wind around his legs as an act of comfort. Miki flew off his perch to land on Peter's shoulder and chirped. "Thanks, guys," he sighed. "You guys understand why I have to go, right?"

Meela sat at his feet and let out a lengthy meow while Miki gave him big wings before closing them again.

Peter went back to his closet to retrieve the photo album and took a look back at the wedding photo. His hand brushed over the picture as those golden eyes morphed into an odd sadness he did not understand. "I love the parents I have now," he whispered to the picture like Jean and Alex could hear him, "but… I feel so alone. I have so many questions for you both." His mouth opened to say more, but what could he say? Sighing, he closed the book, hands on the cover and back, but he did not have it in him to put it up again.

His hands shook. Why…? Why did I have to have these powers? I could've been fine without them. Yeah, it sucked I was watched like a hawk, but… I could've just done the normal thing and lazed off my senior year. I'd be with my friends. Mom and I wouldn't be fighting like this. I would've been normal. If I hadn't chased after Sweets, I—

Gleaming scarlet-cerulean.

Peter blinked. "What am I saying?" He looked down at the photo album he cradled, but all he could envision was Mary Jane. If I hadn't chased after her in Margaret Town, I would have never gotten these powers, sure, but… Then, I wouldn't have gotten to know her. I wouldn't have gotten to know what made her laugh… I wouldn't have gotten to meet her huge family. And she wouldn't be my girlfriend. Do I really regret that? He could see Mary Jane laughing, happy amongst the chaos of her family. No, he decided firmly. I don't regret anything. My powers are mine and mine alone. It's up to me to learn about them and use them for good. Liquid gold burned. And I'm going to learn everything I can about myself…and my parents.

ZZZT.

Peter blinked when he felt a rush exude through him. Scarlet lightning clacked off his body and imprisoned the photo album. Panic overwhelmed him when his palms burned and he tried to drop the book, but it would not budge. Only after the scarlet lightning was gone did the book fall down and he fumbled backwards with Miki flying off his shoulder to a safe perch. Panting, he warily eyed the photo album. "What…was that?" he wheezed. Ever-so-careful, he went back to the book and picked it up, but he noticed something different. Wait… The pages… It looks like there's more pages…

Peter opened the photo album, tentative, and he saw all those signatures. But when he flipped the noticeably thinner page, his eyes widened. This… This is handwriting… All on the page was a written entry similar to a journey with a date over a decade ago at the top. He traced the letters. Someone wrote this. But, who…? His eyes fell to the signature.

VH

My mother's name was 'Jean van Helmont', Peter remembered. Is this her handwriting? He flipped to the next page. And this… This seems to be some sort of…recipe? He went to the next page and the next. All of this is either some sort of journal entry or a recipe or some sort of note, but… Why would my biological mother leave this behind? Why did it…?

Gold widened and Peter stole the photo album out of the closet to retrieve his Compact. He typed in ALCHEMY and searched. When he found a trusted source, he read it aloud, "'Alchemy derives from the basics of deconstruction and reconstruction based upon the matters given and understanding both transformation, conservation, creation, and combination. A matter can be subjected to transmutation only if it follows conservation laws and retains equivalent mass to its former state'." He looked out the photo album. Did I use Alchemy? The album still weighs the same, but… He looked out the symbols burning on his palms. Did I use Alchemy and Alkahestry?

He flipped back to the second page to look at the happily wedded couple. Jean, Alex… Are you trying to tell me something? The powers you passed down to me… Will all the writing help me learn about them? That was when he could an odd symbol on the corner of the photograph. Huh… What's this? And drawn on the corner of the photo…

…was an eight arrow-pointed star.

---

The Dragneel Residence was full of life again. Natsu had awoken, ready to put up a fight again, when he realized they were home and had decided to be nice enough to carry Luna's things upstairs. Luke had left them alone to head upstairs, but Luna, Silver, and Ena stayed downstairs with Ena and Silver's things. Luna had brightened, if only a little, and looked between Ena and Silver. "So, what happened last night?" she asked. "How was your dance?"

"Fine," Ena supposed, nonchalant, while Silver looked a little flushed. "I got to dance with a few other teens there and Luke, but then Gigi came back, so we talked business and he gave me the rundown of the people who want to work with me."

"You danced with me once, but you danced with Luke three times," Silver muttered.

Ena shot him a raised eyebrow. "Yes. Because, unlike you, he can actually lead." She turned back to Luna and ignored the way Silver looked ready to pop a blood vessel. "Anyways, did you want to get some stuff and come over to my house?" She perked. "You think my mom would let me stay here longer?"

Before Luna could answer, all three fell silence when Ena's Compact rang from her bag which Silver carried. He checked the caller and grimaced. "It's your mom."

Ena scowled and swiped her Compact. "I'll be right back." And she was back outside to murmur greetings to her mother.

Silver looked like he wanted to say something, but he had no time to say a word when Luna pulled him down the hall and into the living room. Just when he could open his mouth, Luna shoved a hand onto his lips and hissed, "She danced with Luke three times? Silver…"

Silver pushed Luna's hand from her mouth. "It's not my fault!" he said in defense. "She didn't want to dance with me anyway!"

"She would have," Luna argued, "but I bet you kept making stupid comments and Luke took her out of her misery!" She hit his shoulder. "What is wrong with you?"

"Hey, hey, I need that arm!" Silver rubbed his shoulder with a sour pout. "What does it matter? Not like she and I are close! She had way more fun with Luke anyways! Actually smiling and laughing…" His pout protruded even more. "She could have at least laughed a little more with me and danced with me more." He caught the growing grin on Luna's face and his wariness heightened. "Lulu… Don't go thinking anything weird—"

"But you sound so cute!" she crooned. "It's almost like you're jealous"—Silver's face reddened with either anger or mortification—"that E danced with Luke more than you—"

"I'm not jealous!" Silver quickly denied. "Ena can—!"

"Oh, so, she's 'Ena' now?" Luna teased. "Be still my heart!"

Silver growled. "Shut up! Fernandes can dance with whoever she wants to dance with! I don't care!"

Luna hid her giggle behind a hand and pointed a finger right above her best friend. "Um… What's the phrase again? 'Actions speak louder than words'?"

Silver blinked. "What are you talking about?" He followed her finger and he clammed up when he realized miniature storm clouds bumbled above him. Waving his hands to force them to disappear, he stressed to Luna, "I don't care. I mean it."

Luna only gave that slow nod with that cattish grin. "Mmm-hmm…"

"I don't!" Silver snapped. "Stop giving me that look! Fernandes can dance and laugh and smile around whoever she wants, okay? It doesn't matter to me!"

"Right…" Luna drawled. "And, um, those storm clouds say the same thing?"

Silver dispelled the dreadful clouds once again. "You're being ridiculous, Lulu," he told her. "Anyways, you have some explaining to do yourself." He blinked and concern blotched his face when Luna's earlier mirth withdrew into a sad pensiveness. "Hey… Lulu, what's going on?" He moved them both to sit down. "Why the face? Did your night not go as you expected?" He thought back to the sorrowful look Luna had had on their way back to their private wing. "You seemed a little off when we left the ball last night," he observed in a murmur. "I would've thought the birthday girl would've been happier."

Luna drew her knees up to her chest. "Can I ask you a weird question?"

"Always," said Silver naturally. "What's going on?"

"Do you ever…?" Luna scraped the question and tried a new one. "You have feelings for Paige, right?"

She did not notice Silver's hesitation, but Silver still answered, "Y-Yeah…"

"Okay, so you have feelings for her…this person… And they're really strong feelings, right? Because they're sweet and kind and they makes you feel so warm and comfortable and you've never felt so taken care of," Luna described to him. "But then… But then, there's this other person, right? And you've known this other person for, like, a really long time. And they're so aggressive and rude and push your buttons, but then they're so sweet and they make you feel butterflies in your stomach and they have your back, even if you get into a fight… How do you just choose between that?"

Silver swallowed. "Well… I guess I never thought about choosing," he admitted. "For me, it was always Paige, y'know? Honestly, Julia's a lot better at answering stuff like this than me—"

"Silver." Vulnerable chocolate clashed with uneasy mayan blues. "Please."

Silver scooted closer to bring her hands into his own as he drew up his own knees to sit crisscross. "Okay, so, say I had to choose between two people," he began. "For starters, it sounds like those two people make me feel two different things."

"What?" Luna's brow furrowed. "It all sounds the same to me."

"But it isn't though," Silver countered with a shake of his head. "People love other people differently. It goes from person to person. To me, it sounds like I feel some sort of way with one person and a different way with another. So, at that point, I'd ask myself which way I want to feel for a long time, I guess. Which person can I really say I want to feel this way for as long as they'll have me?" A shrug. "And, once I figured out the way I want to feel, then I'd make my choice."

Luna's look sullied with annoyance. "You make it sound so easy."

"But I know it isn't," Silver soothed as he squeezed her hands. "It's not easy. But you have to choose. It's not fair to anyone when you don't choose. And when you make that choice, stick with that choice. Have no regrets. My dad told me if I ever got into dates and dating, it's fine to explore and date other people—you know, figure out what I want. But once I get into a relationship, I shouldn't go into with my glass half empty. I should be all in, no regrets, and no looking at other people."

Luna dipped her chin into her legs. "What if choosing hurts someone?"

"Then, it hurts someone." Silver smiled a little when Luna swung a glare at him. "Lulu, I hate to say this, but shit happens."

"Silver—!"

"Oh, shut it; you're no saint either," Silver jested. "People get hurt everyday with stupid choices they make or someone else makes. But choices have to be made if you want to move on. And if someone gets hurt, oh well. They get hurt. But it's better for it to hurt now and they can move on, then to drag it out and they're hurt even more."

Luna lightly kicked his leg. "Since when did you get so smart?"

A guileless smile. "Since I learned love sort of sucks, but it's better to feel it and hurt, then never feel it at all."

Luna blinked her and her frowned deepened. "Silver…"

But their conversation was cut short when Ena swept back in, bothered. "Well, I'm to come home effective immediately," she groused. "My mom and Aine are waiting for me at home to probably comfort me about Mystogan hating me." She rolled her eyes. "As if they care."

"They care," Luna maintained.

"Sure." Ena turned to Silver. "Fullbuster, my bags. You'll be escorting me home." She left Silver no time to argue as she went over to hug Luna. "And you text me if you want to come over and fill me in on what's going on," she whispered. "I've got your back, L."

"And I've got yours, E," Luna whispered back. "Text me after your meeting with your fam."

"Of course." Ena drew back and raised an eyebrow when she saw Silver had not moved. "My bags?"

Silver ground his teeth. "I'll talk to you later, Lulu." He got up and tossed a glare to Ena. "Can't you ask for anything nicely? Or does being a dried-up witch prevent you from having manners?"

Ena glided past him. "Does being a lovesick idiot render you incapable of doing anything without complaining?" She clapped her hands. "Let's go. I have things to do." She ignored Silver's grumbling as he gathered her belongings and his own and took them outside. He stood back and watched as Ena scooped up a handful of grass and dirt and blew Magic onto it. "Into a carriage."

Magic swept the grass and dirt away from her as it twisted and expanded the grass and dirt. The large wheels appeared first and settled on the ground before the base of the carriage came next. Window rolled up and a roof was built. Red and white painted the carriage with an E on the doors written in beautiful calligraphy. Ena marched up to the carriage like it was nothing. "We're wasting time, Fullbuster, let's go!" she called.

Silver could not blink away his awe. "I love Magic." He managed to put her belongings in the trunk of the carriage, but he knew better than to put her purse there and took it with him into the carriage. In the interior was just as impressive as the exterior with leather seating and cushy walls. Once Silver was seated and took in his wonder, Ena snapped and the carriage moved itself with no need for horses out of the grass and down the beaten path. "Your Magic really is incredible," Silver told her.

Ena sighed. "I suppose. It has its perks and drawbacks. I can make golems, sure, but I can't turn a book into a person. I can turn a person into a sentient book." She folded her arms under her chest. "Plus, doing stuff like this isn't always an option."

Silver frowned. "What do you mean?"

Ena heaved a sigh. "My Magic is one of the rarest of Transformation Magic. It's not like Molding Magic where I'm building nothing into something out of my own Magic Power and it's not like Alchemy where I'm transmuting stuff into something else with the same weight and all the properties are just distributed differently. I can transform myself and transform other things and I can do it and change everything about them… But I have to know what I'm transforming them into and it's not exactly a quick spell."

"So kind of like Molding Magic," Silver compared. "That's why Gary has a huge rep for his Ice-Make. He can make guns and a car if you press him, but it's because he knows all the science and mechanics behind it. But it takes a toll on him. It's why my dad sticks to more basic things since they're still effective, but since they're not as complex, he has a lot more Magic Power left."

"Right," Ena confirmed. "And Gary's doing that all out of his own power, not even using things around him, so he has it a lot harder than me. Plus, if something already has complex sentience, I can't take that away." A twinge of a smile. "For example…" She pointed a finger at him.

Silver's eyes widened. "Fernandes—!"

"Into a mirror." Ena blew Magic at him and watched in amusement as her powers consumed Silver and squashed him down until a silver hand mirror was left. She picked him up and grinned when she saw an annoyed Silver stuck within the mirror. "Magic Mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?" she teased him.

"Isn't it supposed to be 'mirror, mirror'?" Silver griped.

Ena arched an eyebrow. "No, you fool, it's 'Magic Mirror'. Get it right. And answer my question or I'll turn you into a book next."

"You are," Silver begrudgingly answered. "Can you change me back now?"

Ena chuckled and put the hand mirror back onto the bench sea opposite of her. "Into a man." She blew Magic onto the mirror and watched as it morphed and shifted and broke out into the form of man.

Silver appeared once again and patted himself down and checked himself over before sighing in relief. "I'm me again." Glaring at Ena, he muttered, "Okay, okay, I get it. Next time, keep me out of being an example." He looked all across the carriage. "I just don't get it. You used some grass to make this, right?"

"Yes."

"Why not turn the grass into horses?"

Ena rolled her eyes. "Different thought process," she explained. "Grass and horses don't exactly think the same."

Silver bobbed his head. "Got it. But doesn't making it move take a lot of Magic too?"

"Well, well, you certainly are chatty today," Ena recounted, dry. "No, it doesn't really use too much Magic. The carriage uses the energy from whatever I turned it into. I can change the weight and shape all I want, but I haven't gotten it down to change the potential energy of something. The carriage has enough energy to drop you off at your house and then end the trip at mine."

"Let's just go to yours first." Silver blushed when Ena narrowed her eyes. "I-I-I mean you'll need help getting your stuff out, right? I can help with that since I'm your, you know, assistant and all. I can walk back to my house."

Ena was not going to fight him on it and looked out the window. "If you say so."

Silence settled in and Ena embraced it while Silver just felt more awkward with it. A Compact beeped, and Silver automatically reached into Ena's purse to pull out her Compact and check the message. It made his brow furrowed when he saw the message came from none other than— "Jasper texted you?"

"Oh!" Ena's eyes widened. "Shoot. Right, he did." She offered her hand.

Silver was not ready to part with the Compact. "Why is he texting you?"

"He wanted to make sure I'm okay and then asked if I had plans for the weekend. I forgot to respond." Ena beckoned for the Compact once more.

Silver narrowed his eyes. "Why would he ask you that?"

Exasperated, Ena reached over to snatch her Compact from him. "I don't know. It's not like I'll have time this weekend. I have my auction this weekend—"

"'Auction'?"

"Yes. Auction." Ena typed into her Compact. "I have an end-of-the-year auction for any ideas that I had and completed, but the client changed their mind. Sure, they still paid me for the deposit, but I need to get rid of those designs and earn back any money for the labor and materials. So, every year, after Christmas, I sell anything and everything to make room for my new designs. I get sold out within a few hours, but I do special packaging and write personal notes, so it does take me longer." She frowned. "I wonder if L would be up to helping me…"

"I'll do it."

Ena's eyes cut to Silver's. "Excuse me?"

"I-I mean, I, um, well…" Silver felt so smart with his next words. "What sort of assistant would I be if I didn't help you with your tasks?"

Ena crossed her legs, eyes unreadable. "I won't require an assistant after tomorrow."

"But I can help!" Silver contended. "I mean, think about it, you'll be done twice as fast with me to help you with packages and wrapping and everything, right? And I can even take a lot of stuff to the post office for you."

Ena was unconvinced. "I can just create a cart—"

"But I can pull the cart—"

"The cart can move on its own—"

"Fernandes, just accept the offer," Silver told her, riled. "Why are you so stubborn?"

"Why are you so insistent on helping me?" Ena pressed. "What's in it for you? Money? Connections? What?" Her eyes narrowed. "Did L put you up to this? If she did, you can just tell her you're helping me and then go off somewhere—"

"I'm helping you because I want to help you!" Silver snapped. "No one is making me do anything! I just want to help! How hard is that to understand?"

Ena carefully observed him, taking in his wrath and all. Scrounging up her indifference, she settled back against the wall of the carriage and lifted her chin. "Fine. You can be my assistant until the end of the year," she decided. She raised up a finger when Silver opened his mouth. "But you will follow every order I give without question. No complaining. My process is my process. Do you understand?"

Silver strongly wanted to roll his eyes, but he did not and grunted, "I understand."

"Good. And I'll pay you for your work too."

Silver shook his head. "I don't want your money."

"Well, you're getting it anyways," Ena retorted not unkindly. "I don't let any sort of labor go for free."

"Lulu helps you for free—"

"That's what she thinks." Mischief filled Ena's eyes. "But I always take her out to eat after we're finished. I just don't think she's realized I'm paying her with food."

Silver chortled. "No, probably not." An idea came to him. "What if you didn't pay me with money then?"

"I'd prefer to pay you in jewel—"

"I won't accept it," Silver said, tone flat. "You didn't pay me in jewel before and you won't now, so drop your whining now. You can pay me in something other than jewel."

Suspicion arose on Ena's face. "Like what? Another meal?"

"N-No… Like…" A nervous sweat broke out on Silver. "Like…" He gulped. I should've planned this out better.

Ena remained unamused. "Do all lovesick idiots get this tongue-twisted or is it just you?" She nodded to his hands. "And for the record, I can literally see the sweat on your palms. It's dripping all over the carpet."

Silver looked mortified and tucked his hands underneath his armpits. What's wrong with me? I've never gotten like this before. Rocking himself a bit to settle the nerves, he mumbled, "You could pay me by… being my date to the masquerade ball?" He shut his eyes and awaited her rejection.

"Okay."

"And, before you say, 'no', just…" Silver snapped open his eyes to look at her in shock. "'Okay'?"

Ena propped her elbow on the windowsill and rested her cheek amongst her fist, carrying out a deep sigh. "Sure. I understand. Make Paige jealous and think you've moved on, so she'll speak to you again. I'm not one to condone using jealousy to kickstart a relationship, but lovesick fools are fools for a reason."

Silver's eyes headed downward to look at the floor. "Right… To make Paige jealous…" That should be it, right? That's what this is for? But… He sat back in his seat. That wasn't what I wanted.

The rest of the ride was spared of any more conversation. Ena watched Magnolia go by and occasionally checked her Compact to text a few words. Silver kept to himself, eyes down and conflicted. It was not until the carriage stopped that Ena spoke up. "We're here." The door opened for her and she hopped down to face her home. I'm so not ready for this.

"Here you go."

Ena looked back to see Silver had unloaded her belongings and his own. She diminished the carriage back into grass and dirt before going over to her suitcase. Displeasure flickered in her eyes when Silver batted her hand away. "I'll bring your stuff to the house," Silver told her without any room for arguing. "I'm trying to be a good assistant."

Ena snorted. "Sure you are." But she put up no fuss and walked down the sidewalk with Silver a few steps behind her.

"I change my mind. I want to add one more thing to my payment."

Ena hmphed. "Oh, this will be good."

"It is. I want you to come to my swim meets."

"Not a chance."

Silver matched her stride to bump her shoulder. "This is my payment," he reminded.

Ena grimaced. "Can't I just throw money at you so you'll go away?"

"Nope." Now Silver had a pep in his step. "This is what I want. If you try to give me money, I'll just send it back, so you don't have a choice."

"Killing you is a choice," Ena muttered under her breath. Relenting, she sighed, "Do I need to bring an umbrella?"

Silver laughed. "Why would you bring an umbrella to a swim meet? Just stay out of the splash zone and you and your stuck-up outfits won't get wet."

"So you say," Ena said sourly as they climbed up the porch steps. "I'll need to waterproof everything." She peered up at him, optimistic. "Maybe you'll accept—"

"Stop whining, Fernandes. You're coming to my meets."

Ena scowled. "And just how long do you think you're going to be my assistant for anyways?" she sniped. "I told you I only need an assistant until the end of the year—"

"You'll need me next year too." Silver hurried to add when Ena looked ready to whip out her sword, "Think about it. Someone to help you and be your personal pin cushion and carry your bags and take notes would be pretty useful for this winter while you're doing your spring collection and stuff and attending events, right? You wouldn't have to lift a finger for much while I'm around."

Ena grunted. "I suppose the idea has an appeal…" She glowered at him when he grinned, haughty. "Don't get too cocky, Fullbuster. This is a trial basis. You slip-up like you did before and you're out, you got that? I'm not a very forgiving person."

"Yes, ma'am," Silver teased.

"I'm not a 'ma'am'. Don't call me 'ma'am'," Ena muttered. "And give me my keys."

Silver brought out her house keys and bowed to her with a flourish of his hands. "Why, yes, of course, Your Highness."

Ena snatched her keys from him and appraised him with a borderline homicidal scowl. "Just remember, I can turn you into a book." She unlocked the door. "And I will drop you off at the donation bin at the library for sticky children to touch you and rip out your pages." She pushed open the door and made her way inside.

Silver snickered, but he sobered when he realized she would do that to him in a heartbeat if he pressed her enough. "Right. Sorry." He was about to bring her things inside when a hand went to his face.

"I'll bring them inside." Ena grabbed the first suitcase before taking away the other suitcase. "Go home. Rest for the day. Be at my house at eight a-m sharp." She cast him a meaningful look as a reminder to his tardiness beforehand and he rightfully looked reprimanded. "Make sure you eat breakfast because we have a lot to do tomorrow with final touch-ups and deliveries and not only that but make sure you bring whatever you were going to wear for the masquerade ball so I can adjust it to match mine."

"Should I bring you tea in the morning since you don't like coffee?"

For a moment, Ena looked ready to verbally attack him, but then, she realized Silver was being sincere. Off-kilter, she told him, "I make my own tea in the mornings, so no thank you."

"But shouldn't I be doing that?" Silver probed, dubious. "You know, if I'm your assistant and everything."

"You're not that sort of assistant," Ena pointed out.

"But I'm here to help you, right?" Silver did not wait for Ena to sort out an objection. "So I'll be here bright and early and you can teach me how you like your tea so I can bring it to you while you work."

A wariness was there on Ena's face, but she did have a bit of approval for Silver's dedication. "Fine. Then, be here by seven-thirty," she amended. "Wear something tasteful. My clients judge me based on how I look and they'll certainly judge a sloppy assistant who looks like a Monet."

Silver scrunched up his nose. He knew he had been insulted, but he did not know how he was insulted. "A what?"

"A Monet. You look okay from a distance, but the moment you get closer, you look like a mess." Ena gestured to his ensemble with a judgmental frown. "This will all have to change. Starting tomorrow, you dress like you're my assistant—not a sweatpants-only-plays-Lacrima-games-all-day-lives-in-my-mother's-basement teenager."

"You're a teenager," Silver grumbled.

Ena inclined her head. "Yes, but I'm a teenager with my own exclusive business and I work with adults all day long. I already have enough to go through doing that. I won't let you set me back months with your bad taste." She dismissed him with a hand flick. "And never wear red or pink. And if you have orange or yellow? Burn it. Pink clashes with my hair. Red is my color. Only wear red when I tell you to." A self-satisfied smile packed her face when Silver grew even more aggravated. "Or perhaps this is too much for you? Want to back at now? Why don't you wait here and I'll get the jewel I owe you instead?"

Silver narrowed his eyes and looked ready for a retort when, all of a sudden, he relaxed, all smiles and high brows, and that made Ena apprehensive. "I know what you're doing," Silver sang. "And it's not going to work."

"And what am I doing?" Ena queried, disinterested.

"You're trying to be even more impossible than you were before to drive me off," Silver told her smartly. "Ha! You can't fool me, Fernandes." He saluted her before he walked off with his things. "I'll be here at seven!"

"I said seven-thirty!"

"A good assistant always should be early!" Silver shouted back. He pivoted to grin at her. "See you tomorrow, boss!"

Ena growled. "Don't call me that either!" But when Silver only raised his hand as the indication he heard, she shook her head in disgust and went inside to shut the door. "That idiot. He's up to something…"

STEP… STEP…

"Was that Silver I heard?"

Ena hung up her keys before she took off her shoes. "Yes." But she did not care to elaborate. Glancing up, she saw her mother dressed in comfy clothing. "Hi, Mom." As she went to hang up her coat, she enquired, "Not going into work today? I would think you had a lot to do."

"I do," Erza acknowledged as she watched her daughter avoid her eyes. "But Mira has everything covered and Miss Five is holding my calls for today. I just wanted to spend the day with my daughters."

Aine came over in joggers and an oversized t-shirt, blue hair down for the day. "Mom and I brought out all the movies we all used to watch—"

"Thank you, but I'm really exhausted from last night," Ena cut in. "I'd just like to take a nap. But you guys should enjoy the fun together." She danced around both women with her suitcases. "I'd just be in the way like usual." Ignoring the fact that her mother and sister were probably speaking to each with their eyes, Ena cut down the hallway and to her room to close the door behind her. Please let them drop it, she prayed. I don't have it in me to deal with this right now.

Much to her dismay, knocking bounced on her door. "Ena." It was her mother's soft voice. "Please, Ena. We just want to talk."

Ena swept away all her misgivings for a dispassionate mask and turned to open her door. "Can we not do this now? Please?" she added when Aine opened her mouth. "Really, I'm just exhausted. I was on my feet all night and I still have to get back to people who are interested in my designs and speak to my team—"

"Just for a moment," Erza implored. "Please, Ena."

Ena looked between the hopeful eyes of both mother and sister and sighed. Moving aside, she let them both into her room. Aine had taken Ena's accent chair by her easel which she had always claimed was her "thinking chair" when she needed to go old-school and physically draw out inspiration. Erza settled on Ena's bed and patted beside her, but she looked a little hurt when Ena withdrew to the far side of the bed and kept her head down. Ever optimistic, Erza started, "I know you left home because of us."

"I didn't," Ena robotically denied. "I just needed a different place to work."

"That's not true," Erza negated with a sad smile. "I know that's not true." When Ena said nothing more, Erza came in closer. "Aine told me what happened. Oberon had no right to say any of what he did, Ena, and I want you to know that. For the time being, Oberon is on a job and won't be coming home until he acknowledges what he has been doing is wrong."

Ena snorted. "And what has he been doing, Mom? From where I stand, he's been acting the perfect brother to his perfect sister."

Aine frowned. "Ena, I'm far from perfect and so is Mystogan," she countered. "The way he's been treating you isn't right—"

"What would you know?" Ena fired off, reproachful. "He treats you like you could do nothing wrong! Like you're the only thing other than Mom who he should care about! You don't know anything about how he treats me!"

Reproved, Aine ducked her head. "You're right. I don't understand," she confessed.

"Neither one of us do," Erza added. "But all we knew was that it wasn't right. And it's our fault we let this go on for far too long."

"He's an adult, Mom. You didn't 'let' him do anything," Ena bitterly inputted. "He chose to do this all on his own."

Erza reminded firmly, "He might be an adult, but I still gave birth to him. I gave birth to all of you. I taught you all that love and trust are things that bind us together. That we protect one another and that we're there for one another. For some reason, Oberon never learned those lessons and you suffered from it."

"'Suffered'?" Ena echoed, perturbed. "I haven't suffered. I'm fine. I have my own business, I'm doing fine in school, I have friends—I don't think I've suffered just because I'm nothing to him. I'm doing just fine. He doesn't owe me anything."

"He owes you love—"

"He shouldn't have to owe me that," Ena retorted to Aine. "Besides, what do you care?"

Shock morphed onto Aine's face. "What do I care? Ena, you're my sister, even if Mystogan thinks otherwise. Of course I care about you and I care that you haven't been getting the love you deserve from someone I know you look up to."

"I don't look up to him." The lie stung, but Ena was slowly accepting it as her truth. "Not anymore."

"But you did," Aine insisted. "I know you did. Ena, I watched over the years how hard you wanted to impress Mystogan—"

Ena shook her head. "I didn't want to impress him—"

"You learn the art of sword because you wanted to spar with him," Aine listed. "And I saw how much it broke you every single time he brushed you off. You joined Fairy Tail so he'd be proud of you, but he wasn't even at the hall the day you joined. You'd always make designs for him for his training armor, but he never had the time to even glance at them—!"

"Because of you!" Ena exploded. "He only cared about you! Don't you get that? You had everything with him—everything I always wanted—and you'd get all annoyed and walk away!"

"Because he's breathing down my neck twenty-four-seven," Aine argued. "You don't know what it's like to have that helicoptering every single second!"

Ena gave a malicious laugh. "You're right. I don't," she confessed. "I don't know what it's like for him to care enough about me to text me and ask if I'm doing okay. I don't know what it's like for him to, just once, tell me not to work too hard or offer to do something for me because I look stressed. I don't know what it's like for him to care that I'm sick or that I'm upset. I don't know what it's like to fight with him over a dad I know nothing about. But you're completely right, Aine. Gosh, life must be so hard for you."

"Ena," Erza warned.

Aine got to her feet. "I'm not making excuses for my life. No, it isn't easy, and, yes, at times, it is nice Mystogan wants to check in on me, but he's not doing it in a loving way. He does it in such an over-the-top way. I'm sick, yes, but he coddles me like I'm five-years-old and not an adult!"

"Well, excuse me if I lack the sympathy needed for this conversation," Ena drawled, tone bone-dry. "I hurt for you, Aine, really. Blood is everywhere."

Aine swallowed down any arguments she wanted to give. "Ena, I'm trying to do this for you—"

"And that's really noble of you, Aine; it is. It really is. But I don't need you to be this big knight-in-shining armor to save me from my 'suffering'," Ena retorted scathingly. "I don't need you to care about me. Mystogan made it very clear that I'm irrelevant; I don't see why you should be any different. You're going to be a nurse, you have a boyfriend, you have wonderful friends, you remember Dad, and you're dealing with your illness—you don't need to pity me because I'm the left-over kid of this family and take on this whole mission of getting Mystogan to actually like me. I'm good. I'm fine. Really."

The hurt shone on Aine's face morphed into a sad acceptance. "If that's what you want—"

"It is," Ena affirmed.

Aine slowly nodded. "I understand," she murmured quietly. "I'll leave you alone, then. But I am here for you, Ena. I'm still your sister."

"No. You're Mystogan's sister," Ena told her. "I've heard it enough times that I understand it by now."

"Right." Aine's bottom lip quivered. "I'll talk to you later." She spared no one else another look as she left the bedroom.

Erza turned to her youngest daughter. "Ena…"

"Mom, please, if you're just going to yell at me, can you yell at me and then leave me alone?" Ena pleaded. Her shields she had shored up were washing away now under the strain. "I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't have it in me to deal with this."

Erza sighed and ran a hand down the one braid Ena kept draped and made up of side tresses. "I'm not going to yell at you," she murmured. "I'm not mad, Ena. You're hurt. You're hurting. And I hate that I let your hurt get to this point."

"You didn't do anything, Mom—"

"That's right. I didn't do anything," Erza agreed. "I saw the signs and Oberon and I had our arguments, but I had hoped it would click to him one day that your father wasn't this person he perceived him as. And he didn't have to abandon you like he thinks your father did to him." She huffed, disgusted. "Such backwards logic."

"He said he did this so I'd be stronger," Ena relayed in mourning. "So I would never have to rely on anyone other than myself. Maybe…he was right."

"No, he was wrong," Erza countered, fierce. "He was wrong to ever make you feel like that and your father would be ashamed of Oberon for doing this to you."

"Would he though?" Ena hugged her midsection. "I don't even know the man, but I always thought, one day, he'd come home and I'd meet him and we'd be a family again. I thought when Dad came home…maybe Mystogan would be nicer to me… Maybe I'd actually be his sister and he could look at me and not just ask me about Aine and where she is, but he'd like me for me. But Dad's not coming home. Mystogan's not going to change, you'll be busy, and Aine will be the perfect one."

"Your father will come home," Erza soothed. "But it's just—"

"'But it's just' what, Mom?" Ena croaked. She warred with her feelings, but she was losing that battle. "Dad's not coming home. Mystogan's never going to see me as anything. Aine's always going to be perfect. It's whatever. I just have to learn to live with it."

"You shouldn't have to learn how to live with feeling this miserable, Ena," Erza strained to get across. "You should be happy—"

"And if you want me happy, we'll never talk about this again." Ena pleaded in a whimper when her mother looked stricken, "Mom, please. Just let this go. Please. I'm fine, really. I don't want to talk about this ever again. I know where I stand and I'm okay with that. I just want to work on my designs. Please."

Erza drew out her sigh and leaned in to kiss Ena's temple. "I can't promise we won't talk about this again, but we'll let this go for now," she compromised. Getting up from the bed, she told her daughter, "Get some sleep. I'll order us some lunch. You don't have to eat with Aine and I. You can stay here if you prefer, but we'd really like you to join us." She turned away when Ena said nothing. "Sleep. I love you, Ena." She did not wait for Ena to say it back when she left and closed the door.

Ena crawled under the covers and shut her eyes tight when the tears began to fell. Don't cry. Don't cry. This isn't worth crying over anymore. No one's worth your tears. But for the life of her, she could not stop the silent tears from shedding. They stung her cheeks, but she did not care.

VRRRRRRRR…

Ena sniffled, scrubbed her face with her hand, and was forced to get up to go to her Compact. She was hopeful it was Luna, but instead, she found Jasper was the one to call her. Too confused to ignore the call, she answered it and greeted in a measured voice, "Hello?"

"Ena, hi!" Jasper greeted cheerfully. "How's it goin'?"

"Fine." Ena pulled the Compact away to sniff. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, about the auction thing you said you were busy with this weekend… Do you think I could help?"

"'Help'?" Ena went back to her bed. "How?"

Jasper chortled. "Well, I don't know that much about fashion," he admitted sheepishly, "but I do know a lot about photography. I work as a photographer in the school newspaper and I'm in the photography club too."

"Oh." Ena reached over to pluck a few tissues from her nightstand. "That's nice."

"Yeah. So, I just thought, maybe to help with the auction, if you want, your friend who's your model, I could do some shots of her or your mannequins or whoever in your stuff for better pictures for the auction?"

Ena blinked and then frowned. "Why didn't I think of this before?" she asked herself aloud. "It's not like I'm hurting on sales or anything but having recent photos up would definitely drive auction numbers up. It's nice to see things on a mannequin, sure, but people like to see how it would be on them and their own skin tone." She shoved away her despair for excitement. "I could transform my mannequins with a range of different skin tones and facial structures and body shapes and we could take pictures so people would have a better idea of how it looks on them!"

"So I take it I'm hired?"

"Yes, of course! Oh my goodness, yes!" Ena reached over for her spare notepad and pen. "Why don't you tell me your e-mail address so we can talk rates and I'd love to see your portfolio too."

"Sure, yeah, of course, but we don't have to talk rates or anything. I just do photography as my passion. I don't expect you to pay me."

Ena scowled. "Did Fullbuster put you up to this?"

"Bullet?" Jasper sounded genuinely taken back. "No? Why would he?"

"No reason," Ena dismissed, though still a little wary. "It just seems like everyone wants to work for free. I don't allow that. You're going to be paid for your work, Jasper. That's just how I prefer to do things."

Jasper laughed. "Well, you're the boss-lady," he teased. "How about, instead of jewel—?"

"I am not going to any more swim meets," Ena shot down tartly.

"What?"

Registering Jasper's confusion, Ena tamped down her volatile response. "Sorry. Instinct. What's your request?"

"Dinner?" Jasper hoped. "On me, though."

Ena snorted as she leaned back on her bed. "If you pay, that's not you getting payment for labor," she pointed out. "I'd feel more comfortable if I paid for dinner, if we went that route. But, honestly, if we could just negotiate rates—"

"I am not taking money from a friend, Ena."

"Oh, so we're friends now?"

"Well, yeah we are." Jasper said it so surely that Ena had to smile. "If you're really that pressed for paying, you can pay for dessert. But I just want dinner."

Ena hummed and mulled over the idea. "I don't want a boyfriend or any sort of relationship," she reminded baldly. "I have too much on the line to do any of that fun kissing-feelings-romance-only-in-the-movies thing."

"I do too. Sectionals is in February and I have to worry about prepping for college. I'm not looking to start anything I can't put one-hundred-percent into."

"College?"

"I do college courses and high school courses so I can immediately start my major once I graduate. My dads want me to be prepped and ready to go." Jasper sighed. "As much as they're my biggest cheerleaders about swimming, I know they push more for me being a neural engineer, so…"

"I understand," Ena assured. "If you really won't accept actual payment—"

"I won't."

"—then I can handle one dinner," Ena supposed. "But I'd prefer us not to do anything expensive."

Jasper sounded more curious than surprised when he asked, "Really? Why?"

"The fanciest restaurants don't always have the best food," Ena explained to him.

"I can work with that. So, dinner?"

"I believe I gave my answer already to that."

"Wicked." You could hear Jasper's beam. "Text me your email address and I'll send you my work. We can talk more about questions you have and all the fine details soon."

"Perfect. And I'll email you a contract—"

"Ena—"

"This is standard procedure, Jasper," Ena spoke over him.

Jasper sighed. "Yeah, whatever, fine. But, dinner."

Ena nodded. "Dinner."

"Cool. Talk to you later then. Have a good day."

"You too. Bye." Ena ended the call to text Jasper her email. Crawling back under the covers, she up her Compact on ⟪ Silent Mode ⟫. "Okay, now, I really need a nap before I start thinking this is one nightmare turned crazy dream," she muttered to herself. Closing her eyes, she turned onto her side and willed herself into a dreamless slumber. She did not notice her Compact had lit up as a couple of notifications poured in. And one of those notifications would be buried and never seen.

⌜News

Ishgar Today

Who is the Emperor Spriggan? And did he have possible relatives who can claim the Alvarez throne?⌟

---

Luna had retired to her room and summoned Icarus who came in his Dog Form. But as much as she had been ready to nap until training started, she was unable to and she stared at the reason why she was unable to. A stuffed animal was sitting across from her in her bed and not just any stuffed animal—an ikenga. Down to the eyes and the magically linked halo, Syra's likeness was instilled into this stuffed magical creature and the irony was not lost upon Luna. The ikenga stuffy had come from a wrapped box that had been waiting on her bed for her alongside a short little note that read:

So you can see the bunny again

Not even signed, but Luna did not need a signature to know who had given this to her. She picked up the ikenga stuffy and stroked its faux fur. "Gale…" she murmured.

"Luna Anna Dragneel, I am in love with you."

Luna shut her eyes and put the ikenga stuffy down to push it out of reaching distance. Stop it. Stop thinking about it. She laid down and drew one of her pillows over her head like it could keep away the memories.

"I'm in love with you."

"Stop saying that," Luna demanded aloud. "Just stop!" Curling in on herself, she tried to hide her pain from the world. Stop thinking about it. He didn't mean it. He was lying. He had to be lying. But she remembered the clear torment in those rubies. But he wouldn't lie about something like this, she lamented. Why did he tell me that? Why did he ruin everything? I was happy.

You were not. Icarus came onto the bed and crowded around her with all his fluff. Pup, I know you and I know your thoughts. You had happiness, but there was still a sadness that lingered.

So what? Luna refused to remove the pillow she hid her face under. I was still happy. Bleu makes me happy. He makes me feel so many things, Icarus. I really like him. Her lip quivered. I really like him, Icarus. I do.

Icarus whined and rested his head. I know you do. That is why this hurts even more. Because you like them both.

I don't like Gale anymore—

Pup—

No! Luna sat up and hugged her pillow. I don't, Icarus. I don't like him anymore! My crush on him is gone.

It was just a crush that you had on Gale?

Yes! Luna faltered. It was, she tried to insist, but it was more for her sake. It was a stupid crush that meant nothing, and… She sighed into her pillow. Why couldn't it have been a crush, Icarus?

Icarus nudged her with his nose and his tail thumbed when she abandoned her pillow to hug his head. Because you saw more to him than a simple blow away crush, pup. Your feelings recognized more from him. And they recognize more from this other male too.

So what do I do? Luna whimpered. Tell me what I'm supposed to do.

I can't, Icarus confessed sadly. The advice you received was fair, Pup. Only you may decide who you give your feelings to and who you spurn. Yes, hurt comes along the way with choosing, but it's a necessary evil. Everyone will find happiness past the hurt.

Luna sniffled. I just don't know how to choose, she told him. I was so sure I wanted to be Bleu's girlfriend. But now, I'm… I'm confused and Bleu doesn't deserve that. She pulled away to rub a knuckle down her cheek. Bleu's been so thoughtful and sweet and it's like…it's like he just has this energy that everything is going to be okay. And I like that. And Gale just—she rolled her eyes—ugh, he just gets on my nerves, but… He has my back even when we're fighting. He takes care of me even when I don't know what to do. How do you just choose between that?

I don't know.

Icarus…

I can't say I had such a problem, Icarus relayed. I only had one mate. I never yearned for another.

Luna sniffed and blinked. Wait… So you had a wife, then?

Not in those mortal terms, but I did, Icarus told her, tone awash with a wistful affection that was tainted in sorrow. When I was younger, I had a mate. Spirits, even Star Spirits, have no need for wives and husbands and partners as mortals do. We do not have the instinctual urge for packs. But Spirits aren't blind to love. It's just not a force we feel consistently in our lives. It comes and goes like the phases of the moon.

So where's your wife now? Luna asked him. I know you vaguely talked about someone in your life before, but, to me, it sounds like you guys broke up? Did you have any kids?

Icarus shook his head. No. Spirits do not need children. Some take lovers, but it is not for a litter. He sighed. I was not always this way.

I think you told me that too, Luna recalled. You said you were a different Spirit. I just thought you meant personality.

No, Pup. Icarus nodded to his side. Come close. Obediently, Luna rolled onto his side and stared up at the great Canis Minor. Icarus snuffed his chuckle to sigh. I was a young Spirit back then, not a Star Spirit. My mate was older than I, but she was fair and she was kind. We often met and had taken each other as lovers. She was aware I was young and was worried for me due to the great gifts she had been given, but I told her not to fear. I never minded. But someone else did mind. They thought it wrong for a Spirit of my mate's caliber to take me on as a lover. In their spite, they made sure my mate and I would be separated.

What happened? Luna sensed Icarus' hesitation and added, You don't have to talk about it if it's painful for you.

Icarus thumped his tail. They endangered one of the mortal lives I watched over, he recalled, pained. I could not allow an unrightful death. So I made the sacrifice instead and, through that, it separated my mate and I for the rest of our lifetimes. She was consumed in guilt and my powers waned from the Spirit World.

That sounds intense, Luna offered. I didn't think Spirits could be so easily killed?

They can through the deep Magic not too many mortals possess. Or another Spirit can kill them, Icarus informed.

Oh. Luna tucked away the information and did not press any further. So then what happened?

A Sea Spirit took pity on me, Icarus remembered. They pulled me back and consulted their lover, a Moon Spirit. I could never live the life of a normal Spirit. But I could start anew as a Star Spirit—even if that meant I would never see my mate again. And I agreed.

I guess I never really thought about how Celestial Spirits happen, Luna confessed. I always thought you guys were just…there.

Icarus shook his head, his collar plates jingling. For some Star Spirits, they breathe their replacements into existence, but the Star King was the one to give them their lives. In other cases, a Star Spirit came from another Spirit on the brink of death or from a mortal. He craned his neck to lick Luna's forehead. It is uncommon these days for a new Star Spirit to present itself and I doubt there will be a new one for the next few millennia. But it can happen. This is why I am unable to give you any sager advice as to what you were given already. I had only one mate. I do not intend to have another.

Luna hummed. I understand. She rubbed his side. Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it and I'll remember what you've told me. But just know, if I was there, I would've done everything I could so you and your mate could be happy again.

Icarus chuckled. You would have moved the moon and stars themselves to get your way.

Of course. Luna got up to kiss her Celestial Spirit's nose. Anything for my favorite dog.

Icarus perked. Anything?

Anything except feeding you bacon. Luna patted Icarus' muzzle when he whined. You'll get fat on that stuff. Getting off the bed, she told him, Come on, though. I think we both need some comfort food after all this. Icarus barked his agreement and they left the room, but something gave Luna pause. She heard shuffling in Luke's room. "Luke? Want to come down and eat with me?" She bounced over to his door and knocked when it pushed open. "Luke?"

Luna knocked again, but her eyes rounded when she saw markings on the wall. She cared little for manners when she pushed open the door to look at all the inscriptions on the walls. "Whoa… Did you do all this?"

"I don't know." Luke was in his desk chair as he flipped through one of his spellbooks. "I'm trying to find the right spells to clean this up before Mom gets home." Glancing around the room, he winced. "I'm so going to get grounded for screwing up the walls. Dammit."

Luna took a closer look at one of the markings. "Icarus? Does any of this look familiar to you?"

Icarus looked troubled as he sniffed at the glyphs. Vaguely. But languages aren't my specialty. He peeked over at Luke. Have you tried asking the Crux your mother has in her possession what these mean?

"Can I do that?" Luke wanted to know. "Does any of this mean anything?"

It might, Icarus told. The Crux Family are known to have access to The Library wherein they may scan information gathered past cosmos.

Luke frowned. "But I thought Grandpa Crux could only sift through Celestial Spirits and their owners?"

Icarus shook his head. The Crux Family have an expert understanding of both the Star Realm and the mortal realm, yes, but for lower-level Star Mages, they can only access that knowledge. Your mother would now be the Priestess-Queen of the Heartfilia Clan. Her power has thus expanded her Crux's knowledge. He tipped his head. I'm surprised she never told you.

Luke and Luna shared a look that spelled we-need-to-talk-to-her. "I'll take pictures of all the markings before I clean up," Luke decided to say.

Luna bobbed when she saw Luke's DAL and the document he had up. "Hey…" She came closer to point at his dual screens. "What's going on with this?"

"That?" Luke sighed as he looked at all the numbers. "I don't know. I can't…remember, for some reason. I thought about deleting the file, but I just can't." He scanned the numbers once again. "Something about these numbers are supposed to make sense, but I can't figure out what." He sat back in his chair and looked up at his little sister. "Make any sense to you?"

Luna shook her head. "Sorry. No. But I'm sure Grandpa Crux can answer things when Mama gets home." She poked Luke's cheek. "In the meantime, I'm hungry. Want to come and eat with me?" She grinned teasingly. "I can make you some BLTs…?"

"What?" Luke scrunched up his nose. "Lu, I'm a vegetarian."

Luna shrugged as she walked up. "Well, how am I supposed to know? You're the one who has been eating meat for the past week or so—"

"I ate meat?!" Green took residence on Luke's face as nausea rolled in his stomach. "Oh god, I'm going to be sick!"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

And then…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luke happily ate some bell peppers and hummus while Luna snacked on the leftover "energy balls" her mother had made, packed with dried fruit, nuts, honey, and chocolate chips. Luna had summoned Lelantos and fed both whining Celestial hounds some dog treats Icarus had guilted her into adding onto the family's grocery list. Natsu came downstairs with his harem pants and a sweatshirt. Stealing a bell pepper, he told them, "I have to run into town for some stuff. You two gonna be okay?"

"Sure, Dad," Luke said after swallowing his mouthful. "Where are you going?"

"I have to check with Mira with Happy." Natsu made a big deal about eye-rolling. "Since I'm Santa this year with Happy, Erza left notes that I have to make sure I don't burn anything down and test out the new fireproof decorations. It's like she doesn't trust me!" He gawked when not just his own children but the Celestial hounds themselves looked away. "I can control my flames!"

"I'm sure Mama's burned dresses begged to differ," Luna mused.

Natsu waved off that as he finished the pepper. "S'not my fault your mom was trying to go out and look like that," he reasoned. "I was doing her a favor from guys drooling on her!"

"No. You were trying to give us another sibling." Luke heaved a sigh. "Again."

Natsu had no shame when he pouted, "Well, can you blame me? She looks really sexy when she's pregnant. Wouldn't you guys want another sibling?"

"God no."

"Definitely not."

Natsu huffed. "Traitors." He ruffled Luke's hair before kissing Luna's forehead. "I'll be back. If you need anything while I'm in town, text me. Luna, remember, Gale's coming over for training." He whistled. "Lelantos, let's go. I'm sure Bruno would love to see you."

Lelantos wagged his tail and barked a farewell to Icarus before scampering after Natsu.

Luna sagged onto the counter. "Ugh… I don't want to train today," she whined. "I just want to nap and watch Poko…" Making her eyes bigger, she peered over to Luke and pouted. "Luke…? Maybe you could—?"

"No." Luke dipped another bell pepper slice into hummus and ignored Luna deflating. "You need to train if you want Mom and Dad to let you live your life. If you can't defend yourself, they're just going to keep you here."

Luna stole the bowl of bell peppers, slighted. "You don't deserve snacks anymore."

"Well, Lu, what did you want me to tell you?" Luke questioned, exasperated. "It's the truth. Of course Mom and Dad want you out adventuring and doing important stuff like the rest of us, but it comes down to, if they let you go on your own, can you protect yourself?"

"I've taken down Demons!" Luna argued.

"And then you pass out afterward!" Luke stole back his bowl (and ignored Luna's moue) and claimed, "I'm not saying this to be mean. I'm saying it so you understand where they're coming from. You know if word got out that you were the one kicking down Demons like it was nothing and you're the spirit-whisperer and you could teleport and go back in time, people from all over would be crawling out of the depths of Hell not to kill you but to break you down and use your powers or worse—they would try to steal your powers and leave you as an empty shell."

"I was where you were. Helpless, exposed, vulnerable. I asked for the same mercy you did. But Bluenote wasn't as kind." Haunted rubies. "You really think asking for mercy will stop them from taking you and tormenting you until you give in to their demands?"

Luna swallowed and looked at the countertop. "I know my Magic is special," she mumbled. "I'm sorry for complaining."

Luke moved over to hug Luna and she set her head against his shoulder. "We all bitch and moan when it comes to training," he soothed. "Some days, you just want to sleep and forget about training for once and, other days, you're totally in the zone and you're ready to tackle a new technique or work on one of your flaws. I understand that. Nothing wrong with that. But even so, we still get up and whip ourselves into shape because we have to and, in most cases, because we want to." He thumbed her arm. "Eventually, you'll want to. Just be patient."

DING-DONG!

Icarus' nails scraped the floor as he barked, excited.

"I'll be patient when my ancient Spirit stops acting like an actual dog," Luna grumbled, making Luke laugh. "It's him, isn't it?"

"Yeah. It is." Luke asked in a low murmur, "Is he why you've been pretty much out of it since last night?"

"Yeah." Luna did not want to lie to him. "He didn't say or do anything wrong. I'm just…thinking things through."

"Okay." Luke gave her a tight squeeze. "If he really makes you feel uncomfortable right now, he and I can spar until you're ready." He rolled his shoulders. "I've been feeling kind of stiff since last night. I'm not one to want to start a fight but sparring with him might give me some more insight onto what I should work on next."

"You'd do that for me?"

Luke shrugged. "What are brothers for? But you'll still have to train with him," he reminded. "Just after we spar."

"Deal." Luna rolled her eyes when Icarus howled. "Goodness, I'm coming!" She headed out of the kitchen, bypassed the living room, and jogged down the hall. Yanking on Icarus' collar, she hissed to him, "Act your age for once." Reprimanded, Icarus simmered down with a whine so Luna could open the door. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach (and she did not know if it was from nerves or something else she was not ready to discuss) when she saw a subdued Gale on the other side with a duffel bag on his shoulders and a snapback twisted backwards on his head.

"Gale, hi," she breathed. Cursing herself for how anxious she sounded, she coughed and pitched her voice back to normal. "Um, come on in." She shot Icarus a look as she took her hand off his collar and he shook out his fur. "Don't mind Icarus."

"I try not to." Gale nodded at the Canis Minor. "Whaddup, dawg?"

Icarus growled.

"Icarus!" Luna snapped.

Icarus whined.

Rolling her eyes, Luna turned to Gale. "So we—Oh!" Pink crawled up her cheeks when she realized she was staring at Gale's clavicle and when her head tipped up to meet his eyes, she was entranced at those ruby pools. "U-U-Uh, um…" She staggered back, off-balance, and shot him a tight smile. "Sorry. We were close. I-I-I mean, that was close." Feigning a laugh, she tucked her hair behind her ears and glared when Icarus guffawed through their link. Shut up, you lurker.

Icarus padded away with his tail swishing her legs.

"So, Blondie—"

Luna jumped and gave a forced giggle to cover up her nerves. "Sorry, what?"

Gale pitched up an eyebrow. "Look, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for how I acted last night." Tone steeped in regret and apology. "I didn't mean to scare you like that and I have no excuse for doing that to you. I know I can be an asshole and get caught up in my aggression sometimes, but that was no way to treat you. I'm really sorry."

"Oh, it's fine, really, it's okay." Luna stumbled over a shoe and gasped when she was about to fall only for Gale to catch her. Even more flustered, she retreated away from his touch to bump into the wall and jumped from that. "I, um, n-n-no worries, y'know? It's fine. We both said and did things we regret, but we're good! We're good! Eh-ha-ha…" Clearing her throat, she looked down at the floor when Gale's eyebrows disappeared into his bangs at her behavior. "We're so…good…"

"Uh-huh…" Gale sniffed the air and a flicker went over his eyes before he grinned. "Aw… Are you nervous around me, Blondie?"

"Me? Nervous? No…!" Luna laughed at the notion until she snorted. Wide-eyed and appalled, she covered her mouth and hated seeing Gale's grin widen. So she straightened up and drew herself back together. "I'm not nervous around you," she stated firmly.

"Really?" Gale stepped closer and cocked his head when Luna leaned back. "See, I thought you were scared of me 'cause of yesterday, but your scent tells me otherwise."

"Th-Then, you need to get your nose ch-checked…" Her last words faded into oblivion as chocolate seared into ruby. Breaking away under the intensity of Gale's eyes, her own stare darted this way and that. "Um, s-s-so, we should get started…" She wanted to move, but she was afraid moving would result in touching him. "Y-Y-You're really close right now—"

"Did you like your second gift?"

"My gift?" Luna remembered and brightened. "Yeah, I did. I love it. It looks so much like Syra."

"It should. I made the damn thing from memory."

Luna gaped at him. "You…made it?"

"Yeah." Red tinged Gale's cheeks as he looked away. "Sewing's manly too, y'know. It's not just for girls."

"N-N-No! That's not what I…! I mean I wasn't…!" Luna sighed. "It's beautiful, Gale. Thank you."

Clear ruby once more connected with grateful chocolate. Gale nodded down at her. "You're welcome."

It was only when a cough brought Luna out from staring into Gale's eyes and she started forward only to hit his chest and an ungodly squeal left her when she did so. She bumbled and squeezed past Gale (and ignored the way his eyes followed her) to muster a beam from a curious and highly entertained Luke. "Um, so, Gale's here," Luna told her brother lamely.

"I got that." Luke lifted his chin. "What's up, man?" It surprised him when Gale kept his gaze low. "You okay?"

"Yeah, uh…" Gale cleared his throat and dared to look up at Luke. He might not have felt comfortable and his Wild wanted him to duck his head, but the way Luke stared at him was not hostile and predatory. It was straight-up human confusion. "Nothing, nothing." He looked at Luna. "So, Blondie—"

"Luke, you'll be sparring with Gale," Luna blurted. "I, um, need to get changed!" She raced down the hall and disappeared.

Luke's eyebrows climbed up high on his forehead. "Well, now… That was…interesting…" He swung his stare back to Gale. "Something you want to tell me?"

"Only that I'm in love with your sister," Gale sighed. "And I told her last night."

Luke might have had more questions, but at least he had an answer to Luna's crazed behavior. "So that's why she looked so out of it," he murmured. "And why she's acting a little spastic…" He shook his head, snickering. "Dude, you've got some work to do."

"I know." Gale took off his hat to rake his hands through his locks. "Fuck, don't I know it."

Luke tilted his head. "She's dating someone right now. And, not gonna lie, the guy is pretty great."

"I know." Gale could not help the growl he let out.

"Igneel's going to kick your ass when he finds out."

"Yeah." Gale snorted. "I got that."

Luke sighed and came over to clap Gale's shoulder. "You're so fucked." And he laughed when Gale tried to punch him in the stomach.

°•°•°•°

Both Luke and Gale had changed into athletic shirts and shorts before donning their training gloves and wraps and Luke had forgone his glasses. Mouthguards in and shin guards on, they came back to clear the living room and put down the training mats. Outside would have been the preference, but without Natsu to clear away any incoming flurries, it made more sense to train indoors today. Luke reinforced the protective enchantments on their furniture while Luna came back down to the living room with her hair tied up and in her athletic leggings and sports bra. She had brought along her training equipment. Icarus came down with her.

Luke stuttered through a spell to gape at his sister. "What the Hell are you wearing?"

Luna frowned and looked down at her appearance. "My training stuff? Why? Mama and Nashi wear stuff like this all the time."

"Not you. Go change," Luke commanded.

Luna groaned. "But, Luke—"

"I didn't ask," Luke cut her off.

"Dude, it's fine," Gale calmed. He lazily let his eyes trail over Luna who pinkened and ducked her head. "I don't mind." But he did ease off when Icarus bared his teeth.

Luke shot Gale a glare. "Of course you don't." He grunted and quickly finished off the enchantment. "Fine. You can wear that. But you." He jabbed a finger at Gale. "No staring at my sister."

Gale snickered and winked at Luna. "No promises."

Luna wiped away her abashment to remind him through a clenched jaw, "I have a boyfriend."

Gale only shrugged. "Not yet, you don't."

Luke growled. "I think it's time for a fight." Shifting to his feet, he rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. "I'm not holding back on you, Gale."

Gale sensed as much when the air thickened with a growing aggression. "I don't expect you to," he drawled. He shook out his wrists. "Blondie-girl, you'll be the ref. You remember what I taught you? Three minutes per round. Eight rounds. Three points of contact. Nothing below the belt."

"Right." Luna rooted around for her Compact and set a timer. "I'm ready."

Gale and Luke met in the center for a handshake before they bumped their gloves. "You know, I've been wanting to spar with you for a while," Gale drawled as they began to circle each other. "You've got everything I've been looking for in a sparring partner. You know, besides speed, stamina, and can actually take a punch."

"I can take a punch," Luke deftly dismissed. "But I'm surprised you'd want to fight me since I'm not too big about sparring with you. You're not strong enough for me. This is sort of a waste of my time, but anything to keep my sister happy, right?"

That did not sit well with Gale. "How cute. Just like the nose job I'll be giving you for free."

"At least my nose will be screwed up because of a fight. What's your excuse?" Luke jeered.

Luna rolled her eyes. "Oh my god, I'm going to start the timer, okay?" She looked between both boys. "Three….two…one…fight!"

Luna had seen enough of Luke and Igneel's sparring session to know Luke was never one to attack first and he was not going to start now. Gale had too much aggression to hold back, so he took the first swing which might have been a mistake to someone and leverage to others.

Luke blocked the punch to draw his knee up for a hit to the chest that Gale barely got back from to follow up with a blow to Luke's side. Luke's face might have pinched, but he dared not take a moment to flinch and, instead, whirled around for a kick to Gale's shoulder. Gale took the blow as his arms came up to defend his face, but he rolled with the momentum. Right when it looked like he was about to fall, his body tipped, his leg straightened and he kicked back into Luke's chest. Luke caught Gale's ankle even after stumbling from the kick and had no hesitation yanking Gale backwards. Gale lost his balance when he tried to turn and hit the ground—

"Luke wins!" Luna quickly interjected.

Luke offered a hand for Gale and Gale took it to get himself up, but he did not let go. The Wild paced in his head, bothered at the loss, and Gale could not hold back the glow in his eyes. "I'm just getting warmed up."

Luke chuckled darkly. "Believe me"—a flicker of black was in his eyes—"so am I."

When their minute was over and Luna told them to fight, Luke staring Gale down was enough for Gale to growl and fake out with a punch before he swept for a combination kick. Luke blocked them and charged forward with his own punch. Luna was left to gape at the prowess both of them showed. Yes, it was a fair fight with equipment and a time limit, but the way both of them moved as they assessed not just their opponent's movement but their own had Luna wondering… They're both so advanced. I don't know if I'll ever get to that point.

You will one day, Icarus assured her. It just takes practice and patience.

And Gale was down again.

Luke offer a hand, but Gale smacked it away. "You should stay down there," Luke taunted. "Might be able to actually recognize you with you down on the mat like that."

Gale grunted as he got up. The Wild demanded retribution. A challenge had been issued and the gauntlet thrown. It would not stand for anything less than a perfect effort. Hackles raised, his mouth opened to bare his teeth. "I'm not losing to some uppity nerd with his head in his books all damn day," Gale snarled.

Luke happily accepted the insult as that same darkness wandered into honeyed amber. A grin donned on him to show his canines as both a taunt and a warning. "Watch yourself, Gale," he purred. "Your loser is showing. Oh, wait, that's a normal attitude for you, my bad. I mean…"—his eyes slid meaningfully to Luna and back to Gale with his head cocked and his grin poisonous—"didn't you already lose?"

Gale snarled.

Luna called. "Set it up!"

Luke and Gale circled each other, muscles coiled, bodies angled for a challenge, to give a perfect effort.

"Fight!"

Gale lunged.

And Luke was ready for him.

The fight could be construed as cruel. Luke toyed with Gale, and Gale knew that and it fueled him to push harder. Luke added insult to injury by nearly parrying, blocking, and dodging all of Gale's advances. He snubbed his nose at his opponent in disrespect. The Wild paced and clawed for skin to change to scales, but Gale bit it back. He would win his fight in flesh just as his opponent had. He refused to scuff away from giving a perfect effort. But Luke got the upper hand as he bided his time until Gale was too mad to watch his technique, and Luke pushed back against Gale's arms to deal a breaking kick to Gale's side only to let go and deal a punch to that same spot. Gale staggered and fell to his knees and his hand hit the mat—

"Luke wins!"

Gale sprung back to his feet, sore, but he was not shaken. "I'm not done yet."

"I think you are." Words poisoned with an offending disinterest, Luke gave Gale his back in disrespect. "This is a waste of time. You won't win against me." He graced Gale with dark eyes shrouded in malicious indifference. "You lost to my brother. You have no right to fight me." Words dripped in cruel truth. "You're weak."

A primal surge dominated Gale's body as a ring of emerald overcame those intense rubies. "Shut the fuck up and fight me!"

Luna sat back, horrified, when Gale unleashed a furious roar and struck down on Luke. "Stop it!" she screamed. She tried to get up when Icarus held her down. "Icarus, let me go!"

No. Not when you could get hurt.

"They won't hurt me!" Luna screamed at both boys, "That's enough! Stop fighting!"

Neither listened to her. Luke spun away from the kick Gale tried to deliver, but he was surprised when rabid hands came up for quick punches. Luke blocked the shots, but he caught Gale's knee before it could stretch to break up his arms. His grin showed that vile cockiness, but his eyes settled for nothing less than absolute dominance. It oozed from his pores and choked the room so much that Icarus whined and laid down.

"You can stop fighting now," Luke told him as his tone danced on mock pity. "I don't want to waste my time."

Gale snarled and jerked his knee out of Luke's grip. Mortal words refused to push past his lips and he could only give a growl at the blatant sign of disrespect. If time was wasted playing by the rules, then the rules would be forgone. No more niceties.

"Guys!" Luna yowled. "Stop it—!"

"Luna, stay out of this." Luke drew a sharp hand when Luna tried to intervene and she staggered back when a shield of translucent gold had popped up. She was barred from the fight and her pleas for them to stop had been muted. "Now then." He cracked his neck. "Show me what you've got and I'll be nice and return the favor." Darkness gleamed with the predatory need for blood. "No mercy."

Gale ground his teeth, but he agreed. "No mercy."

The next blows exchanged were brutal and showed no mercy. Without the rules, both could hit where it hurt and they did so again and again. Luke showed he was not above kicking the scar Gale carried from his raw fight with Bluenote and Gale went for the throat with his hands even though his teeth demanded to be there instead. Luke was calm when Gale tried to snatch him by the throat, but he would not allow it. He batted Gale's hands away and swooped down for his shoulder to ram to Gale's mid-section and grunted to pick him up. Gale beat Luke's back, but he choked when Luke slammed him back onto the ground with a smile full of teeth.

Gale grabbed Luke's shirt and feigned he would pull him down, when his leg shot up to kick Luke's thigh, close to his groin. His own smile full of teeth appeared. He would not hurt Luke there, but he would show him he could have. He showed him mercy.

Rage overcame Luke's face from the disrespect. He dropped down to lock Gale beneath him and his hand came up to punch Gale in the face. No mercy. Gale snarled and writhed beneath Luke, but Luke did not care. He kept punching left and right to show he would not tolerate disrespect. Raw dominance huffed from his body and shoved down Gale's throat. No mercy.

Luna beat against the shield as tears warred down her face. "Stop it!" she screamed. "Stop it, please! Luke, you're going to kill him!" She glanced at Icarus. "Icarus, help me!"

I can't, Icarus strained as the pressure of dominance flattened him to the ground. Luke is…too strong…

A cry bubbled out from Luna as she banged against the shield with all her might. "Luke, stop it, you're killing him!" she sobbed when she saw blood drip down the side of Gale's face. "Luke—!"

Luke could not hear him. He was left unsatisfied when Gale took his blows. He had yelped before and snarled back, but now he took each blow in silence. This was not an act of submission or acceptance. He showed his disrespect by not giving Luke the pleasure of his pain. Fury made Luke's blood boil as black inked his sclera with each punch and a blood-red filled his eyes. A death-like black cut across his hair and his shadow expanded to try and snuff out Gale's rebellion.

"Submit!" Luke hissed in a tongue that was not his own. "You will submit to me!"

Gale offered him an insulting grin. "I will not—" His words were cut off with a punch to the throat.

Luke did not stop. His hands pressed down onto Gale's throat, unsatisfied with the blood in Gale's mouth, running from his eyes. He needed more. And he would get more. No mercy. "Submit," he commanded and his dominance was like a noose to Gale's throat. It would not be ignored. "Submit to your King."

Air nearly gone, Gale wasted more of it from the laugh he gave. Eyes a bright and burning red with an emerald ring seethed into a darkness that craved obedience. With Sycaña's voice interwoven, Gale hissed breathlessly in a scaly tongue, "You are not my King."

Luke roared and pressed down. Eyes could roll back, his prey's body could fidget as it fought to survive—Luke could not bring himself to care. He needed submission. No mercy. His victory would hold nothing without absolute submission. "Submit to me," he roared. "NOW!"

Gale's mouth worked as his eyes faltered under the weight of his command, his dominance. But no words came as water and blood crowded his eyes and left Gale to strangle on the overwhelming dominance and the words he wished to say.

But Luke was not satisfied. He pressed down and knew one more push could—

CRACK!

"STOP IT!"

Luke was forced back and he seethed at the force that took him away from his victory. He searched for this interloper, but his eyes found mournful chocolate resolved. No words came from the snarl in his throat when he was choked out as a purifying white attacked his body. The need for submission, the craving of absolute dominance—it crumbled under the weight of a new command. To let go. Eyes staunched back into white and a honeyed amber brightened such devastatingly dark eyes. Pink sat on his locks and the snarl in his chest faded into pants. A confusion overset this new command to let go.

"What… What happened?" Luke panted. Urges gone and his dominance tucked away, he could think without bloodlust crowding his sight. "What…? What hap…?" His eyes widened, aggrieved, when he saw Gale on the ground with blood staining his face and his chest in stutters. "Did I…?"

Luna abandoned her brother to tend to Gale with trembling fingers and her cries suppressed. "Gale," she whispered. "You're going to be okay, okay? I've got you, Gale, I'm here."

An uncomfortable faraway brightness filled Gale's eyes and a delighted smile crossed his face that was not meant for her. "Emma," he breathed. "You're home." He tried to reach for her with an unsteady hand. "I missed you so much."

Luna forced down her urge to sob as her Magic covered her. "Shh-shhh-shh-shhh," she quieted in a crying stammer. "E-Everything's going to be okay." She guided her Magic to cover Gale's body and closed her eyes even as her shoulders shook and she wanted to break down now. She could not afford to. She had to be strong. She had to stay with her Magic. "I've got you. Don't let go," she pleaded of him in a whisper. "I'm here, Gale."

Nauseous horror traumatized Luke as he watched the damage he had done. I… I didn't mean… He felt fur brush on his leg and a softness cover his mind.

Come, little king, Icarus soothed with a nudge. Come.

In a daze, Luke let Icarus nudge him away. He could not stop hearing Luna's suppressed cries as she murmured words of encouragement to a delirious Gale. His mind could not stop jumping back to a defenseless Gale bludgeoned by his own hands. I… I didn't mean to… I could've… I…

Something cold pressed into his hand.

Luke shakily looked down to see Icarus had a Compact in his teeth and was trying to pass it to Luke. Call him, Icarus instructed.

Luke swallowed and nodded. He took his Compact from Icarus and it unlocked for him. It took him three tries to find his father's contact as tears bubbled into his eyes. Breathing shallow, he sunk down against the hallway wall with Icarus dutifully at his side. Luke knew better. Icarus could be there with his mistress, but he was not just lending Luke aid. He was watching to put him down in the event he resurged with anger.

The call connected.

"Did you need something already?" Natsu joshed. "I thought I told you guys to text me—"

"I could've killed Gale." The blurt came out in a shivering cry as unwanted tears slipped down Luke's cheeks. "D-D-Dad, I… I just…!" He hitched a breath as he buried his head in his hand. "I d-d-d-didn't mean to…!"

A paused.

"Is Luna healing Gale?" Voice firm yet distant.

Luke swallowed back his nausea. He deserved this shame. He deserved this coldness. He deserved this rebuke of care. "Yes."

"I'm coming home." No hesitation. No room for protest. "Stay where you are." The line went dead.

CLATTER!

The Compact was on the ground, but the noise muted against Luke's ears. He buried his head down as he rocked himself. Death was a taboo. It was the line in the sand that you never crossed as a decent human being. It was an act the defied the deities above and displeased Death who would wish upon you a thousand times worth a punishment for claiming a soul you had no right to claim. Of course, exceptions were made that Death turned a blind eye to, but this? One more push and there would be no stopping the fury that would rain upon him.

Guilt and blood-stained remorse battled him down until Luke was overcome in cries he was unfit to have. He was no victim. He was the cause. I could have killed him, he repeated as fear leeched off his body. Fear of himself. I would have if Lu hadn't… I… I didn't… I didn't mean to… He sucked in a breath as tears blurred his vision. "I didn't mean to," he whispered. "I didn't mean to."

Icarus did not act as a comfort. He oozed a distant acceptance for the situation of what it was. He kept one ear on Luna's soothes and one eye on Luke. But something ruffled his fur and his eyes darted to the closed front door. I will voice my concern when Mother Lucy returns, he vowed to himself. The little king is unstable…and something is making him this way.

---

Kyler had arranged for a Lacrima Car to drive Lucy, Nashi, and Býleistr back to Magnolia Town and, while he had claimed he had done so due to them being their clients, Nashi took great amusement Kyler was playing overprotective big brother so soon. Lucy had the Lacrima Car take Nashi and Býleistr to Gary's condo and had left the car to escort them up the steps as the driver got Nashi's bags. Insofar, they had not run into any neighbors or people or paparazzi which had confused Nashi (even though she was secretly relieved). She had brought this up to her mother while she opened the door to Gary's home. "I'm sort of surprised we weren't hounded by paparazzi at the Sky Port."

Lucy waited until Nashi had the door open and all three stepped inside. When the driver left Nashi's bags and promised he would wait downstairs, it was then Lucy spoke. "Kyler made sure our landing time wasn't leaked. The chauffeur service was a nice touch. And, since Guild Towns prohibit any paparazzi, you won't have to worry about them here at home."

"But when I leave…" Nashi trailed off as she shut the door.

"When you leave, you look those people straight in the eye and tell them to go fuck themselves," Býleistr grunted. "They don't have the right to try and pry. And if they don't listen to you after that"—he unsheathed his claws—"I will—"

"Leave them alone because I will not allow you to harm any humans and give Celestial Spirits a bad name," Lucy sternly commanded. "I just got Celestial Spirits listed as a protected magical creature to stop all the mainstream trafficking and outright abuse and you are not going to get rid of my hard work!"

Nashi watched with a dry look as Býleistr fell over himself to apologize and praised her mother for her good deeds towards Celestial Spirit-kind. If only he worshipped the ground I walked on… She set the mail Gary had received on the kitchen island and her mind flashed to a memory. She remembered Gary cooking pasta in the kitchen as he teased her. She remembered his laugh. Her grin fell. It feels like it was so long ago… His home feels so cold, but it's not the cold I'm used to. It feels so empty…

"Nashi?"

Nashi turned around to see her mother peering at her with absolute concern. She slapped on a tired smile and assuaged, "It's fine, Mama. I'm just tired from the flight is all and from everything else. That's all."

Both knew they did not believe a word of that, but Lucy walked over to Nashi with a nod. "Okay. I'll leave you to it." She brought her eldest daughter in for a hug. "But you are coming home tonight for dinner. That's all I ask. Your father has been worried sick about you and so have Luna and Luke. And we'll be inviting the Fullbusters for dinner so they can get an update."

"I'll come over for dinner," Nashi agreed. "I promise, Mama."

"Good girl." Lucy pulled back, but she locked her hands onto Nashi's cheeks. "Whatever happens, Nashi, Gary will come back home to you. And when you start to doubt that and you doubt him and you doubt his feelings and your feelings, I want you to remember who the person was you envisioned every time you were near death."

Nashi knew without a doubt it had been Gary.

"He'll come home," Lucy vowed. "Because you're here."

"Is that how you don't doubt Papa?" Nashi asked.

Lucy smiled and nodded. "It was. When your papa and I were just starting in our relationship, I wasn't always the most rational," she confessed with a faint blush and her eyes swimming with memories. "I had my doubts and my fears. I was worried if I didn't love him enough or if, one day, his path would lead him too far away from me."

"How do you cope with that?"

"Through building trust," Lucy answered. "There's no amount of words or actions that can beat trust. So the question stands: do you trust him?"

"Yes." Nashi could not even fathom hesitating. "I trust him."

"Then, trust he'll come back to you." Lucy kissed Nashi's cheek then patted it. "Get some sleep, okay? Keep your Compact on and charged, young lady." She pointed at Býleistr. "Keep watch of my daughter."

"With my life, Miss Lucy," Býleistr promised.

Lucy inclined her head and left the two of them alone in the condo. Nashi pivoted without a word to Býleistr and went straight back into Gary's bedroom, still neat, but it was clear Nashi had been sleeping there and keeping it warm since Gary's arrest with the crinkles in the comforter. She stripped out of her clothes with no thought and got out on of Gary's paint t-shirts. Climbing into the too-big bed, she covered herself and tried to stave off the uncomfortable cold with her warmth and Gary's embedded scent.

Býleistr came into the room as a lion, but he did not get on the bed. He knew it was not his place to get on the bed, not here. Not in a place Nashi coveted like this. So he settled at the side of the bed to watch the doorway. "Have you tried to get into your connection with them again?"

Nashi shook her head. "No. Not yet. Not now. They need to focus on the trial right now. I'd be a distraction."

Býleistr conceded. He wanted to keep a quiet thought to himself, but he just had to say something right now. "Princess, I know you aren't pregnant and with the loss of your baby, I'd understand, but… Do you want kids?"

A long silence.

Nashi turned over in the bed. "No." A hushed word. "I never wanted children. And I never will."

Býleistr dipped his head. "I understand."

But Nashi was not done talking. She needed to say this to him. "It's not that I don't like kids or anything, but… I just… I don't know." She felt like she was not making any sense. "When I was younger, after I had lost my…baby…people didn't know about it, but they'd all joke about how I'd make an excellent mom. It hurt hearing them say that, but I didn't want to just start crying. I told them straight-up I never want to ever have kids. But they just told me my mind would change when I'm older or some bullshit and how wonderful it was being pregnant." Tears prickled in her eyes. "I didn't think it was that great, to be honest."

Býleistr's ears flattened as a whine-like noise left him. "Princess…"

Nashi shielded her stomach as the memories surged. "Fairy Tail's pretty good about being accepting," she went on in a choking voice. "They don't care who you are, what you believe in, who you like, what you want. It's just don't be a dick and we like you. But being outside Fairy Tail and outside Magnolia… The world isn't like that. I know that. But I hated all those comments made about me changing my mind and how my 'instincts' would kick in."

"That's bullshit," Býleistr snarled. "Even I know in creatures, some mothers have no maternal instincts and never wanted their litter. Instincts aren't a natural thing in the wild."

"You try telling a bunch of fun stroller-wheeling mommies that," Nashi chuckled dryly. "I don't get why it's such a big deal. My parents don't care. Luke doesn't want kids and they respect it. But I still remember even with Luna, when she was little and she said she didn't want to be a mama while we were at the park, some mother got all offended and yelled at her and Luna started crying and changed her mind just to make the woman leave us alone."

Býleistr's tail thumped on the ground and his claws slid out to knead the ground and keep himself in check.

Nashi fell silent for a moment. Then, she brought her fear into the world. "Do you think Gary wants kids?"

"He would never force you into that." Býleistr instantly squashed the notion.

"But…what if he wants kids?" A panic flared within Nashi that she did not know what to do with. Curling in on herself, she felt her breathing take a turn. "What if…? What if he wants to get me pregnant? Wh-Wh-Wh-What if he leaves me because I don't want kids?"

"Then, fuck him." Býleistr grew into his Hybrid Form to kneel at her side. He forced her hands out from her stomach and into his own. "You listen to me, Princess, and you listen good. If he ever makes you think you aren't of value because you don't want to be a damn breeder, I will personally chew him up and spit him out." He gently gave her hands a squeeze. "But you don't have to worry about that until you talk to him," he soothed. "You're both young—"

"And some people have two kids at seventeen—"

"Yes, but you don't want children," Býleistr countered. "Talk to him, Princess, and talk to Doctor Orr before you start to spiral off the deep end."

"But… What if he wants kids?"

"Then, he wants kids," Býleistr stated, "and you don't."

Nashi stared at him, incredulous. "And that's it?"

Býleistr lifted an eyebrow. "Do you see yourself getting married to the Wolverine any time soon?"

Red flooded Nashi's face. "Wh-Wh-Wh-What?"

"Well?" Býleistr awaited an answers sans amusement. "Do you?"

Nashi flailed for words. "Well, I—! I-I-I mean—! Well, I'm not thinking of marriage until I'm S-Class and, even then, I don't even know—"

"My point exactly." Býleistr sat back on the balls of his feet. "Princess, you're young. You're practically a baby in comparison to me. Sure, mortals used to have kids when they were younger than you, but you're pretty much in a utopia in compared to those times. You have time. You should definitely talk to the Wolverine about no kids, yeah, but keep in mind, you're still pretty young. Both of you. Right now, you're pretty much exploring what you have and that's fine. Bring up subjects like that when you're ready."

Nashi sighed and reached out a hand to comb through his mane. "Maybe you should have been my therapist. You give some sound advice."

"I'm older than most planets and stars that live in your solar system," Býleistr pointed out. "So, yeah, I might know a thing or two. Just like I know Wolverine respects your body, your mind, and you as a person. And just like I know you're crazy about him."

Nashi smiled. "I guess I am, aren't I?"

"Admittance is the first step," Býleistr teased.

"And I admit I might, sorta, kinda, maybe, in a twisted way…like Gary." She giggled when Býleistr pretended to be shocked and kicked him. "Oh, shut up. You're not allowed to act shocked when you can read my mind and everything. Besides, maybe I don't like him. I mean he's into BDSM—"

"Bullshit," Býleistr called. "You like him, BDSM and all."

Nashi sighed a tad dreamily. "Okay, maybe," she gave, laughing when Býleistr groaned. "In my defense, I don't know that much about him! Sans the BDSM thing." A frown marred her features. "It's nice he wanted to learn about me, but I feel sort of cheated. Then again, it's my fault. I never asked. But that all stops now." She dramatically held out her hand. "Býleistr. My Compact."

Býleistr got up with a grumble and lumbered out of the room. "What am I? A damn Virgo now?" In just a few minutes, he came and handed her the Compact. "What are you doing?" he inquired when he saw her typing.

"I've got probably a day or so left until Gary comes home," Nashi filled him in. "So, I'm going to do everything I can to learn about him. And I know the perfect people to hand me over that classified information." A satisfied smile adorned her. "And send." Tapping her fingertips together, she cackled, "And now we wait. You better watch out, Gary. It'll be my turn to embarrass you and I plan to milk it."

Býleistr sweatdropped. Gary, maybe you should just stay where you are… Sighing, he dropped back into his Lion Form and laid on his side. "Catch some sleep, Princess. I'll guard you." His ear twitched as he listened to Nashi ruffle and shift in bed until she got comfortable. Eyes to the door, he relaxed as a silence filled the room.

"Hey, Býleistr?"

"Yeah, Princess?"

Three beats.

"I really like him." A quiet admittance that quivered with emotion.

Býleistr sighed. "I know, Princess.

"I don't love him."

"I know, Princess."

A handful of beats.

"…but I feel like, one day, I could."

Býleistr would have purred, but this form would not allow him. So he settled on kneading his happiness. "Sleep, Princess," was all he said. He listened as Nashi sighed and until her breathing and heartbeat evened. I know you'll love him…

Vivid chocolate eyes crinkled in happiness.

Býleistr settled his head atop his paws. You Heartfilia's have a knack for following in love with the Damned…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The restaurant was a fancy as they come with different colored ropes installed into the ceiling at various lengths and colored to show the Fioren Flag. Mirrors against the wall, the enjoyment of the patrons was reflected as they sat at sturdy oak tables and ate a blend of Cipanguese and Chicuan foods. A concert pianist and a string quartet were playing on a vaulted stage in a wintry waltz. Two well-dressed teens used the restaurant for their anniversary dinner of a year. An older group of friends shared some nigiri a lo pobre (thinly slice Angus skirt steak and quail egg injected with ponzo over rice) as they laughed over an inappropriate joke. The sushi bar had five chefs working with the station and had their own silly routine they did to impress their audience.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Restaurant Meido, a popular restaurant that offers Nikkeijin cuisine. It is well known as one of the best restaurants in Chicú in Valchestria and has since then expanded its franchise into seven other locations across the world. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Tesla and Zelda were well-dressed for the occasion but on opposite ends of the color spectrum. Zelda preferred all black as she wore a pantsuit and her hair in a lengthy and thick ponytail. Tesla preferred a splash of color and had ignored the Christmassy reds and greens for a bright orange that sat prettily against her skin tone in the form of long sleeve dress with pockets and a white cardigan. Both had already ordered water and Zelda ordered white wine while Tesla had done a cocktail with a blend of ginger. They perused their menus as they tried to ignore the elephant in the room. Well, Tesla was more than ready to ignore while Zelda, not so much.

Once they placed their orders, Zelda took a sip of her white wine. "Your workplace is nice."

Tesla snapped up her eyes to just ask how Zelda knew that when the question dried up. "So, you're little spy told you where I work too?"

"Yes." Zelda saw no reason to beat around the bush. "They have a file on everything for you that they gave to me."

"Because that's not creepy at all," Tesla muttered.

"How'd you land a job as a sous chef here?"

Tesla shot her a wilted look. "Oh, your spy didn't tell you that?"

Zelda shrugged. "I'm just trying to break the ice, but if you'd rather me be straight forward…?"

Tesla sighed and stirred her cocktail with her straw. "My adoptive mom," she answered. "She's Ando-Sinnish and used to work here as a GM, but she had to quit after I was hospitalized to help me get back on track mentally. She could have had her job back, but she didn't want to. But she saw cooking was cathartic for me, so she pulled a favor from one of the chefs here to teach me about Nikkei. I got good and ended up working here." She shrugged. "Pretty boring."

"I beg to differ." Zelda offered a polished smile. "The skills you have are incredible, Tesla. You should be proud of them."

"I am," Tesla assured flatly. "But it makes me a demon in the kitchen when I'm home. God knows Jax can cook, but I just gently nudge him away when I'm there."

Zelda hummed. "How is he, by the way? I didn't ask my spy to do any intel on your boyfriend," she added when Tesla raised an eyebrow. "I only asked the bare basic questions and the standard background check every six months to make sure he wasn't a criminal, but all I received was he is a Mage in Fairy Tail and a university student and is now a dual citizen of both Fiore and Zhōnguá."

"He's fine." Tesla sipped her cocktail. "He's with a friend today. But, uh… Well…" She set down her drink to clasp her hands. "Okay, this is getting too uncomfortable. The point is, I—or we—saw something weird yesterday."

Zelda nodded. "So I was told," she said. "What you saw were Mauthe Hellhounds."

Tesla scrunched up her nose. "There are different types of Hellhounds?"

"Yes." Zelda tried her best to explain it. "Mauthe Hellhounds were especially bred to work with Magic Hunters, but, originally, they were animavores from the Underworld and only hunted souls that escaped from the Underworld. Other Hellhounds generally reside in the Underworld, but they have different strengths and powers and are sent to here, the mortal world, for other business. Some as messengers… Grimms, in particular, help out Reapers when it comes to easing a suffering soul and helping them go to where they need to go."

Tesla raised her eyebrows as she slowly nodded. "Okay, then… So because I saw them, that's supposed to solidify I'm one of you?"

"No, not necessarily." Zelda plucked a file to hand over to Tesla. "But our DNA results might."

Tesla took the file, wary. "I'm not even going to ask where or how you got samples of me." She opened the file to flip through it.

"Mauthes, generally, can be seen by Magic Hunters by the way they were bred," Zelda explained, "but there are others who can see them or at least feel their presence. Those with strong enough Soul Magic can see Mauthes and a few extinct species used to be able to see them. But Magic Hunters notoriously are the ones who can see them." She nodded when Tesla slapped the file closed. "Does that help you?"

Tesla sighed through her nose. "Science doesn't lie," she grumbled. "But—" Her words would have to wait when their waitress came over with their trays of food. When both women insisted they needed nothing more, their waitress bowed and told them to enjoy their meal. Tesla spoke up again, "But I'm still not understanding how or where or why I fit into any of this. I mean, yeah, this proves you and I are kin, but it doesn't prove all the way I'm this 'Magic Hunter' or whatever. I've never made anything float or summoned stuff or blown up something when I'm mad with my mind."

Zelda chuckled. "You wouldn't be doing all that unless you had Ether," she informed. "Anti-Ether powers are different than that."

"Well, from how the LacriNet tells me, Magic Hunters pretty much demolish everything good." Tesla picked up her fork and glared when Zelda eyed the motion. "What? I can't use chopsticks, okay?"

Zelda shrugged, and Tesla dove into her meal. "Our reputation isn't the best, no," she agreed, "but Magic Hunters weren't always like this. Anti-Ether isn't meant to destroy. It's meant to bring balance." She picked up her wineglass. "Around the world, there used to be beings and place compacted with Ether which is dangerous to the mind and body. To balance this, Anti-Ether users would make such places more hospitable."

Tesla swallowed her mouthful. "Okay, well, that sounds nice, but why is it so different now?"

"Because it's not natural anymore." Zelda's face darkened. "There wasn't a need for Anti-Ether users for a long time which meant the powers we had gradually died off. Still, before the last Anti-Ether users died off, they gave up their powers into a pool they buried deep within their civilization so, if Ether needed to be corrected, the power could be temporarily used. But, of course, like humans are, they found the secret and killed for control of it. The ones who wanted to bring Anti-Ether to the attention of what the Magic Council was back then were quickly killed and the greedy treasure hunters used this against Mages."

"Jax told me there was a lot of hardship for Mages during that time and even now," Tesla told. "Even if there are a few million of Mages out there, there is a few billion of Spiritless. And Spiritless aren't always too fond of Magic."

Zelda barked a laugh. "Not exactly, no. Many Spiritless think Magic is a cop-out or fear Mages will turn on them and kill them all. Sure, they have a reason to fear. Magic can be detrimental and, in the past, Magic Wars were responsible for wiping out a good deal of the population. That's why Anti-Ether was so important to Spiritless. It was the edge they needed to kill Mages and not just strip them of their powers. So, after trial and error, they injected a few grams into themselves to give themselves Anti-Ether powers and instantly went after Mages."

Tesla bobbed her head. "Okay, but… Why aren't there more Magic Hunters running around?"

"It's a high-risk, high-reward sort of surgery that tempts many, but many die in the process. Only five-point-three percent of those who try for the surgery actually survive without complications and that's not even all three surgeries. That's just the first surgery."

Tesla looked rightfully mortified. "There's three surgeries for this? And only five percent survive the first surgery?"

Zelda nodded. "Yes. The surgeries essentially submerge a vital organ into Anti-Ether so it can maintain in your body. But, after the surgeries, Hunters still need infusions every so often since they can't naturally maintain Anti-Ether in their body like we can."

"Well, I guess that makes sense why Magic Hunters aren't around every corner," Tesla supposed. "But if they can do that much damage, why don't they? I mean Mages don't really have a defense against Anti-Ether, right? Does anything have a defense against it?"

"And now you're thinking like a Hunter," Zelda mused. "The surgeries only permit Hunters from manning and even powering Anti-Ether weapons like guns and knives and other things, but they can't physically produce Anti-Ether unlike the two of us. And those weapons are meticulous to make which means going through them like water isn't an option."

"But say it was an option," Tesla proposed. "Then…?"

"Then, yes, Mages could be wiped out without so much as a blink."

Tesla sighed through her nose again before taking a long sip of her cocktail. "This just keeps getting better and better," she muttered.

Zelda did feel sympathy for her first cousin. "I know this is a lot to take in," she soothed. "But I'm glad you know now. You knowing who and what you are means we can start working on your training—"

"Hold up, cuz," Tesla stopped her. "I never said anything about 'training'. I have a life here, friends here, a boyfriend here—my future is here. I didn't agree to come get involved in some magical-slash-political battle-whatever. I just came to confirm you're not crazy, we are family, and that's that. Nothing more."

Zelda sighed. "Which is what I thought you say," she figured. "But, Tesla, you don't have a choice in the matter, especially after you were seen by two Magic Hunters—"

"That girl and her uncle were Magic Hunters?" Tesla lowered her voice when she realized she was getting up there in volume. "They were Hunters?"

"Yes." Zelda's eyes went to the ceiling. "Or that's what I believe from what Sleeper gave me. Bundy might have looked nice, but he tried his nieces and nephews as Magic Hunters. Brusca has only had one surgery, but she's the only niece that survived without complications."

"Jesus." Tesla put her elbows on the table and buried her head in her hands. "So they know I'm a Hunter?"

"I can't speak for them, but I believe so, yes."

Tesla shook her head. "Will acid make all my problems go away?" she whinged. "This is getting too crazy and I know crazy. I go to the Chronicles of the Galaxy Fan Fest." Taking a moment to breathe, she lifted her head to question, "Okay, so, what now? They know I'm a Hunter?" Fear scratched at her skin. "Does this mean they'll tell—?"

"No." Zelda held firm on that. "Hunters are aware you exist and that you escaped, but only a select group of Hunters saw you as a child and, even then, they didn't see you often."

Tesla blinked as a pang hit her head and she rubbed her temple. "Yeah… I remember he didn't like me being around other people." A bitter laugh. "He was a sick jealous fuck."

"He was." Zelda struggled to control the seething from her voice. "And he won't ever have that control on you ever again. I will kill him myself before that happens."

"Don't." Tesla sipped her cocktail. "Death's too good for that fucker, believe me." Her hands bared down on her glass. "I want him to suffer in every way that I did."

Zelda nodded, but she appraised Tesla who sipped more of her cocktail. So he's right. The more she speaks about that bastard and the closer to his release date, I can feel her power wanting to surface. Without her proper memories, she doesn't know how to release it. But…if something pushed her over the edge… "Why don't we eat some more?" she suggested. "Tell me more about what you're up to."

Tesla froze. Then, she narrowed her eyes. "Are you trying to get me comfortable?"

"Tesla, I haven't sat down and spoken to you in years," Zelda commented, exasperated. "Yes, I had someone keeping tabs on you, but reading a file and hearing things from you is very different. I want to hear about your life from you."

Tesla was still wary, but she relented. "Okay, then…"

She launched into her times at foster care and Zelda paid attention to every single word. She frowned over the way the social worker enlisted Tesla as "broken" and how she recounted her tales during her stay at the group home, but she looked so relieved when Tesla spoke about her adoptive mother who rescued her. The more Tesla drank, the more her tongue loosened and her body slackened. She laughed over ridiculous first crushes and even Zelda chortled when Tesla remembered how she learned about Andüsan culture and whining and twerking and line dancing. Her adoptive mother was very Ando-centric and, thus, pushed Tesla into being so. Zelda added her own little memories of her times on bad dates and horrible times in bed. They truly bonded over the last dish they shared when Tesla grew vocal about the alleged "disco" era music was ushering in.

"Like, don't sit there and tell me, 'oh my god, disco is back in'," Tesla confronted. "No, bitch, that's not disco! Listen to The Sunset Band or Earth, Air, and Fire or even fricken Marvin Merry!" She shook her head and smiled her gratitude when the waiter came back to take empty dishes. "I swear I have never been so insulted and I didn't even grow up in the disco era!"

Zelda chuckled. "I did and it was definitely raunchier than this." A sip of water this time. "Music these days just doesn't do it for me. Maybe it's because of my 'nostalgia lenses', but I'm still into older stuff. A lot more R-and-B and hip-hop."

"Me too!" Tesla cheered. "But most of my friends are white and can't dance. They just grind." She faked a shiver when Zelda laughed. "I say, 'grind' loosely. My friends Miles and Gale and Dante have it going on, let me tell you, but…" She shook her head with an amused smile playing on her lips. "Goodness, I'm sittin' there in the club watchin' 'em pop like a grandma and I have never been more embarrassed in my life."

Zelda snorted. "What about your boyfriend? Can he dance?"

Tesla made a face. "He can, but he chooses not to." A little pout. "Which I totally don't get because he's a great dancer! But, at the same time, I'm kind of glad because girls would be all over him even more if they saw he could dance." She rolled her eyes. "Not like they aren't already but still."

"Now, I know as the older cousin I shouldn't ask this, but I have to." Zelda grinned. "So he's Selan. Does that mean his thing is…?"

Tesla made an ungodly laugh. "No, he is like a horse and I'm here for it." A shake of the head. "God, the irony, though, right?"

"Right." Zelda took one last sip of her wine to finish the glass. Well, she's relaxed now. She checked her watch. And Julia should be here any moment. So we're running good on time. She turned to her cousin again. She's had such a rough life. I don't want to add onto that, but, the truth of the matter is, if Bundy reported an unchecked Magic Hunter to my father, Tesla could be watched by one of the cult spies. Sleeper promised to take out any one trying to leak info or spy on her, but I'd still feel better if she lived with me where I could watch her. But I won't uproot her life. Not when she has it so good now.

"Do we have any more cousins?"

Zelda blinked out of her thoughts at Tesla's random question. But a pain came with answering. "Not anymore," she murmured. "I had a sibling, but they died. So it's just the two of us now."

Tesla saddened. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Don't be." A loveless smile. "They're in a better place than you and me."

Tesla sobered instantly. "I'm really in danger, aren't I?" she said in a quiet voice like the weight of the situation had finally taken a toll on her body.

"Yes," Zelda replied just as somber. "You are." She paved the way for the next discussion. "Which is why, when you start training, you'll become the dangerous one, not the other way around."

"I took taekwondo and jujitsu and I am a black belt in both," Tesla deadpanned. "Plus, yoga makes me killer flexible and same to those pole dancing classes. Just give me a pair of heels and I'm dangerous enough."

Zelda was colored impressed. "Sleeper never mentioned the pole dancing classes."

Tesla shrugged. "I took them for the bodybuilding aspect but also to surprise my boyfriend." A cheeky smile. "And now he has a pole in his bedroom."

"Well, truth be told, I was relieved hearing you trained in self-defense," Zelda explained. "When you learn anything regarding Ether or Anti-Ether, your physical condition is just as important as your mental and emotional. In both practices, when you're just beginning, your emotions are strongly tied to the root of your powers. It's why you hear stories of people finding out their babies are Mages when a baby gets highly upset enough to break a dish with their mind or a vengeful kid lights something on fire—"

"Those sound like incoming psychopaths," Tesla muttered.

"And the same can be said for you and me." Zelda swallowed. "What I'm about to say is the complete truth and I'm sorry if it brings up memories you don't want to remember, but you need to hear it." Tesla consented with a nod, so Zelda plowed on: "Because you and I are the only capable of drawing Anti-Ether internally and using externally like Mages, both of our fathers tried to…test our limits in different ways. My father was more of a fan of psychological games that were completely unethical. He tried to break me down so he could build me up as his little machine and it worked for a time. Your father…"

"You don't have to say it," Tesla whispered. "I know what he did to me, Zelda. But I never understood why." Her knuckles locked. "And you're telling me did all that to me just because I have these stupid powers?"

Zelda ducked her head. "Out of the two of us, it was clear you had more potential," she relayed. "I can do things, yes, but you… Your power was incredible. It rivaled with the ones who originally had Anti-Ether."

"But I've never used anything like that," Tesla countered, a bit desperate. "Are you sure you're right about that? I mean, if that's even true, I shouldn't even be touching anything without blowing things up. I took science classes. Ether and Anti-Ether coexist, but too much Anti-Ether would be annihilated on the spot." More thoroughly convinced she was hearing lies, she shook her head. "I think you've made a big mistake."

"Tesla," Zelda hissed as Tesla wrestled out her Compact for her debit card. "The only thing that's keeping you from annihilating everything you come into contact with is…!" She heaved a sigh. "Okay, look, I've been making sure, every day, you've been dosed with a healthy amount a drug called The Cure—"

"You've been drugging me?!"

Zelda glanced around when a few patrons offered concerned and annoyed looks their way. "Tesla, keep your voice down—"

"I'm calling the Guard!" Tesla shakily dialed the emergency number. "Th-Th-Th-This is insane. You've been drugging just like he—" Tears melded into her eyes and she grabbed a few napkins. "I can't do this," she wheezed. "You've been drugging me."

Anguish ripped up Zelda as she tried to reach for Tesla who flinched away from her. "Tesla, please, calm down—!"

"Tes?"

Zelda and Tesla looked up to see Julia had arrived in a navy-blue two-piece pantsuit with a worried look only for Tesla.

Tesla ended the call to launch herself at Julia. "Oh, Juju, thank god. You are my saving grace right now," she breathed. "We need to get out of here right now—!"

"What? Why?" Julia thumbed Tesla's wet cheeks. "Tes, what's going on? You look sick to your stomach." She guided her friend back to her chair. "Here. Sit down."

"No!" Tesla shot Zelda a wide-eyed glance. "We need to get away from her, Julia—"

Julia ignored what more Tesla had to say to glare at Zelda. "What did you say to her?" she demanded to her.

Tesla tugged on Julia's arm. "Julia, please, let's just leave—!"

"I admit I wasn't being tactful," Zelda confessed, "but we need her to cooperate—"

"Willingly," Julia growled. "You're going to scare her off like this! What did you say to her?"

Zelda bit back her own growl. "That we've been giving her doses of The Cure for her own safety."

"And you think she would react well to that?" Julia snapped. "What is wrong with you—?"

"You…knew?"

Julia looked over and pained rankled her eyes when she saw Tesla back away from her. "Tesla, wait," she pleaded. "It's not what you think—"

"She drugged me, Julia," Tesla stressed as the blur of her tears stung her eyes. "Just like he did. He drugged me." A nasty revelation donned upon her. "He drugged me. He did th-th-those things to me—!" A strangled whimper left Tesla as her nails dug into her cheeks. "It hurt so much—!"

"Shhh, Tesla, shhh," Julia hushed as she pried Tesla's hands from her cheeks. "I know he did bad things to you. I know. I know they hurt."

Tesla wheezed and a cry came out. "She's just like him," she sobbed. "You're just like him too—!"

"No, Tesla, we aren't," Julia promised in a plea. "Please, give us a chance to explain to you—" She flinched when Tesla stole herself away from Julia's touch. "Tesla, please—!"

"I can't do this." Tesla reached over for her purse and coat. "This was a mistake."

Zelda rose to her feet. "Tesla, I know this is overwhelming to you, but we need to sit down and talk about this—"

"No." Tesla got on her coat with trembling fingers. "What I n-need to do is go home and lie down and think about my own friend drugged me for god knows how long—"

"We had no choice," Zelda hissed. "Once Sleeper found out where you were when you escaped, we had to make sure you wouldn't hurt anyone—"

"I would never hurt anyone!" Tesla snarled through her tears. "I would never make anyone feel an ounce of the pain I've been through!"

"But we didn't know that," Zelda insisted. "Power changes a person. It can make the nicest of people seek out revenge against those who wronged them and it can worsen the worst of people." She moved over to grab Tesla's arm when Tesla shook her head. "Tesla, please, listen to me," she hissed. "Don't run away from this. You need to face this—"

"Face that you drugged me?" Tesla laughed an ugly laugh. "Uh-uh, no, I don't play like that. You don't straight-up drug me for years and then think I'm going to come all peaceful and quiet and nod along like a good like Catholic girl to every word you say." She ripped her arm away as disgust registered on her face. "You are just as bad as him," she jeered. "I don't have to listen to a damn word you say to me—"

"You will if you want to make sure your powers don't accidentally kill anyone—!"

"How dare you even think for a second I would do that!" Tesla roared. "Fuck this! Fuck us being family, us being friendly little sister-cousins—whatever! The only blood I have in my life used me for things that will haunt me forever and make me sit in bed and want to die! Well, congratulations, Zelda!" She wiped her cheek. "You made that list!" She turned to storm away only to get startled when a Mauthe Hellhound was blocking her exit. There was no hostility from the Hellhound. In fact, it looked at her longingly like it wanted her to pet it. "You brought a fucking dog to keep me in line too?"

"That's mine," Julia confessed in a strangled voice. "That's Kore. She's been… She's been watching your father for the past few weeks."

Tesla looked back at Julia as the shock and betrayal morphed onto her face, but it all ended with a coldness. "Fuck you, Julia."

Sidestepping the Hellhound, Tesla whirled out of the establishment and ignored Julia's pleas for her to come back, to listen. The rage and pain set in, but the deep-seated hurt sliced through her so fresh and so sharply, she could feel it in her skin. Ignoring all the stares and whispers around her, she fumbled in her heels enough for her to suppress a scream and rip the damn boots from her feet. Freed from the stress of heels, she ran across cold pavement in her stockings until she got to the parking garage and did not care when two men saw her and called after her. The comfort of her car was close, but she would not rest until she was inside.

Her keys fell from shaky fingers, but she unlocked her car, jammed herself in the front seat, and closed her car door again. Two deep breaths in…

…and she sobbed.

It was all just too much. Too much to be given at one time. What was she thinking doing something like this? Was she in this for answers? Did she have hope she had a relative who actually could love her? Those dreams and unanswered questions were torn to shreds. Drugged. She had been drugged daily and she never even knew it. She had been used. And she was going to be used. Her eyes fell to her keys and she cleared her face of the tears and sniffled to try and start her car when she noticed what was on her keychain: her pocket knife.

An old sin coiled up her throat as she unfolded her pocket knife and she stared at the blade. Just once… she whispered to herself. Just once and I'll be okay…

But she had no time to even think about her actions and the consequences when her Compact lit up and startled her keychain from her grasp. She scrambled for her Compact to see it was Jaxton calling her and she cried in relief. Taking controlled breaths and swallowing several times, she answered the call and helloed in a perky voice, "Hi, Daddy! What's up?"

Silence.

"Nothing much," Jaxton slowly answered. "I just wanted to call and check-in about how the lunch is going."

"Is that Tesla?" It was Ricky and he shouted, "Hey, Loch Tess!"

Tesla forced a chuckle. "Hey, Ricky," she greeted back. "How's it going?"

"Good, but can you tell your boyfriend to stop wandering off on our date?" Ricky jested. "I'm getting seriously jealous the man won't look into my eyes and tell me I'm cute!"

"You'd be cute if you'd shut up," Jaxton grumbled. It sounded like he stepped away because Ricky's voice grew fainter. "Did I call at a bad time?"

Tesla's eyes fell to the blade. "No, not at all. Lunch ended, actually, so I'm just getting ready to go home." Guilt gnawed at her for the lie, but she sated herself that the truth would be much worse. "So, you called at a good time. Want to keep me company while I drive?"

Silence.

Tesla frowned. "Jaxton?"

"I'm here." Something had distracted him. "How about you wait for me and I'll drive us both to your place?"

"Oh, no, it's fine! You're out with Ricky—"

"Ricky!" Jaxton called, ignoring his girlfriend. "I'm going to take Tesla back home. Take my keys. Just drop my car off before you go to your reunion."

"Okay, sure."

Tesla bristled. "I said it's fine—"

"You are not going to drive right now."

"And why not?" Tesla snapped. "I'm perfectly capable of driving."

"No, you're not." Unlike Tesla, Jaxton did not raise his voice. He kept his voice composed and controlled. "You will stay in your car, lock the doors, and you will wait for me to come to you. And I am going to buy you a milkshake for you to sip on while we drive home. Do you understand me?"

Tesla wanted to act petulant and defy him, but she felt too guilty from the lie to be snappish. "Yes, sir," she mumbled.

"Good girl," Jaxton rumbled. "Stay on the Com with me. Do you want me to talk or do you want to talk?"

"Can you talk?" Tesla croaked. "I don't think I have it in me to talk a lot right now."

"Okay. Weiwei called today," Jaxton told her. "She said she'll be coming home for Zhōnguánese New Year with her husband. I'm sure our parents are going to try to convince her once again she should have kids, but Weiwei's firm that she and her husband don't need children to be happy and the 'family legacy' doesn't need to be upheld in that way."

Tesla sniffled and rolled back the seat to get comfortable. "I agree with her. I'm excited to meet her in person one day."

A pause.

"Tesla, you know I love you, right?"

Tesla sniffled and wiped her face with her sleeve. "I know. I love you too." An ache filled her. An ache she did not want to share. "Keep talking to me?"

Jaxton complied with her demand as she let her eyes fall shut and away from her grief. In no time, Jaxton's voice lulled her into a sleep or maybe being emotionally drained was the reason. But she was too far into her sleep to realize her car window rippled and a hand fell through to unlock her door from the inside. The hand disappeared, and, in moments, Jaxton appeared outside the door and ended the call with unreadable eyes on his girlfriend. He shifted her to the backseat and let her lay there, but he was no fool when he saw her fallen car keys and the unfolded blade. Jaw taut, he pushed the blade back in, put the keys in the ignition, and started them on their way back to her apartment.

I should've known this would be too much.

Jaxton's eyes flickered to the rearview mirror and, for a moment, he saw Tesla. But the mirror rippled and a shadow overtook it. A feminine voice called, "You don't like to make personal calls—especially to me."

"I'm bringing her home with me for New Years, to the compound," Jaxton told.

A pause. "Are you sure about this, dìdì? Because once she knows— "

"Yes." Jaxton refused to break from his decision, his choice. "She deserves to know."

A heavy sigh. "It's your call. Not like Ba can do much about it. He might be older, but you're stronger. As long as your boss doesn't care." A beat. "Do you think she'll leave you?"

"I don't." Jaxton meant that. "But I can't keep this a secret anymore."

"If that's what you want, fine. I'll let Mā and Ba know. Not like they can stop you, but you know Mā will try. Just be careful, okay? If she reacts badly, our hands are tied, dìdì. We can't make exceptions."

"I know. I'll be careful. Talk to you later." Jaxton blinked and the rearview mirror changed back to itself.

A mumble.

Jaxton's eyes flitted back to catch Tesla stir before softening again. No more secrets. She's had enough secrets. He shifted to another lane. Time to take a page out of Gary's book.

---

"I can't do this!"

The form of a young girl with locks sky blue and her back to the focus. She moved to a door way full of light to a place he would never reach. "I can't be here," she snarled. "It should've been him! He should've been here instead of that thing!" The girl paused at the doorway of light to whirl around. Eyes covered in shadows, she pointed a finger at the focus. "He should have been the one to die!" A sob. "Why did it have to be him? Why him?"

"Emma!" His mother. It was his mother's voice. "Emma, wait, please, I know you're hurting—!"

"No! I wish he was dead instead of him!" So the girl was named Emma. "He should have died! Why him? Why him?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Rubies broke open. "Emma."

"Gale?"

Those rubies turned and, for a moment, he saw her, the girl with sky blue hair, only for the image to fade into a worried Luna to be at his side. "Blondie?" He broke into a cough.

"Oh! Water, right!" Luna reached to the side before bringing a glass of water with a bended straw. "Here, drink this." She guided the straw to his lips and watched as he took measured sips until he was satisfied. "Does that help a little?"

"It helps a lot." Gale prepared to wince as he sat up, but he felt nothing. "What's going on?" He looked down on himself to see he was still in his training shorts, but his shirt had been removed and so had the rest of his training gear. A band had folded back his hair and he laid on a bed that was not his own in bedroom that was not his own. No, he was in Luna's bedroom. "Why am I in your bedroom?" He looked over at a closed-off Luna. "Blondie, what's—?"

"Submit."

Enraged darkness.

"Submit to your King."

Gale slid a hand down his face, but no nicks or bruises or blood was there. "I was down," he recounted in a murmur. "I was more than down… I was nearly out for reals."

"I've got you. Don't let go." A plea. A prayer. An enchanting whisper. "I'm here, Gale."

"But you saved me." Adoration and appreciation filled rubies as they turned back to roam over Luna. "You saved me, Blondie."

"I shouldn't have had to," Luna murmured quietly. "I shouldn't have had to save you like that." She closed her eyes for a bracing breath. "You were just… There was so much blood, and I just… I couldn't let you go and—"

"Blondie." Fingers cupped her chin. "Look at me."

Luna opened her eyes obediently and grieving chocolate clashed with soft ruby.

"What happened?" Gale breathed. "Tell me everything."

Luna nodded. "Luke pinned you down, but he wouldn't listen to me when I told him to stop," she remembered. "He was… It was like he was possessed or something. He didn't care you were down and you couldn't fight anymore. He just kept pu-punching you." She rubbed her cheeks.

"Come here."

Luna shook her head. "N-No—"

"Blondie, I wasn't asking."

Luna did not have the heart to deny him and crawled into her bed with him. His body was healed with no remaining marks from the brutal fight, but she still felt the need to be delicate. Gale was the one to tuck her into his side and pull her close. "Keep going," he encouraged.

Luna swallowed. "I was able to break down the barrier and get him off you. It felt like a rush, but I did it. And then I went to you and started healing you. And then you said…" She hesitated.

"I said…?" Gale prompted.

"You said…'Emma'."

Gale froze. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Gale fell silent for a full minute then he nodded. "Okay. Keep going."

"I didn't know what was going on, but I kept talking to you and healing you, but I wasn't strong enough," Luna whispered. "But you must have been healed enough because your eyes opened and then—"

And then I took over.

Gale blinked. "Sycaña?"

Yes, Sycaña softly hissed, her voice reaching Luna's mind. Your body was healed enough, but your mind was not. I took over your body and, with the aid of the Little Moonstone, I was able to get your body outside and heal the rest of you through the forest. The Little Moonstone aided with her own Magic and ensured you were completely healed. After that, I fell back.

"You can control my body?"

Only a little, Sycaña assured. I had to due to the dire circumstances. In the past, Dragons who hide their soul inside a human host used the human as their bag of skin. Our arrangement is different. I do not plan to take over your body again, but I will if the situation requires it.

Gale took that into consideration. "Okay. What happened next?"

"After that, we waited," Luna told him. "I couldn't carry you back inside. Papa and Aunt Wen and Aunt Cheila came here and your parents too and then my mama came home."

"My parents are here?"

Luna nodded against Gale. "Aunt Wen checked you over, but she said you were pretty much healed and needed time to mentally recover. You'll be fine, though, but she'll give you the rundown later. They're all downstairs talking."

"Right. Okay. But why am I in your bed?" Gale smelled embarrassment and looked down at a red Luna in amusement. "Blondie?"

The Little Moonstone is not giving you the entire story, Sycaña chuckled within the privacy of their connection. When you were moved by your sire and her own, you did manage to wake up. However, when you awoke, your instincts prevailed over your human side. You acted as a juvenile. I found it quite entertaining.

And what does that mean? Gale wanted to know.

It was cute. You felt threatened, a natural response, but you did not feel threatened for yourself. You did not take it well you were being moved away from the Little Moonstone. You snarled and spat like a young juvenile fresh in claiming. You refused to let go of the Little Moonstone and even bit your own sire.

Red crawled up Gale's neck. I bit my dad? Are you shitting me?

No. Sycaña huffed her mirth and it brazenly shone through their connection. I found it quite adorable. You have good instincts. A beaten-down male who defends his little mate is a worthy male indeed. His Majesty controlled you enough for the Little Moonstone to get away, but you made it clear you did not want her out of reach or your sight. That is why you were given her bedroom with her as your guard. You kept snarling even against His Majesty's command when the Little Moonstone left to retell the story. The reason you fell back asleep was when she asked you to rest and you obeyed like a happy little drake. She teased in addition when Gale felt so mortified, If she did not think your feelings true before, I am sure your actions showed—

Shut up. Just shut up. Shut up, please, and let me die. You should've just let me die. Death would be so much better than this. Gale's eyes bounced to Luna then to the ceiling. Clearing his throat, he muttered, "Um… I'm sorry for…all that."

The tips of Luna's ears were read. "Sh-Sh-She told you?"

"Yeah, I, uh…" Gale shifted. "That wasn't me. I mean it was me, but I don't…act like that. I mean I won't act like that towards you…" He cringed. This is so awkward. "You must want to run away from me now, right?"

"Why would I do that?" Luna scrutinized him with only perplexity in those chocolate pools.

But Gale was still hot with shame. "I mean I'm a fricken mess, Blondie. I try to show it down your throat that I'm in love with you and then I pull this shit." He winced. "Please tell me I didn't start humping legs and peeing everywhere?"

Luna grinned. "What's that information worth you?" She broke out into giggles when Gale began to tickle her. "Okay, okay, no, you didn't do that!" Gale let up, and she panted. "Honestly, it's fine, Gale! Your mama told me young Dragons are really, um, territorial with the things they care about."

Mom was just being nice to not scare her away. It's not what they care about that they're territorial of. It's their possessions. And if Blondie found that out… Gale sent a silent prayer of thanks to his mother. Thank you so much, Mom, for making sure I don't die by Blondie's hands. "And, um, how do you feel about me acting like…that?"

"It was…weird."

Internally, lightning struck Gale. Oh, god, she hates me.

"I mean not in a bad way," Luna quickly amended when she mistook Gale's fear for shame. "It was just… Well…" She winced. "I mean, yeah, it was…different. But it was also kind of…cute."

Gale's jaw dropped. "'Cute'?"

"I mean, sure, I guess," Luna supposed. "You were so cute, all growly and stuff. You couldn't even speak. It was like when Icarus gets really possessive of his toys." She giggled. "It's pretty adorable. And then you clung to me like a cute little cat all hissing and spitting at everyone…! Oh my gosh, and then the way you whined and had those puppy eyes when I accidentally laughed at you was so freaking cute!"

Gale's eye twitched. 'Cute'… 'Adorable'… Who the Hell describes any of that as cute and adorable? "Couldn't you have used anything…manlier?" he grasped for. "Like hot or…hot?"

"Nope!" Luna patted his chest. "It was one-hundred-percent adorable."

My pride… My ego… She just killed it… Gale despaired.

"But, all in all…that was really scary."

Gale blinked to see lingering worries in Luna's eyes. "Aw, Blondie, it's over now," he soothed as he held her tight. "I'm right here. I told you I'm not going anywhere, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did, but what about Luke?"

A shiver of fear crawled up Gale's spine as he remembered those bloodlust-filled dark eyes. "What about him?"

"It's just…" Luna curled in tighter. "He just…wasn't acting himself, y'know? He's never the one that takes it that far. I hate to say it, but Igneel normally goes too far when it comes to fighting. But Luke was always the calm one. He didn't like to fight and he only did it out of self-defense. He prevented fights. But then he just attacked you and wouldn't stop… Why would he do that? That's not like him. That's not my brother." She curled her hand onto his chest. "Do you…? Do you hate him now?"

Gale tried to place the emotion he felt for Luke, but he knew for sure one thing. "I don't hate him."

"You just don't trust him," Luna guessed.

"I wouldn't say that either." Gale really would not. It was hard to place what he felt. "I just know I don't exactly want to fight him anymore…or Igneel for that matter." He shook his head. "Geez, I could handle one of the twins trying to beat me to death, but two? Talk about unfair."

"Gale…"

Gale expelled an exasperated puff. "Blondie, what do you want me to say? That I like the guy? That I'm his BFF and we should make friendship bracelets? Hell no. Yeah, I still feel like he's still a friend and shit, but I'm still toeing a fine line I don't want to cross any time soon."

Luna nodded against him. "I understand," she murmured. "That's okay." She snuggled her cheek to his chest. "I'm sorry. I was being insensitive."

"Nah, don't sweat it," Gale calmed. "I get it. You're still his sister and you love him and you're worried about him. I understand that." Boring his eyes on her, he carefully broached, "And I'm still me and you're worried about me…and you love me too." He felt Luna stiffen, but the scent he caught from her was not fear. It was a tingling scent of anxiety and a hot scent of shame. Still, he pushed a little more. "You feel something for me, don't you, Blondie." When Luna tried to get off him, Gale growled and tightened his hold on her only to realize what he was doing and let her go like she burned him. "Sorry."

"It's okay," Luna said in a small voice. "Look, Gale… I really was worried about you. I'm still going to be worried about you. But I can't give you any more than that—"

"Why are you lying to me?" Gale shook his head when Luna opened her mouth. "Don't deny it, Blondie. Deceit doesn't smell good on you." He grabbed her hands. "Just be honest with me," he pleaded. "Even if you just like me, please, Blondie, just be honest." She shut her eyes and Gale watched her face as he placed a kiss on her bare palm then her other one.

Luna sucked in a breath. "I just… Gale, I—"

"Look at me when you tell me."

Luna could not fight down her whimper. "Do I have to?"

"Yes." Gale refused to back down on this. "You do."

Luna hunched her shoulders and broke open her eyes. Vulnerable chocolate stared nakedly into raw ruby. "I just…" She licked her lips. "I don't know. I'm…confused."

"You're confused between me and your little prince," Gale interpreted calmly. "But, why, Blondie? Is it because you like us both?"

Luna rolled her lips. She could hear her godmother reminding her to be honest and Silver advising her to figure out and choose. She could feel Icarus silently support her in solidarity with his own strength. She just needed to push the words past her lips. One stuttering breath later and she confessed, "I…do like you both—"

"Then, choose me." Gale suppressed the Wild's whine when Luna looked away from him and pressed his hands to her cheeks. "Blondie, I love you—"

"It's not that simple—"

"How isn't it—?"

"It just isn't!" Luna collected herself once again. "I like you both…a lot…but it's…different with Bleu." Her eyes cut away to the side as a small smile subconsciously wove onto her lips. "He's special and wonderful and it's like we've known each other for a lifetime and he makes me feel all sorts of things." She must have sensed Gale was viciously trying to tamp down his jealousy when her eyes ricocheted to his. "But you make me feel things too. You make me feel safe and…and warm and special—"

"Then, choose me," Gale insisted. He tried to meet her eyes again when she shook her head. "Why? Why can't you choose—?"

"That's what I'm trying to do!" Luna exclaimed. "I'm trying to choose—!"

"Then, choose me—!"

"Gale," Luna halted him sternly but her voice quivered, "it's not just you here. There's Bleu here too—"

"Fuck him," Gale gnashed.

Luna steamrolled over his worlds, "—and I feel a lot for him too! I can't just choose because you're here right now and he's not! I can't just choose right now!"

"Then, how long?"

Luna blinked. "What?"

"How long will it take you?" Gale pressed. The Wild lay on its belly in his head, wings ruffled, and wanted to give an impatient growl. "How long will it take you to choose?"

Luna worked her mouth, stunned by the question. "I don't know—" She cupped Gale's chin when he snorted his displeasure. "But I am going to choose," she promised him. "I know it's not fair to either of you to just be like this, so I will choose and I promise I'll do it soon."

"So you'll tell your little prince I'm in love with you?" Gale challenged with a raised eyebrow. "You'll tell him you like me?"

Luna's bottom lip trembled, but she gave a nod. "Yes. I can't hide that from him. It isn't fair to him and I promised him I'd be honest with him."

"He won't fight for you," Gale chuckled darkly. "I'd actually want him to fight you. I'd win." The Wild shone through his eyes at the glory of a challenge. Pounding flesh to the ground to show who was stronger, who was a Worthy Male. The Wild shuffled, excited for the prospect to prove their worth.

"No one is fighting anyone." Luna bullied him back to lie back on her pillows. "You've had enough fighting and I wouldn't want you or Bleu if you guys started fighting, you hear me? That's just plain stupid."

"In the stories, doesn't the prince fight the Dragon?" Gale jested.

Luna did not find it funny. "Yes, but those are just stories. Which means, in real life, no – fighting." She stressed the words with a meaningful look in her eyes. "You have to promise me, Gale."

"If I promise you, will you choose me?"

Luna growled. "Gale."

"I won't touch him if he doesn't touch me," Gale conceded. Not a promise, but the Wild could not promise anything. If a fist was thrown first, the Wild would not hesitate to show who was stronger as Nature commanded.

"Good." Luna shifted, but Gale made her fumble back into him with a Cheshire grin. "Gale…"

"What? I'm sure you do this all the time with your prince." He hissed the word like it offended him. "And if you like us both, I don't see why you can't do this with me."

Luna wriggled, but she huffed when Gale was making it clear she would get nowhere, "Because he and I are dating, Gale. We make out, we cuddle, we date. You and I don't do that."

"So then go out with me."

Luna groaned at Gale's simple yet cheeky remark. "Gale, stop it. I'm not going on a date with you when I'm dating someone else."

"But you two aren't technically in an exclusive relationship yet," Gale pointed out smartly. "So you both can date whoever you want. He probably is. You can do the same."

A twinge hurt Luna's chest, but she ignored it. "He's not dating anybody else."

"That you know of," Gale purred. "I'm just saying, Blondie. If you want to figure this out and you like us both, it's only fair you go on a date with me since you went on a date with him, right?"

Luna glared at him. "No, I am not going to do that." She slapped his chest. "And stop trying to break Bleu and I up. You're not slick. I know what you're doing and it won't work. Bleu and I trust each other—"

"Then why are you laying in my arms and confessing you like me?"

Luna swallowed.

Gale drove his point home. "Don't you think he could be doing the same with some other chick?"

"No." Luna refused to let her confidence falter. "And I'm telling him about this, so it doesn't matter."

Gale sighed and shrugged. "If you say so, Blondie." Luna relaxed and hoped he would drop it, but he only broadened his grin. "Y'know, if you've been kissin' your little prince, shouldn't you be kissing me too? Since you're comparing us and choosing between us and all."

"I'm not comparing you guys!" Luna amended the statement when Gale cocked his head, "I'm not comparing you guys by kissing techniques—!"

"I think you should." Gale dared to lay a hand on her cheek. "Think about it, Blondie. When you're choosing, you have to make sure you can live with your choice, right? Maybe I'm a better kisser than him. You really want to stay with someone who kisses like a dead fish when you can have me?"

"He doesn't kiss like a dead fish," Luna retorted. "He kisses just fine."

"Just 'fine'?"

"Perfect," Luna snapped. "He kisses perfectly."

"Well, that's good then." Gale lifted his head and held hers when she started at their proximity. "I can kiss better."

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

"Luna?" It was her mother. "I heard voices. Is Gale up?"

"Yeah, he is." Luna glared for Gale to let her go, but Gale looked too comfortable to do so. Her elbow came down to hit his chest and Gale choked, dropping his hands, and Luna quickly made her escape to the door. She opened it to smile at her concerned mother. "Did you want to see him?"

"Oh, no, sweetie, that's okay." Lucy ran a hand down Luna's cheek. "Just wanted to pull you away for a bit. His parents wanted to talk to you if he's more, um…in a willing mood to let you go."

"I'm not!"

"He is. Ignore him." Luna closed the door behind her and tried hard to ignore Lucy's giggles. "I'm ready to talk to them."

Lucy wiggled her eyebrows. "Do you have anything to tell me—?"

"Nope! I don't!" Luna prayed her mother could not see her flush. "Let's just get this over with." And then get Gale out of the house and far…far away from me.

°•°•°•°

Gale settled into Luna's bed with a satisfied grin. The traces of her ire remained, but even if her words betrayed her, the sweet tang of want was all he needed to spur him along and taunt and tease her. She wanted him. Her scent could not betray that. He just needed to draw it out from her. Sycaña surfaced and warned, Little Gem, do not tease her too much. She has as much bite as I do.

Why do you think I like her? Gale cheekily replied.

Sycaña sighed. Little Gem…

C'mon, Sycaña, you smelled her! She doesn't just like me—she wants me. Gale's grin widened. She just needs a little…push in the right direction. Less aggression and more finessin'.

Sycaña snorted. Yes, well, this 'finessing' might cause her to claw you, she pointed out wryly. As much as you smelled her want directed towards you, she held a substantial amount when she spoke her of current mortal interest.

Gale's grin turned to a petulant growl. Yeah, I know. I smelled. He put a hand on his sunstone band to calm himself down from doing something he regretted. It's whatever. So she likes the dude. Big deal.

It is a big deal. He is not a Dragon or Dragon Slayer, Sycaña forewarned. You cannot fight this with tooth and claws. It is a battle of words and gestures—

Sycaña, I've been a human all my life, Gale reminded her. I'm pretty sure I know how to pick a fight with words alone. I do it all the time just by being me. He turned his head to see the ikenga stuffy he had made on the bed next to a large Poko plushie. He picked up and stared into its marble eyes. "Tell me something, Syra, you think I stand a chance?"

The stuffy said nothing because, of course, it could not.

But Gale took that silence happily. "That's what I thought." Something caught the corner of his eye and his eyes swiveled to the nightstand to see Luna had forgotten her Compact. He reached for it and his face darkened when he noticed who was calling:

BLEU CHARMING

Gale swung his legs off the bed as he watched the Compact alert anyone of the call.

Little Gem, Sycaña warned. I know where your thoughts are headed. If you do this…do you really think she will be happy with you?

Gale ignored her. He watched as the Compact continued to alert. His eyes narrowed. No more hesitation. He swiped and brought the Compact to his ear.

Bleu's voice came through, cheerful. "Treasure!" he helloed. "Hey, so I—!"

"This isn't her."

Silence.

"What can I help you with, Gale?" No bullshit. A neutral tone.

Gale's tightened around the Compact. "I think you and I"—a ring of emerald burned amongst ruby—"need to talk."

---

Skade's prison had been upgraded from the demoralizing floating prison to a grayed cell that offered an uncomfortable cot, a toilet, and a large glass door. He had been given loose pants and a shirt to wear and a basic pair of moccasins. While he liked the aspect of being barefoot, he knew from Gary humans did not walk barefoot in public places due to it being unsanitary. A travesty, but he understood. His food had been upgraded from the slop they fed animals and a bowl of water. He was able to get a bowl of rice, vegetables, meat, bread, and a glass of water. The utensils rang foreign to him. He had seen Gary and Malã'ika use such things, but he struggled. Frustrated, he threw the utensils and delved into his food with his hands.

Skade sat in his cell, bored and tired. With no other prisoners to interact with—not that he would want to interact with them—he was left to his own thoughts. Which meant he and Gary were left alone to talk.

Gary laughed. Did she really get turned on?

Yes. My nose does not lie. Skade grinned at the memory. She does not hide her desire well.

No, she doesn't, Gary agreed. She's an open book most of the times. I can always tell when something is on her mind even if she thinks she's being sneaky. Like I could definitely tell she was more than a little shocked with the BDSM thing.

I wished I could have seen her face, Skade hooted.

If you hadn't ran away…

I know. Skade pouted. I will make it up to her when we are free from this stupid prison cell.

We both will. Gary sighed. She's been so worried about us. I've been hoping she'd visit us in her dreams, but we all know we'd get too distracted if she visited us too much. Speaking of which—a mental punch came for Skade that had him cradle his jaw—the Hell were you thinking? You didn't even wait until the Guards left yesterday! You don't just start jerking off when there are people around! What is wrong with you?

Skade gave a childish grin. It is their fault for trying to taunt me, he reasoned. And Malã'ika's desire was too much for me to simply dismiss. You would have done the same.

No. I would have waited until I was completely alone. Garyhuffed his dismay. Honestly. When we're free from this place, you can't be so…insensitive to societal standards and ethics. You need to follow the moral code.

Bleh, humans and their needs to be sheep and be prude and keep their desire to private, Skade grumbled. I did not see you uphold such a rule when you took Malã'ika in a room with an open door and anyone could have walked in—

I—! Embarrassment burned through their connection. That was different, Gary defended weakly. If you're going to do stuff like that, then you have to make sure no one can see you. Unless you're in a sex club, people don't take it well when you're going out right in front of their food. Keep it classy. Civil.

"'Classy'. 'Civil'." Skade tested the words on his tongue. He nodded, satisfied he repeated the words right. You will have to define this…'classy'. What does it entail? Does it end with Malã'ika naked?

What—? No! No, it doesn't—!

Skade's eyes sharpened. Shhh, he hissed. Someone is coming. He sat up, alert, as he listened to multiple footsteps. He perked when he recognized the footsteps and, a few moments later, Miss Wilson, Mirella, and their non-verbal mountain of a third came in with two Guards who stood outside. Or so they thought. Neither Guard had noticed when Mirella flicked her hair and glitter came out. They inhaled the glitter and slackened, eyes dull and complacent.

Miss Wilson stepped into the cell and glanced at the Security Camera Lacrima. She moved all the way until she was underneath the camera then she jerked up her hand. Shadows rushed up and hit the Security Camera Lacrima, but they did not do physical damage. Sighing, Miss Wilson turned to Mirella, Mirella shrunk down into Talia, and the non-verbal third party turned into Mammon's humanized form. "That'll hold up for a while," Mirella sighed. "Let's get down to business." She nodded at Skade.

Skade closed his eyes and took a deep breath. In his place, Gary remained with shaggy ink-black hair, his face needing a shave, and vibrant cerulean eyes. He cracked his neck. "Damn. How does Skade like to feel this tight?" he muttered.

Mirella turned to Mammon. "Anything regarding the woman?"

Mammon answered, "Hendrika has yet to be in contact with the woman again. Though, I found it peculiar she has a blank piece of paper sitting on her dresser folded up. I touched it and Ancient Magic was strapped onto the paper."

"A Revealer Spell," Talia named.

"Can you break it?" Gary wondered.

Mammon shook his head. "It's deep Magic only meant for the person it is intended it for. To unravel it would mean setting off a silent alarm we aren't ready to trigger."

"Agreed," Mirella said. "We don't want to tip them off, but it's pissing me off we can't figure anything out. I shouldn't be that rusty." Her hand twitched. "I miss the days where we could just kill people who were suspicious," she complained.

"I've been trying to boil down what he can use against Skade, but it's hard for me to pinpoint," Gary confessed. "I wasn't one to let him out often. Even when I blacked out and he took over, he stayed away from people and hunted wild game only. None of my friends would ever testify against us."

"Linus did," Talia pointed out.

Gary cut her a glare. "Linus isn't a friend." He rubbed his jaw. "Maybe Ultear? But I crossed her off that list because she isn't that vindictive. I know we should be suspecting everyone, but she wouldn't," he added when Mirella shot him a doubtful frown. "The friends who have seen Skade only know him for a few minutes, but nothing outside of that. They can't give viable stories, especially when it relates to Margaret Town. And that door has been closed."

Mirella leaned against the wall. "So that's it? Are you sure there's nothing else?"

"The only other thing I can think of is the Bureau of Magical Development, but they can't use that against us when we were the victims," Gary reasoned. "They can twist the narrative all they want, but, at the end of the day, it'll reveal they were illegally experimenting on Aberrants and magical creatures."

Mirella growled. "Which is something we should have brought to the trial—"

"With no physical evidence," Talia finished knowingly. "We would not even have a warrant for a search. So, if we did acquire information, they would be certain we hacked into the Council files and dragged out the information which would then be dismissed from evidence."

Mirella huffed, but she held affection for her daughter. "Yeah, I know." She heaved her shoulders. "Well, at this point, the jury has decided. Bastard Broussard can pull all the stunts he wants, but we've confronted everything Skade could potentially be charged with and he'll be registered as an endangered species. Without the death penalty, I don't understand his motive for pushing, but I don't understand many things humans do."

Gary chuckled. "I'm human and I barely understand it." A beat. "Did Angel get home okay?"

"She's safe," Mirella acknowledged. "Kyler touched base with me. If she has any of those puritans on her ass or if someone so much as degrades her with calling her a 'bitch', she's to run and tell Big Brother Kyler." She rolled her eyes. "Does he really think she'll do that?"

"He's just trying to protect his sister just like I would do my own," Gary soothed. "And, for that, I appreciate and respect him. Angel isn't one to ask for help, but it makes me feel better that Býleistr is with her. I just wish I could have seen her before she left."

Mirella and Talia glanced at each other. "Well, you may not be able to see her, but, we're working on a Com-call," Mirella revealed. "Don't get too perky, though. It's all in negotiation."

"Really? With the Council?" Gary asked.

Mirella shook her head, surprising him. "No. The Council would track the call word for word and look for codewords that aren't there. We have a different person we contacted for the Com-call." She said the word meaningfully and recognition flashed in Gary's eyes. Sated, Mirella nodded. "But I hold no promises. I'd like to say you'll be back in time for Christmas, but with Broussard becoming a pain in my ass…"

"I understand." And Gary did. "My sister and Sparkles know what to do if I'm not home by then. Speaking of home, were you able to contact my Guild Master like I asked?"

"Yes." Talia was the one who answered. "Your Guild Master will be brokering deals alongside your Guild Contractor amongst your Settlers. Should you be moved to the compound Mister Sequen has set up for you, you'll be switched to part-time S-Class Mage under the guise of continuing for your degree. Mister Sequen is in agreement about the schedule you and Skade are to follow." Her eyes slid to Mirella's. "However, there was the fact about Skade's 'mate'…"

Gary winched. 'Right." He rubbed his neck. "Angel and I still haven't been on a proper date. I don't even know if she wants children."

"Do you?" Talia questioned.

Gary shook his head. "Not really, no." He paused. "Skade agrees. We both don't exactly want to pass down this power to anyone else. If anything, I'm up for adopting, but…" His smile turned bittersweet. "This power was born with us. And it will die with us."

"We'll have to fake breeding attempts," Talia told Mirella.

Mirella nodded her agreement, but Gary looked confused, if a little sickened. "Why?"

"If the Ministry of Magical Creatures gets word their new Devil doesn't want to procreate, they may encourage Skade to breed with another female," Mirella drawled. She registered the revulsion on Gary's face and snickered. "I know. It's not pretty, but it's standard procedure. You have more leeway since Skade walks a fine line as a sentient magical creature. While, yes, he has the instincts of a basic animal, he has the complexity of a human, thanks to you. So we might be able to get away with faked breeding attempts and bar Skade from being encouraged to try with other willing participants out of Skade's need for love. In that case, the breeding efforts stop and the conservationists make it a point for Skade to live out a longer life, even without offspring."

"Skade and I both like that option," Gary muttered, shivering. "But I hate being talked about like a zoo animal."

"Get used to it, kiddo." Mirella ruffled Gary's hair before sniffing him and recoiling. "Ack. And take a shower."

"Tell that to the one in control these days," Gary grunted. "He doesn't think showers are necessary. Somehow, the complex understanding of basic hygiene escaped him." He flinched and rubbed his head when Skade lashed at him. "But I'll handle it. I could use a haircut and a shave."

"Keep the facial hair." At Gary's confused look, Mirella winked at him. "Trust me. Nashi will thank you for it later."

Gary flushed and stroked his incoming beard. "I'll keep that in mind." He would most definitely tuck that information for later use. "How's my family?"

Mammon supplied, "From what Muta gathered, your family fairs well. Your mother avidly watches the trial and your father has been pulled due to guild politics, but he does watch when he can. Your sister has bonded successfully to a Hellhound and your youngest brother seems attached to the one he called 'witch'."

Gary felt the surprise on his face. Lady J has a Hellhound? Silver has been hanging around Ena? What exactly have I been missing at home? He bobbed his head, however. "Give Muta my thanks for watching over my family. I trust Býleistr and Angel's friends to make sure she eats." A hopefulness gleamed in his eyes. "Is she really sleeping in my bed?"

"Every night," Mammon confirmed.

Gary sighed. "I really want to go home," he muttered. "I've been away from Magnolia for so long." Away from Angel for so long…

"You'll be home soon," Mirella soothed. "But you'll to wait a little bit. If all goes well, once you've been declared not guilty, they'll start your transfer to Mister Sequen's residence. Right now, we've already spoken with Queen Hisui to make Skade an honorary citizen of Fiore so he can live there legally. He'll have his own identity, a social security number, and even a bank account and passport. The deal is, since he is a sentient creature, Skade will be assessed for the duration of three to six months to acclimate around human life."

"I'd ask why he couldn't do it in Magnolia, but I understand," Gary said. "There's too many people and, if we want to pull this off, Skade needs to be in area with a lot of land and as little people as possible."

"Precisely." Mirella nodded. "If he passes his assessment and shows he can live in modern society, they'll be a little more gracious where he chooses to go. He'll have to check in with the Ministry of Magical Creatures for evaluation now and again, but at least he'll have more freedom. Who knows? Maybe he'll even join your guild."

Gary snorted. "Let's not get carried away," he chuckled. "He still doesn't use utensils or shower and I'm sure he'd growl at you if teeth-brushing. I had to put my foot down on that and take a little control. Same with deodorant. Devils just don't like bath time." He tipped his head. "What's the situation in Bellum looking like?"

"It's getting better," Talia told him. "The government could not deny Mages willing to help rebuild cities, especially when they would do it for a quarter of the labor of regular construction companies. The mortals help out when they can, but the Mages do most of the work. This is putting Magic in a positive lighting that most of the politicians aren't a fan of. The Prime Minister reeked of rage when he had to publicly thank the Guild Unions for helping the Bellish people during such uncertain times."

"That's good to hear they're recovering," Gary acknowledged. "And it's good to hear Magic is going in a better light. What are the numbers looking like for Dark Creatures?"

"Fairly well," Talia told him. "It was not that mortals had much of a like or dislike to them, but there are the Galuna Demons in Fiore and a few sparce races of Dark Creatures that traded with mortals and offered services. Work has picked back up with them, but the mortals did take into consideration that Dark Creatures could potentially turn on them. That prejudice will always remain, however."

Gary agreed. "I'm glad to see the Galuna Island Demons are doing well. My dad took me there a few times since the grave of his former master is there and also up in the North Pole. They're a very nice tribe and I would have hated to see them plunge into hardship. Please put my request through to have one million jewel from my main account wired to them as a donation from both Angel and I. "

Talia nodded. "Very well. As you request."

"Rich, charitable, an artist," Mirella listed with a grin. "You better remind Nashi to lock you down. By mortal standards, you're quite the catch."

"I've had my encounter with enough men and women to know what they think of me," Gary grumbled. "But I love only one person. And I can wait a little longer until she's ready."

Mirella softened. "This is going to be a big change for both of you."

"I know." A somberness settled over Gary. "But we can handle it. I won't let her down when she's done so much for me."

"You really didn't know, did you?" Mirella asked him, voice delicate.

Gary winced. "I had my suspicions," he carefully put. "She uses Magic Concealer to cover the surgery scar on her abdomen, but, the first time we had sex, the concealer came off there and on her back." A sadness touched his features. "She doesn't remember the scars on her shoulder blades and says it was from a training accident, but she was ashamed about her surgical scars. I promised I wouldn't ask questions and I won't ask. I wish she didn't have the world know about it, but if she ever wants me to know the details, I'll listen. I love her, scars and all." He ran a hand down the side of his nose and rubbed it. "I just wish I could've held her longer, Mirella."

"I know you do," Mirella murmured. "You will soon. I promise. We'll get you out of here and back home." She checked her watch. "That's all the time we have. Any other requests?"

Gary shook his head then he paused. "Wait. I do have one," he mentioned. "I have two neighbors Angel knows. One of them is a close friend of mine, Diego, and the other is a mother I check in on from time to time with twin boys. Her name is Tina Tomoe. I called her 'TT'. Since she isn't my official Settler, I want to make sure her sons still have a tutor since I do that on the weekends. And, if she and Diego aren't too judgment of Angel, can you make sure they swing by from time to time? Diego and TT work way too hard and I'm sure Angel could use some more normal company."

Mirella snorted as she adopted her look as Miss Wilson. "Kiss some babies and puppies and be beatified, why don't you?" She straightened her blazer as Mammon and Talia shifted into their personas. Gary took his as his cue and Skade came back to take control. "We'll do what we can. Best thing you can do is smell better and be sane. See you bright and early. Let's take you home." She pretended to be smoothing her hair, but the shadows that had seeped into the Lacrima retracted back into her own. The group ducked out and Mirella (Talia) twisted her fingers for the Guards to come back to life and locked Skade back in.

Skade watched them leave before allowing a smile on his face. Home… His mind flashed to wide hickories and pink hair.

Gary agreed. Home.

---

Every year, Peter and his parents went to his grandparents' house in northern Fiore for the traditional Christmas family reunion that included a church service at the family's chosen First Baptist church and then the entire block would be out after church let out, congested with relatives and friends of relatives and about-to-be-married-into-the-family relatives. Peter's grandparents were the ring leaders of such a fiasco. The block was in an older development where the grass was still natural and trees rarely needed to be cut down for the introduction of a new fast-food chain. It had its character and never went a day without something happening—or so Peter's grandmother told him whenever she gossiped with the dubbed "Old Lady Gang", a group of the older women who infamously cooked for every event, encouraged the creation of grandchildren, and they would sing prayers to Jesus to the cows came home if you ever dared to tell them you were too full for dessert.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Pleurisy's Hollow, an older town in Fiore that is home to many Andüsan and Selan immigrants. Back when Minstrel had tried to take control over Fiore, Pleurisy's Hollow was considered a "Sanctuary City" where many hiding Mages and immigrants alike would stay and be protected from Minstrish soldiers trying to imprison them. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Peter never once felt uncomfortable coming back to his grandparents' house, to be honest. He liked the atmosphere and he loved his family who loved him back. Occasionally, someone newer to the hollow would see his skin tone and give him a quizzical look and a few dared to ask him politely if he was lost, but he assured them that he was here to see his grandparents (even if that gave newer people a wide look in their eye and mutters if he was a light-skinned biracial baby). To be fair, there were a few people his skin tone at the hollow who were not Selan and some of those who were biracial were still naturally tanner than him, but he never let that bother him.

Normally, he would happily interact with his family, passing babies along, laughing with his extended cousins who had him on lookout while they smoked weed and traded adult stories like they were war veterans, and deftly compliment the entirety of the Old Lady Gang for their collective effort into the food. But he found his smiles forced this time.

All because he had to lie.

Every family member talked him up about his college choices. It was not like he was the only non-black family member, but, even so, they urged him to enroll in an HBCU, honor his mother, and live up to the family name. He sat through the OLG going off about their hardships immigrating to Fiore and wanting the best for their kids and grandkids. He had to smile along when relatives talk universities and the connections they could offer him. And he hated it. He hated he had to pretend he was still on the Spiritless life plan. He especially hated lying to—

"Your grades better be lookin' just as good next semester, you hear me, boy?"

Peter nodded and sighed. "Yeah, Granny." He turned to his grandmother who was trying to make sure the macaroni and cheese was always filled. Being from Ando-Sinnish, her hair was still thick and wavy, but she added some weave to make it plumper. She put on her Sunday best for this outing and still had her church hat on. "I'll get straight A's."

His grandmother shouldered him with a look. "You better. I am not having another grandchild of mine slip through the cracks by bein' some B-plus student."

⌜PLEURISY'S HOLLOW

Name: Margaret "Maggie" Shuusei

Age: 86

Occupation: Activist

Likes: Guess That Price! Dislikes: footsteps in her good living room

Special Note: Margaret is a proud grandmother to seven grandchildren in counting and you better believe she's asking for more of them!⌟

"You get a B once and, suddenly, you're on the hit list," Peter joked, though he coughed when his grandmother did not look amused. "I'm studying hard, I promise."

"Good." Maggie put her hands on her hips. "Because you keep those grades up and you can get a full-ride to any school of your choice. I'll be damned if I let my grandbaby stay home when he should be goin' off to college and makin' a name for himself."

"DJ does pretty well for himself, Granny," Peter soothed because he knew she was talking about that cousin in particular. "He's a pretty great electrician—"

"And he got two babies from some no-good hood rats." Maggie muttered a quick prayer to God for her language. She whipped a finger at Peter. "You get a girl pregnant, boy, you best believe you are still finishing school and going to college even if I have to talk to the dean."

"Granny, you're scaring Petey," came light teasing. A thick biracial beauty intervened before Maggie could start frothing at the mouth over the situations each of her grandchildren had gotten herself into. But, unlike most of the people here, this beauty came with a lip piercing, unholy tattoos, and a shirt that said things shirts should never say in the presence of the elderly.

⌜PLEURISY'S HOLLOW

Name: Jennifer "Jinn" Shuusei-Benigno

Age: 18

Occupation: In-Training Cosmetologist

Likes: rock-climbing Dislikes: ice cream

Special Note: Jinn is definitely not afraid to show her true self and that includes shutting up anyone who shames her with very salacious "Your Mama" quips!⌟

Maggie glared at Jinn. "I ought to be smackin' you over the head, embarassin' the family like this." She shook her head in disgust of Jinn's attire. "You couldn't even try? Where's that mama of yours at?"

"With Daddy, talking to your other children," Jinn told her grandmother. "Why don't you go scold them instead of bullying Petey?"

"I am not 'bullyin' him, you spoilt little girl," Maggie snapped. "But he's the one good grandchild I have left outside River, but River's two and he doesn't count yet."

Jinn mock-pouted. "Hey, I'm a good grandchild. You don't see me hitting you and Grandpa up for money every damn day." She avoided the swat Maggie tried to dish to her.

"Language!" Maggie laid a hand over her heart as she lumbered away. "Lord Jesus, please save this child from her life of sin…"

Jinn made a face behind her grandmother's back. "Raggedy ass," she muttered. "Can't she at least give me a pat on the back for getting into cosmetology school? No. Because in this family, if you're not a doctor or a lawyer or pregnant, then who cares?"

Peter laughed. "You never get into it with Granny this early." He tipped his head. "Baby daddy giving you trouble?"

Jinn snorted as she went over to the cooler to get out a beer. "He wishes he was my baby daddy."

Peter wanted to say something, but both grandchildren winced when their grandmother screamed, "Jennifer Kathryn, you best not be touchin' that liquor now or I will whoop that butt right here with my shoe!"

"Mama…!" Jinn's mother called, appalled. "Jinn is an adult now—!"

"She ain't an adult until she out of your house and finally making a decent living, Meadow, and you better stop coddling the darn girl!"

Jinn winced and jerked her head for Peter to follow her. They managed to find a couple of chairs in their grandparents' backyard. Some of the littler kids who were extended family were outside playing, but Jinn and Peter stayed far away from the children for the conversation they wanted to have. Jinn brought out her bottle opener and cracked open her beer for the first swig. "Did Granny see Jasmine yet?"

"No." Peter grimaced. "But I can already hear the screaming match about Jasmine being pregnant."

"Jazz isn't telling her."

Peter looked at Jinn wide-eyed. "Seriously? What is she going to do, hide her stomach until it's labor day?"

"That's what she plans on doing," Jinn sighed. "Jazz is in some pretty hot water right now. She hasn't even told Aunt Nadia yet. DJ and Ricky know, but Jazz isn't too keen to give up her baby daddy's name or location and DJ and Ricky are pissed, but, like…" She rolled her eyes. "Okay, DJ could be a threat, but what the Hell is Ricky going to do? Throw his tuba at the douchebag?"

Peter chuckled and declined when Jinn offered him a sip of her beer. "Doesn't Jazz do some sort of tutoring thing out in the USM or something? Hawthorn U, maybe?" He whistled. "Maybe the father is one of the cowboys out there."

Jinn cackled. "Oh my god, I would live to see that! Makes sense why Jazz came home all quietly to stay with Aunt Sharon because you know Aunt Sharon asks no questions. You could get away with murder, but as long as you don't interrupt her while she's putting in her rollers and watching Real Housewives, she doesn't care." She took a gulp of beer.

Peter decided to ask, "How's everything going with you and your dad, by the way?"

"Shit." Jinn sighed. "He's trying to ban Sasuke from coming into the house, but I kept telling him, if Sasuke stops coming over, I'm just going to start going to his place and that normally shuts him down, but I can tell he's gearing up to give me an ultimatum again."

Peter flinched. "Jinn, please don't move in with him—"

"Petey, I know what I'm doing—"

"But that's what you said last time," Peter countered. "And the dude turned out to be a drug dealer with heroin, Jinn. Heroin."

But Jinn shrugged. "Okay, so I made one bad mistake—"

"One?"

"—but it's not like we're all like you and find our soulmate three days in." Jinn punched his shoulder when he blushed. "C'mon, dude. You had crushes and stuff, yeah, but you hittin' me up about getting her a wittle cute care package—"

Peter's flush deepened. "Shut up."

"It's cute…!" Jinn cooed with a grin. "But, seriously, how is Mary Jane feeling?"

"Fine, I guess," Peter supposed. "She hasn't texted me too much today since she was hanging out with her brother, but she said she was fine after some pain medicine."

"Good to hear. My IUD was a bitch and a half for the first month and I was bleeding like a motherfu—"

"This is where it's quickly and overwhelmingly becoming TMI."

Jinn snorted when she saw someone coming over to them. "Ah, there he is! Ricky B, my man, come join the cool cousins!"

Ricky shook his head as he came over in his beanie with his secret beer. "So this is where you guys have been hiding from Granny." He and Peter did their handshake before he took a seat beside him. He cracked open his beer and took a swig. "You guys could have texted me or something. Granny's on a warpath and you know how Grandpa is."

"Yeah, we do." Jinn pretended to snore as both boys laughed.

Peter nudged Ricky. "I thought you weren't coming until later. Weren't you hanging out with someone?"

"I was, but we had to cut it short," Ricky explained. "My friend's girlfriend has been going through some tough and silent battles. I don't know what, but I know it worries Jackie a lot. So he went to take her home and I dropped his car off at his place. I had time to kill, so I came up here early." He looked at Peter. "Please tell me you're not having girlfriend troubles too." He surreptitiously looked around before he whispered, "Does Granny know she's white?"

"I'm white too," Peter said dryly. "But, no, she doesn't. And it shouldn't matter—"

"Yes it do matter, Petey, when it comes to the OLG," Jinn intervened with a headshake. "Hell, my dad is Tayumano, but Aunt Sharon told me Granny was about to pop her one for bringing him home and almost got disowned if it wasn't for him being a quarter black." She tipped his bottle in Peter's direction. "You better hope your girlfriend has some Andüsan roots stored somewhere down there before the OLG starts busting a blood vessel."

Ricky laughed while Peter groaned. "My mom is already on my ass for Mary Jane being a Mage and that's stressful enough."

"How's everything going, by the way?" Ricky nodded to Peter's hands. "With your own…"—he narrowed his eyes at a wandering distant cousin who circled too close for just a casual stroll—"business…"

Peter picked up on the subtle warning and said, "It's slow and steady. Mom isn't too happy about it, but it is what it is. Dad stepped back to let me do what I need to do." He could relax when the straying relative was a better distance away. "But, honestly, everything is moving fast and slow at the same time," he confessed. "My mom is trying to guilt-trip me into staying here and finishing school, but I know that isn't the right thing to do. I need to learn about myself."

"As you should," Ricky agreed. "You know my mama didn't want me to be in graphics and animate at a school with no marching band, but, sometimes, you just have to put your foot down and—"

"Ricky, stop being noble," Jinn cut him off. "You didn't put a damn foot down. What you did was applied behind Aunt Viv's back, got accepted, you told her you're going to the same HBCU she went to, and then you and DJ packed your shit to go to your fancy art institution and no one knew until the first football game that you weren't the main sousa."

"That's putting my foot down!" Ricky added in a mutter, "And not getting slaughtered doing so."

"You should be grateful Grandpa faked a stroke when everyone got mad at you for not going," Peter chuckled. "How he married Granny is anyone's guess, but at least he's got our backs." He paused. "You think he'd fake another stroke for me after I tell everyone the news I'm going to Minstrel?"

"Don't be greedy," Jinn grumbled. "I need him to fake a stroke for me when I tell everyone I'm moving in with Sasuke."

Ricky groaned. "Jinn, why…? Why would you do that? Why?"

"Apparently, Uncle Logan is giving her an ultimatum again," Peter filled Ricky in.

"Oh god, why are you guys fighting this time?" Ricky lamented. "Jinn, stop fucking it up with Uncle Logan and just apologize—"

Jinn scowled. "You didn't even hear my side of the story, you asshole!"

"Because you're normally on the wrong side of the story," Ricky argued. "God, Jinn, none of your boyfriends ever turned out to be decent guys but lay it on us. What does this one do? Is he employed? Does he support the monarchy? Is he in school? Does he have kids—?"

"This is why I never tell you shit!" Jinn seethed. "You just start throwing shade at me—!"

"Bitch, it is called reading your ass," Ricky corrected in a series of claps that had Peter throw up his eyebrows. "I get why Uncle Logan's pissed at you. Yeah, I've seen those 'I'm-so-quirky' pics you and Sauce-whatever post on Insta, Jinn, and you both look dumb as Hell. You dating a guy with a drug rug sends up major red flags."

Jinn swore and raised him a middle finger as she got up. "I don't need to listen to this shit." And she stormed away.

"Yeah, run away before I start hitting you with the truth!" Ricky shouted. He tossed himself back in his seat to shake his head. "She never learns! It's not even like I want to argue with her, but how does she not see these guys are horrible people who aren't going to appreciate her?"

Peter wished he had a better answer than a one-shouldered shrug. "I don't know. We've all tried talking to her, but she really only listens to JP and you know how that goes."

Ricky rolled his eyes as he took a healthy dose of beer. "Yeah, he shows up, looking all ghetto and thug, and mysteriously blesses Granny with all this money then he rolls right out to who knows where. My mama keeps saying I need to go to church more, but she's clearly not looking at JP." Heaving an exhale, he gave Peter his attention. "So tell me really. How's everything going at home?"

"Shit." Peter deflated and slumped into his chair. "I'm glad Dad is staying out of it, but I keep worrying Mom and I are going to blow up at each other. I'm lucky she's leaving it to me to tell Granny, but you know how Granny is. She wants me to get straight A's and go to some nationally ranked school to become a doctor or a lawyer then settle down and have my wife pop out Granny's great-children."

"She's just pissed DJ hid the first great-grandchild," Ricky muttered. "She would have killed him when he came home four years ago if it wasn't for him holding up Niyah like she was his shield and Granny melted like that." He kicked the side of Peter's feet. "Don't sweat it too much. You know how the OLG and the divas get around here. They raised Hell for my mama raising me in a white neighborhood instead of here. They don't like change. They want everything to be here within the family at all times. They expect so many things from us. But don't let that discourage you, okay?" His eyes softened. "You deserve to find out about yourself, Peter. No one should tell you otherwise—not even your own family."

Peter swallowed and bobbed his head. "But what about Mary Jane?" Maybe if it had been Jinn, he would have stayed silent, but he could confide in Ricky. "I keep worrying she'll find someone better for her. I don't really care about the distance, but she's just so amazing and her family is incredible and I'm just…me."

"You're incredible too, Peter," Ricky praised. "Not too many whitey-whites could fit in with this black and biracial mess, but you did. That counts." He smiled when Peter cracked his own. "Not only that, but you're determined to do whatever it takes to get where you need to go. Exhibit A: you got into a fancy Magic University and accepted the offer even though your mom is trying to guilt-trip you. You knew dating a Mage would raise some Hell, but you said forget that. You like her and you were determined to have her, with or without your parents' approval."

"But it would've been easier if I had my parents' approval," Peter muttered. "Mom keeps stressing how much she wants to meet her and promises to be good, but then we get into these little cat-fights about school and, all of a sudden, she does a one-eighty and starts blaming Mary Jane and her family for giving me 'ideas'."

Ricky tipped his head from side to side as he rolled his lip. "Well, considering Granny pretty much did the same when Uncle Logan was in the picture and went ultimate two-face? Yeah, she might. But you can't let that stop you from dating someone you like. She's your girlfriend now, man." He tipped his head back for a few more gulps of beer. "I read up about her. She's Jackie's guildmate, actually."

"Really?" Peter did not know that. "I didn't realize your bestie was a Fairy Tail Mage."

Ricky snickered. "He's got mad talent, but he just doesn't want to apply himself to make it to the big leagues. Anyways, your girlfriend is pretty amazing. I mean her stats are off-the-charts impressive. I put on a couple of her fights while I was packing up to come home for break and, damn, she's a knockout."

A stupid smile adorned Peter's face. "Yeah, I know."

"I couldn't find too many interviews of her and I did some deep digging," Ricky confessed. "I did ask Jackie about her." A frown came on his face. "He knows her brother Lance—you know, the Railgun?—but, with Mary Jane, apparently she's been having some trouble lately."

Peter nodded. "Yeah, she told me. But I always get the feeling she's holding back."

"Silent battles," Ricky reasoned. "Jackie and his GF are pretty tight, but I know Tesla pretty much keeps to herself about the things really bothering her. Jackie tries to downplay it, but I know it worries him a lot. He isn't too caring about her sharing it with him. He just wants her to share it with someone. She talks to her friends, sure, but neither one of us knows if she's telling her friends everything or bits and pieces."

"I know how your friend feels," Peter related. "Sweets has some good friends among her, but still… I mean, she did have a best friend she probably told everything too, but he, um…moved away for a little while."

"The same best friend you kept worrying would put the moves on your girlfriend?"

Peter swung at Ricky while his cousin laughed. "Okay, so I was jealous—big deal!" Peter huffed. "But, if you must know, yeah, that friend. They were super close, y'know? And it hurt her a lot when he left. Now, I don't know who she talks to. I'm like your friend. It's okay if she doesn't want to talk to me, but she needs to talk to someone."

Ricky observed Peter for a long moment. "You really care about this girl, don't you? You get that same vibe I get from Jackie when he talks about Tesla."

"And what vibe do you get from him?"

"He's completely in love with her."

If Peter had a drink, he would have spat it out, but, since he did not, he only choked. "I'm not in love!"

"For now," Ricky conceded. "We'll see about the future."

Peter scoffed. "You're crazy."

"I'm clairvoyant," Ricky retorted. "Think about it. I predicted Aunt Sharon would be child-free and marriage free and she did all that plus she built her own house. I predicted Jinn wouldn't learn her lesson and move in with her new boyfriend three weeks after having him. And I predicted DJ got another girl pregnant which he did." He pointed at himself. "Me? Clairvoyant." He pointed at Peter. "You? Face."

Peter shook his head in amusement. "Whatever, man. I'm not in love. Maybe I could fall in love, but, I don't know, it's too early to tell."

"No it isn't," Ricky negated as he looked into the distance. "Your heart pretty much knows what's going to happen. You just have to get your head to agree with you. You feel something strong for your girl. I respect that. Just make sure she knows it."

Peter looked down and brought out his Compact. His lock screen had already been set to a picture of a sunnily beaming Mary Jane and, when he pressed down his thumb, the image moved to a boomerang to show her blowing a kiss before smiling. Make sure she knows it, huh?

"I've got you covered."

Peter looked up at Ricky who still looked away, pretending to stare at something, but he did dig into his pocket to take out a set of keys. He tossed them to Peter. "Take my car. I'm staying with Aunt Sharon anyways and unloaded my stuff and Jinn's drunk ass is probably going to come with. Drive out to your girlfriend. Give me my car back in the morning. Jinn will take you home." He sidled Peter with a grin. "Condoms are in the back console and some lube too. I keep a towel and some wipes in the trunk…just in case."

Red flared onto Peter's cheeks. "We're not—!"

"I know you're not," Ricky chuckled. "But things happen. That's how DJ got Niyah and JK. And if sex doesn't happen, doesn't mean everything that leads up to it doesn't happen. Just be safe, all right?"

Peter looked at the keys, red face and all, then back to his cousin. "Thanks, Ricky. I owe you."

Ricky shrugged. "No problem. I've been around Jackie long enough to recognize the face of someone who really needs to see his girlfriend. You have that face, man." He nodded. "You don't owe me a damn thing. Just put a smile on her face and we'll call it even." He flicked his hand in a shooing motion. "Now run before the OLG catches you. Oh, and you might want to bring her food. Girls like that."

Peter grinned. "Yes, sir." He got up and ducked out of sight from any straggling relatives or friends of the family and snuck off to Ricky's car. It was a manual, but Peter's grandfather had taught all the grandkids how to drive both a manual and an automatic. As he started the car and shifted down to kick off the curb, he smiled to himself. I'm not in love…but just thinking about falling in love with Sweets… I kinda like that idea.

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

And then…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The Dragneel Residence might have been full of life with Natsu, Luke, and Luna home, but now it was abuzz with conversation and rancorous laughter. For dinner, the Fullbusters had joined but so had the remaining Redfoxes and Ena and Erza had shown up out of the blue with Ena clinging to Luna like she was her lifeline. The dining room table had been expanded to support such a full table, though Julia had very little to say and Luke was absent from the get-together altogether. Býleistr had settled in his Lion Form to ward off the Celestial Hounds from the deer he had preyed upon in the forest, regardless all three dogs whined for a taste (and a sweat dropping Lucy reminded all four Celestial Spirits they did not need human food to sustain themselves).

Nashi found amusement that Luna tried hard to escape Gale, but Gale did everything in his power to brush against her, whisper in her ear, and she was both seething and self-conscious at the same time. Ena sat to Luna's other side while Silver pestered her with doing everything for her as a good assistant should only to be put in his place when Ena drew a knife at him (and subsequently put it away, muttering under her breath when Erza cut a look to her daughter). Gray, Gajeel, and Natsu had an obnoxious eating contest as Lucy, Levy, Juvia, and Erza spoke.

That left Nashi to speak to Galileo and Julia who were both pretty somber. But she understood. "It must be hard without Gary and Livy," she sympathized.

Both jolted.

Galileo looked away while Julia sighed. "I miss my brother, don't get me wrong, but I'm not upset. He'll come home soon," she said, measuring her words. "It's just… I upset Tesla today."

Nashi frowned. "What happened?"

Julia glanced about the table. "I, um, kept a few secrets from her that wasn't tactfully revealed," she confessed. "So she's a little mad at me. And by mad, I mean I'm pretty sure she blocked my number and never wants me around her again."

"Oh, god." That widened Nashi's eyes. "Why would she even do that? She doesn't seem like the type to do that. Did you sleep with her boyfriend or something?"

Julia wrinkled her nose. "Ew, no, I could never." She shook her head. "She just needs some time. Her father's release is coming up, so she's very much in her feelings and vulnerable right now. I just made it worse. I know she'll talk to me again. Even when she's ready to cut a bitch, she'll try to talk first. But I think I shouldn't do anything for now."

Right. Tesla kind of mentioned her troubled with her papa. Nashi nodded. "Want me to see if she'd be willing to talk to you? She and I have a lunch date coming up." She frowned as thought more about it. "Maybe I should cancel, though, if she's going through some things…"

"I wouldn't," Julia advised. "Tesla is, um, a stickler for normalcy. I'm sure she needs the lunch as much as you do. Oh!" She patted her pocket. "I found as much as I could about Gary for the perfect ammunition. Mom's a major hoarder when it comes to our stuff and I found the ultimate goldmine!" Excitement gleamed in her eyes. "I'll let you use it first, but oh my god, I can't wait to use it on him! I don't even know how he kept it a secret for so long!"

Nashi grinned. "Okay, you have to tell me now. What is it?"

"Gary isn't his actual real first name. It's…" Julia whispered the name.

Nashi's grin widened when she heard it and she blurted out a laugh. "Are you serious?"

Julia nodded and looked ready to pop a gut. "Mmm-hmm. I would have never found out without some snooping, but I found a copy of his birth certificate in one of the scrapbooks and I thought I had another brother! But I asked Mom and, lo and behold, nope, Dad gave him the nickname and when Gary found out about his real name, he legally changed it before anyone could find out."

"But when did he change his name?" Nashi wondered.

"It had to have been when he was sixteen," Julia pointed out. "He was always so finicky about his ID until then." She clasped her hands. "Please, call him that name the second he's home so I can start making fun of him."

Nashi giggled. "Oh, I am definitely doing that. Don't even worry about that." She bumped Julia's shoulder and whispered to her, "So I spent most of the day catching up with Ellie and Justin and, surprise surprise, word on the street is you and a certain Speedster see a lot of each other." She laughed even more when Julia looked mortified. "So, like, I always wanted to know since Dash is fast and all, does this mean he finishes fast or does this mean he has a lot more stamina?"

Julia took a long gulp of her drink at that.

On the other side, Luna was about to lose her last straw when Gale whispered into her ear, "Can you pass the mashed potatoes, Blondie?"

"Get it yourself," Luna gritted. She realized her mistake when she felt Gale's grin.

"Sure thing." Gale made a big deal about leaning again her with one arm going over her shoulders while the other arm crossed in front of her to get the bowl of mashed potatoes. He was slow in his return and chuckled when he saw Luna ready to blow a fuse. For her ears alone, he hissed quietly, "Mmmm… Delicious…"

Purposefully, Luna turned to the quickly-on-the-path-to-murder Ena and asked her, "So what happened again with the auction?" She jabbed Ena's arm. "Oh, right… You got a date."

Silver slammed on the breaks in his efforts to annoy Ena when he heard that. "What?"

Ena tossed her eyes in a roll. "It's not a date," she reminded tersely. "It's a mutual conversation between friends over a meal. That does not constitute as a date."

"No, that's pretty much the definition," Luna cheekily remarked.

Gale's voice loftily floated over. "Then we've gone on plenty of dates, Blondie."

Luna locked her jaw.

"Since when does Miss Anti-Love go on a date?" Silver huffed, disturbed. "Who would even ask you?"

Ena shot him a glare. "Not that it's your business nor is it a date, but Jasper invited me a lowkey dinner," she explained as she forked in some more roasted brussel sprouts. "It's his payment for doing photographer for the auction. Though, I could have sworn you put him up to this when he refused jewel."

"I didn't." Though, Silver sounded troubled. "Why did he ask you for dinner? Why didn't he just accept payment?"

"He refused to take payment from a friend." Ena rolled her eyes again while Luna twittered. "I'll still draw him up a contract so he can be recognized for his work. Only amateurs work for free. He's working with me; that makes him a professional."

Luna applauded her and bowed. "Of course, Great Queen Fashion Designer."

Silver was still stuck. "Jasper asked you out?"

"No. He asked me to dinner for friendly conversation," Ena corrected. "Honestly, do you even listen when I speak? What sort of assistant are you?"

"What exact work is he doing for your auction that he should get paid for it with a date?"

Ena prickled. "I'll be transforming my models into many body types for my outfits," she informed.

"The beauty of E's Magic is she doesn't need to resize things on her mannequins," Luna piped in. "She can think small or medium or large and the outfit matches the standard Ishgaran sizes."

Ena sighed. "Yes, but measurements are needed for precision," she reminded. "Whoever wins and buys my design has to submit to me their measurements in Ishgaran sizes. I get buyers out of the country, but I make sure I have a conversion chart on the website so that way they know what sizes they are."

"So Jasper's going to make the mannequins E transforms into runway models," Luna beamed. "Isn't that great? You scored a great guy, E!"

"You could have a great guy if you chose me…" Gale singsang.

Luna smacked his shoulder.

Ena huffed, irked. "I did not 'score' him," she hissed. "He's a friend who happens to do photography. Nothing more. Not that I would want to give him more anyways—"

"Jasper asked you out on a date?"

Ena glowered at Silver. "If you ask me that one more time, I will personally shove my sword down your throat—"

"Now, now, Ena," Erza chided. "No dramatic murderous talk at the table."

Ena huffed and muttered under her breath how murderous she could be while Luna simpered, "We get it, E. It's not a date. It's just two friends having dinner. But you're totally not leaving for this dinner without me approving your outfit and I'm doing a thorough background check on him—"

"L…"

"What…?" Luna whined. "You did the same thing with—!" Her eyes darted to her father. He might have been scarfing down food, but she knew better than to let that fool her. Her eyes narrowed onto Gajeel who turned an ear to the conversation as well. Lurkers. "I mean, um, you would do the same thing with me," she amended lamely. "You know. Hypothetically."

Gale chuckled. "Ten out of ten for that nice save."

Luna elbowed Gale and hissed, "Shut – up." To her best friend, she stated, "I'll feel better about your friendly dinner if you let me be the best friend you would be to me. Hypothetically." When Ena still looked unconvinced, Luna pouted and blinked those puppy eyes at her.

Knowing she lost, Ena sighed and said, "Oh, fine—"

Luna squealed. "Yay! LacriNet stalking is going to be so fun!" she cheered.

"You can stalk me—Ow! Jesus Christ!" Gale rubbed his side. "You start pinching and I'll start pinching back, Blondie." He sweated when he heard Natsu's warning growl. "In a respectful way in a very appropriate place of course," he nervously added.

"Keep swearing to God and you'll find yourself back at mass with Leo," Levy warned him as she pointed her fork at her son. "I didn't get you baptized for you to curse His name."

Gale grumbled. "Right. Sorry, Mom. Hail Mary, amen, Hallelujah, and all that." He gestured to his father. "But, how come he gets to swear, but Leo and I have to keep it PG?"

Gajeel finished his mouthful to cackle, "Because I'm the one who helped make you and Leo. I don't have to do jack-shit. Fuck!" He raised an eyebrow at Levy who looked conveniently innocent. "You tryin' to play, Shorty? We can play—"

"Not at my table where there are children!" Lucy cried, frustrated. "And stop swearing around little ears! Goodness! What is wrong with you?"

Galileo and Nashi muttered their adult status while Gray laughed (and had somehow lost his shirt somewhere in the house). "Lucy, we ain't buyin' your little 'I'm an Angel' act," Gray jested, "considering you say more swear words than Laxus and Gajeel combined when Natsu costs you a job—and I'm being generous."

Lucy reddened and spluttered how she would never say such things while Natsu finished his mouthful to glare at Gray. "You got somethin' to say to me, stripper?" he growled.

"Oh, I have plenty to say to you, dumb ass," Gray snarled.

"Not if you both want to keep living," Erza interjected with a lethal calmness. "If you two try to fight in Lucy's fine home before I get my cake, I will personally escort you outside and show you what it means to be fatally stabbed." Dark chocolate cut with promise. "Do we understand each other, boys?"

Gray and Natsu gulped. "Y-Yes, ma'am."

"How is it she can say things about potential murder, but we're dramatic?" Ena whispered while Luna giggled behind a hand and Silver snorted into his drink.

Nashi had finished her plate and called to her mother, "Mama, I'm done. Is it okay if I bring Luke's plate up to him?" She did not understand why her parents glanced at each other nor the way her sister flinched and Gale stiffened for a moment. The Hell? Býleistr, you see this?

Yeah. But even Býleistr was confused. What did we miss?

"That's fine, sweetie," Lucy allowed. "If he doesn't eat, that's okay. He hasn't been in a…talking mood."

Nashi slowly nodded, confused, but she picked up her plate and made her way out of the dining room. Luke's plate had been made and covered so she pillaged for clean silverware, a few napkins, and headed up the steps. She could not hear anything on the second floor, but Luke's door was closed. With hands full, she kicked the door thrice. "Luke, it's me, your sister who's been gone for days!" she called jokily. "Open up! I've got food…!"

No answer.

Nashi frowned and set down the foot to jiggle the knob but no dice. The door was locked. Sighing, she mumbled a spell for the door to click. She opened it and scraped up the food and silverware and napkins. "Hope you're not naked because I'm coming in!" she trilled. She pushed the door in to come inside Luke's bedroom and appraised it. "Wow… You cleaned."

"Yeah," Luke muttered from under the covers on his bed. "It was time."

Nashi went over to the bed to set down his dinner on his dresser. "I brought you dinner," she told him in efforts to entice him from his solitude underneath his comforter. "It's pretty good… We've got slow cooker mac and cheese which I'm totally stealing if you don't eat it and then Aunt Juvia made spinach lasagna and then the great Uncle G himself finally made us some glazed tofu and mushrooms with rice." She nudged the lump in the sheets which was her brother. "Come on… How are you not salivating over this?"

"Not hungry."

"Well, that's a lie."

"I'm not hungry, Nashi."

"Well, that's another lie."

Luke growled. "Just go away, okay? I don't want to eat."

Nashi hummed. "You know I could leave…or…" She jumped onto the bed and bounced up and down. "I could just do this!"

Fed-up, Luke kicked off his comforter to snarl, "Would you leave me alone already?"

Nashi bounced back down onto the bed and sat before him. Nodding to the food, she said, "I'll leave when you start eating. You're not you when you're hungry."

Luke snorted, but he complied to taking the dish and ripping off the wrap. Smelling his dinner, he let out a dreamy sigh, but when he could Nashi grinning from ear to ear, he huffed, biting down his hunger, and decided to take slow forkfuls of his food. "Happy?" he muttered.

"Very. But I'd be a lot happier if you told me what's wrong," Nashi mentioned. "The only time you miss meals is if you're doing some paper or something. But you're giving me that no-one-understands-me feel right now." A seriousness took over when Luke turned away from her and stopped chewing. "Luke, hey, it's me," she said softly. "You can tell me anything. I'm not going to get upset and I'm not going to judge you."

Luke's shoulders deflated. "I don't want to talk about it."

Nashi tried another angle. "How about you give me the vague summary?" she offered. "No details, no nitty-gritty, but enough that you can at least eat."

Luke heaved a sigh. "Fine," he supposed. "I did something…horrible. And, even though everything is fixed, it doesn't make the memories go away. It just makes it worse. I'd rather look and remember that I did this horrible thing than have the world pretend it didn't happen."

Nashi related to that. "Some people hate their scars because their ugly," she murmured. "I hate my scars because of what they remind me of, yes, but… To me, my scars are a reminder for me to never make the mistake again. And to never put myself in a situation like that again."

Luke looked over his shoulder as sadness wound up on his face. "Nashi, you didn't put yourself in that situation—"

"I know, I know, and I'm working on hammering that into my mind with my therapist," Nashi soothed. "But it's just what I think right now, okay? That's why I understand."

Luke looked away again. "You don't," he mumbled. "What happened to you was terrible, but it was and never will be your fault. I did this horrible thing. This is on me. I did this. And I have to remember that I did so I never do it again to anyone or anything."

"I see." Nashi looked at her lap. I want to ask him so badly what happened, but… I don't want to push him. He'll shut me out even more. "I don't know what happened, and I won't press you for details like I said. But, Luke, I'm here for you. If you can't talk to Mama and Papa, I hope you can rely on me."

"You're going through a lot," Luke tried to argue.

Nashi shook her head. "I'm always going to be going through something," she retorted not unkindly. "Whether it's me prepping for S-Class exams or dealing with those stupid assholes at Toma's Coffee who called me a 'bestiality bitch'—"

"They did what?" Luke faced her with honeyed ambers enraged. "Who said that to you? Was this today?"

Nashi dismissed it. "Yeah, it was today, but don't worry about it. Býleistr took care of them in a nice and polite way…for him." She snorted at the memory. "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words? Forget them. People are always going to be mad no matter what I do. You know that. Master filters out any hate mail, but on occasion, something slips through the cracks. Someone might write a guildmate a death threat for not getting into the GMGs or someone might be a possessive fan and get upset their favorite guildmate allegedly has a girlfriend—it happens. I just need to hold my head up high."

Luke was inclined to agree, but still… "Okay, yeah, but still, just be careful," he warned. "Those Magic and Spiritless puritan crusaders shouldn't touch you in Magnolia, but once you're out of Magnolia…"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Nashi sighed. "I have a meeting with Master next week. I'll be keeping my head down for a little bit so I'm not viciously attacked once I leave town. I didn't want to, but Býleistr thought it might be better this way. Hate will never go away, no, but I don't want to add fuel to the fire and Papa then goes ballistic."

Luke nodded, relieved she understood. "That's good then. I'm always here if you need an escort outside of Magnolia."

Nashi looked entertained at the idea. "I'm okay but thanks. Besides, I have my own escort and he'll come if I need him," she assured. "But enough about me. We're talking about you and why you're hiding in your room like you just broke up with your girlfriend."

Luke chuckled. "I'm not doing a break-up hide. I don't have enough tissues and bad Magia-star music going on for that." His smile faded. "I just… I need to think over some things, you know? Get my shit together." A beat. "It's times like these that I really miss Igneel," he confessed in a low murmur.

"I miss him too," Nashi admitted. "He might have been an asshole who kept switching my vegan ice cream for regular ice cream, but he was still our brother."

"Nothing feels the same." Luke shifted. "It's like… I don't even know anymore. I feel like I'm losing my mind. And when I felt like this, I had Igneel to talk to. He wasn't just my twin brother, Nashi; he was like my built-in best friend. And now he's gone."

"He isn't dead, Luke—"

"He's dead to me," Luke snapped.

Nashi flinched. "You don't mean that—"

"Then what am I supposed to mean, Nashi?" Luke cried. "What am I supposed to feel? What, happy that my own twin abandoned me and took off to god knows where without even telling me? Is that what I should feel? I feel like I'm going insane and I don't know if I should waste energy being pissed at him or myself for shit that's happening, but it's like, every time I get a moment to just think, everything turns to shit again and I just—!" He blinked rapidly when Nashi took away his plate and fork and set it aside. "Wha-What are you doing?"

Nashi shushed him and brought him in for a hug.

Luke kept blinking. "Nashi, what are you doing?"

Nashi closed her eyes and tightened her hold on him. "Go on and cry," she whispered. "I don't mind."

Luke sniffled. "I'm not going to cry on you, Nashi—"

"Luke." Nashi nuzzled his shoulder. "Cry."

It was like a dam broke.

Luke latched onto Nashi and let out his chattering sob. Tears ruined Nashi's sweater, but she did not care. She cared about her little brother who remained shaking and crying in her arms. "You've been so strong for so long," she whispered. "You've been strong for me. You've been strong for Igneel and Lu. But you don't need to be strong right now, Luke. I've got you now. You can cry now."

Luke wheezed. "I'm a m-m-m-m-monster," he hiccupped. "M-M-Monsters shouldn't c-c-cry."

"No, you're not," Nashi soothed. "You're not a monster. You're a good person, Luke. And good people can make bad choices. And, yeah, it hurts making that bad mistake. But you'll learn from it. And you'll atone for it. And don't say you won't." She stroked the back of his head. "You're my brother, Luke. Even if you feel like you don't know yourself, I know you. And I know you'll be able to pull through this and come out stronger."

"Wh-What if I can't?"

"You can," Nashi insisted. "It might be months or years down the line, but you can, Luke. And we'll all be here for you. We won't leave you. None of us will ever abandon you when you need us."

And Luke sobbed harder.

Nashi's hand went to his back and she rubbed it. Her eyes open to go to the open doorway to see her parents lingering, her mother suppressing tears and her father watching in both approval and sadness. She smiled slightly and nodded at them and, as they closed the door, she closed her eyes and put every effort into comforting her brother. I'm so sorry you've been keeping this in for so long. But I'm here now. I won't let you go.

---

Mary Jane, Mira, and Lance were inside playing a game of poker. While some expected Mira to goad her children into using cookies or snacks, Mira was never one to back down from a challenge and made everyone bet with real money (which she stole from them with a cheery smile on her face). Insofar, both Mary Jane and Lance were losing the pot with their mother holding all the money and chips and looking damn proud of it.

Eventually, Lance threw in the towel. "Okay, I'm out."

"Me too." Mary Jane threw down her cards with a pout. "Mom, I think you're cheating."

Mira raked in her reward. "Mary Jane, I never cheat," she admonished. "I'm just a more seasoned player. Even your father doesn't want to play me because he'll lose every single time and I'll clear him out. He's just lucky we have a joint account or else he'd be living in the poor house."

Lance and Mary Jane shivered. So cruel, Mom…

Mary Jane got up for another drink while Lance asked their mother, "How'd coordinating go today? Everything ready for tomorrow?"

"Miss Five was a big help," Mira told. "We're almost good to go. I told Ena she didn't have to be at the guild tomorrow until eleven for a final costume check. But we're ready. This function is going to be so fun! I'm so happy about the addition of a silent auction. I can't place any bets since I know all the values, but Lance, if you want to take Aine on a romantic vacation, there's first-class tickets being auctioned to go to the coast of Stella…"

Lance smiled. "I'll think about it, Mom. I'd have to talk to Aine and make sure it wouldn't conflict with any clinicals." He glanced over at Mary Jane before he said, "So… Grandad called the house today."

"Lance!" Mary Jane hissed, betrayed.

Mira frowned. "Did you answer?" Everyone knew she asked this to her daughter.

Mary Jane blew out a breath. "It's just been so long since we've spoken—!"

"Because Miss Katja and Miss Anna have to carefully watch your grandfather to see what mood he's in," Mira reasoned sternly. "He calls from their Coms because he's in a safe mood and in a safe place, Mary Jane. You know you're not supposed to answer if he's calling from his Compact." She turned to Lance. "Have you—?"

"I told Miss Katja and Miss Anna, yeah," Lance sighed.

Mary Jane passed Lance to get back to her seat and hissed, "Snitch."

"When it comes to Granddad's health and your own? Yeah, I guess I am a snitch," Lance retorted.

"What does my health have to do with Granddaddy's?" Mary Jane huffed.

Mira offered Mary Jane a sympathetic look. "We know you miss your grandfather, Mary Jane," she said gently. "It's not a crime to miss him. We know you're hurting." She caught Mary Jane's bottom lip trembling and she came over to hug her daughter. "It's hard for everyone, Mary Jane. I know you and your grandfather had a lot of fun when you were younger. But he isn't the same man, sadly. And we need to accept that."

"I know," Mary Jane mumbled. "It just sucks." Her Compact vibrated and she broke from her mother to see it was Peter who was calling. "Excuse me. I need to take this." She rushed out of the dining room to answer the call.

Lance looked at his mother as his voice dropped low. "Mom, there's something I need to tell you…"

Meanwhile, Mary Jane had gotten a third the way up the steps before answering the call. "Hey, Peter." She cleared her throat and did away with the misery she felt from remembering her grandfather. "What's up?"

"Look outside."

Mary Jane frowned and came back downstairs. She went over to the sitting room and pulled back the curtain only for shock to morph into awe. Peter stood outside in the driveway beside a car she had not seen before with his Compact in his ear, a grin on his face, and a fast-food to-go bag in his hand for her to see. "Oh, Peter…"

"Special delivery," Peter teased.

Mary Jane giggled. "But I thought you had a family thing tonight."

"My cousin's covering for me. He told me, though, I did owe him something."

"And what's that?"

"I have to make sure I put a smile on your face." Peter's grin widened. "And I think I've paid him in full by now."

Mary Jane had to admit her smile was wide. "Yeah, I think you did, you goober. And you brought me food? You really take playing perfect boyfriend seriously," she jested.

"As always." Peter stepped back to open the passenger door. "Your chariot awaits, my lady. Won't you accompany me on a little evening stroll?"

Mary Jane giggled again. "Let me check with my mom first, but, since she'll say, 'yes', let me change, and then I'm all yours." She blew him a kiss from her vantage point before hanging up the call. "Mom…!" She rushed back into the living room and was too happy to properly understand how thick the air had gotten with tension. "Peter's here and he wants to take me out. Can I go?"

"Yes, but, first, Mary Jane, why didn't you tell me you got your powers?" Mira questioned.

Mary Jane shrugged, still too far into her good mood. "I don't know. I was going to tell you when Daddy came home. So can I go?"

Mira sighed. "Yes, but—" She was cut off when Mary Jane squealed and skipped over to kiss her mother on the cheek. "Mary Jane, wait—"

"Thanks, Mommy!" Mary Jane flounced away to go upstairs and change.

"She seems perfectly normal," Lance relayed to his mother. "That's what surprises me the most."

Mira had to sit down. "Yes, I know. Her having her powers again and being this much in control means we might have made a grave mistake that could have cost Mary Jane her happiness." Cerulean pools grieved. And Igneel's happiness too… Oh, that poor boy… We might have ruined his life on accident…

"Mom! I'm leaving!"

Mira got up to hurry down the hall. "Mary Jane, wait, sweetie, we need to talk—"

Mary Jane had not heard her mother as she unlocked the door with her boots on and her coat zipped up, but her beam dropped when she saw her father's car was in the driveway and he was outside speaking to Peter. "Oh, no." She rushed outside to prevent potential electrocution when she slowed to see her father chuckle and shake Peter's hand. This night was starting to get weird. Was there a full moon out tonight? "Um…" She looked between her boyfriend and her father. "Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, Butterfly," Laxus promised. "Peter here was just letting me know what was going on." He raised an eyebrow at his daughter. "Which is better than you sneaking off without even welcoming your dad home."

Mary Jane's smile was back again as she hugged her father. "Welcome home, Daddy," she helloed. "Mom's been a meanie and she stole all my and Lance's money in poker."

Laxus barked a laugh. "I keep telling you kids to stop playing with her! She acts all innocent, but the woman is a Demoness at everything competitive." He winked. "Trust me. I know."

"Oh, ew, you're being gross." Mary Jane stepped back and sighed when Peter's hand found hers. "Go be gross somewhere else, Daddy."

"Yeah, yeah…" Laxus pinched her cheek. "I love you, Butterfly."

"I love you too," Mary Jane laughed as her father let her go. "See you later!" She quietly thanked Peter for escorting her to the passenger side of the car.

Laxus called. "Later means eleven!"

"Yes, sir!" Peter vowed. "And not a second later!" He walked to his side of the car to shake Laxus' hand again before he got in the car and turned on the ignition. A smile lit his features when Mary Jane was already peeking through the fast-food bag he had gotten them to share. "I take it you're a little hungry?" he teased when he caught her tucking in some fries. He pulled out of the driveway and onto the main road.

"A little," Mary Jane laughed. "You didn't have to pick up food, though. Just seeing you is enough for me."

"Well, if that's the case, you don't need a Christmas present—"

"Wait, wait! Presents are nice too!"

Peter cackled as he shifted gears. "That's what I thought." He pulled to a stoplight to really look at Mary Jane. "Hey."

"Hey." Mary Jane leaned over to peck his lips. "You're adorable."

"'Adorable'?" Peter saw it was a green light and shifted gears to get them started again. "Out of the two of us, Sweets, I think you're the more adorable one. I'm more of a ruggedly handsome sort of guy."

Mary Jane shook her head, smiling. "My bad. Of course. How could I have missed that?" A glance out the window. "So where are we going? Are we just taking a night drive?"

"Nope!" Peter shifted gears again. "Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the surprise."

The rest of the drive was in comfortable silence. With Peter driving a stick-shift, he could not hold Mary Jane's hand like he normally did and, while Mary Jane did not seem to mind, Peter compensated with occasional brushes to her knuckles or to her cheeks or to her thigh. The radio station that Ricky had preselected was a classical station and the couple did not feel the need to change it. Mary Jane snacked on fries and sipped on her drink, but she wanted to wait to unwrap anything else until she and Peter were at their destination. He took them out of the city and up a zigzag road uphill where trees took up most of the space. But Mary Jane saw through the trees the glow of Lake Sciliora and she could barely suppress her excitement when Peter got to the top.

The top housed a gravely parking lot that was predominantly empty, save for a few cars. Most of the people who came hiked up the way and had brought along blankets and such. At this time of night, it was normally the couples who remained as they whispered sweet nothings or dreamy promises. An old man and his Doberman sat on a bench as the old man looked out to the lake in a longing of some sort. Two women shared chocolate-dipped strawberries as they talked about work and who would move in with who. A small group of friends stretched out on a lawn blanket snickered when one of the foggy-glassed parked cars began to rock as a clear indicator of what was happening. The lighthouse held firm against it all and was a few meters upwards and away as it guided wayward ships into safe passage.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the Sciliora Lighthouse Park. It overlooks the lake and is a well-known "make-out point" in Magnolia due to its romantic setting. While the Guard does occasional patrols, they don't dare interfere with romance unless it gets too vocal. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Peter parked the car away from the rocking car, one with a couple that sat on the hood of the car, and the others were abandoned. Mary Jane could not help but joke, "I didn't think you knew about this place."

"I had to ask around," Peter joked back, "but it was worth it. Now, Ricky has a big blanket in the car, so we could sit outside or we could stay here. Which would you like to do?"

Mary Jane thought about it, nose scrunching. "Let's stay in here where it's warm. But can we move to the back?"

"Sure."

Transitioning to the back was easy enough. Thankfully, the back of the car had legroom and a middle console that came down to serve as a little table and cup holders for them. Peter patiently doled out their portions and brought over their drinks and they both dug in. Mary Jane moaned. "I haven't had Sixer's in so long! Their burgers are so good with their sauce!"

"Right?" Peter plucked a few more fries. "So how was your day?"

Mary Jane shrugged. "It was okay," she told him. "I did reconnect with my First Spirit."

"Really?" Peter brightened. "That's awesome! Can you show me?"

Mary Jane finished her mouthful to nod. Like it was second-nature to her, she fluidly filled her palms with an orb of scarlet and cerulean respectively, and presented them to Peter. "Well? What do you think?"

"I think your powers are beautiful," Peter breathed, entranced. "Can I…?"

Mary Jane glanced at the red orb and winced. "Um, maybe not yet until I have more control under my belt." She dismissed her powers and sapped it back inside it. "But, yeah, that's what my powers look like." A beat. "You really think it's beautiful?"

"Of course I do, Sweets. You're beautiful. It makes sense your powers are too," Peter reasoned with a dust of pink on his skin that matched Mary Jane's. "Am I being too corny?"

Mary Jane pinched her thumb and forefinger with a grin. "Only a little," she supposed in good-will. "But it's cute. I like corny. Or maybe my mom's hopeless romanticism rubbed off on me."

"Well, thank god for that. Now I can really be cheesy and you'll dig it." He grinned when Mary Jane tittered. They both took bites of their food and Peter swallowed first to ask her, "Outside of doing something that cool, what else did you do today?"

"Mmm." Mary Jane swallowed her mouthful and took a sip of her drink. "Lance and I went out today. It's been a while since I hung out with him and it was really fun. We did some window shopping and I helped him figure out which date night he wanted to do with his girlfriend, then we called Nik and Ronnie." She rolled her eyes. "Apparently, Nik is on some sort of manhunt for someone and Ronnie is pretending like she doesn't care Spencer is staying with her for the holidays."

"I like Spencer," Peter stated. "He's really cool. And Lisa and Ivan seem to like him to." He cocked his head. "Is there anything going on there or…?"

"If Ronnie stops shutting herself off, maybe," Mary Jane supposed. "But I can't blame her. She's still healing from a lot. But Spencer doesn't seem to push her. I just hope he's patient enough for her."

"I think he will," Peter offered his two jewel for the situation. "It's just the feeling I get off him. I mean I only know him from when I picked you up at the Sky Port and met him, but he just seems like the type of guy that will wait it out until she's ready." He nudged Mary Jane. "But I am an impatient man."

Mary Jane laughed. "I'm impatient too, so at least we've got that going for us." She raised her drink for a chivalrous toast. "To impatience!"

Peter shook his head, but he raised his drink to hers. "To impatience."

The rest of the dinner passed by with little quips and smiles before they were finished and Peter trashed everything into the bin a few yards away. He pulled a Sherpa blanket from the trunk to bring it in and told Mary Jane, "Kick off your shoes, please, Sweets."

She did as he asked while he put the console back and he followed in suit before joining her. Managing the blanket over the two of them was easy and Mary Jane huddled into his side like it was natural between them. Though, she could not help but snort when she saw the car a little further away rock violently. "Someone's having a good time."

"And that good time is going to be the reason the Guard gets called," Peter sighed as he stroked her hair. "Just do it at home. I will never understand all those movies that think doing it in a car is a good idea."

Mary Jane smiled beneath his touch. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

"I will never be that desperate to hit my head on my car's roof every time I want to go faster," Peter decided. "And neither will you, Sweets. You don't deserve desperate car sex."

"I don't?" She lifted her chin so liquid gold connected with scarlet-cerulean. "What exactly do I deserve then?"

Peter hummed and he brought up his hand to caress her bottom lip. "Something really special when you're ready for it," he murmured. "A big bed, for starters, soft, just like you. And a lot of kisses."

"Mmmm..." Mary Jane closed her eyes. "You're being cheesy again."

"Yeah." Peter dipped his head down and his lips brushed over hers. "I know." He smothered her in a slow kiss that would have weakened her knees if she was not already sitting down. Mary Jane sunk happily into the kiss and her hand drew up to cup Peter's cheek—

Peter pulled away so fast, Mary Jane was dizzy from the action. "And, just for the record, I didn't bring you here for sex or anything like that," he hurriedly clarified. "That wasn't my intention or anything and I don't want you to get the wrong idea—"

Mary Jane half-laughed and half-groaned as she moved to straddle Peter's lap and found his red cheeks adorable. "Peter?"

Peter swallowed. "Y-Yeah?"

"Kiss me."

Peter softened at the encouragement in Mary Jane's eyes. "Okay." Hands encompassing her cheeks, he brought her back down for a smoldering kiss that left them both floating. And she was not someone to be kissed. She kissed back with everything Peter gave her, more comfortable and surer of his dislikes and likes.

Peter shifted Mary Jane on his lap as a heat filled his chest and down his spine the moment he felt nimble fingers thread into his hair. He stuttered, panting, and he broke the kiss to trail a kiss to her jaw.

Mary Jane felt a tingle that curled her toes and sent her abuzz with such an intensity she had never felt before him. When a harder kiss pressed against her pulse, her breathing hitched and she tugged on Peter's locks to anchor herself before her mind blew into a tizzy. A grunt caught her ear and she tried to look down. "Peter—?"

"I'm fine," he breathed into her flushed neck. "Feels good."

Mary Jane could barely keep it together when Peter tipped her head back to dance a kiss under her chin. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Peter buried his forehead into her shoulder when she experimentally jerked on his hair and he shivered. "Fuck yes." In retaliation, he squeezed her waist for his hands to go lower—

"Peter…!" Mary Jane gasped and jerked the moment she felt him squeeze her there. Electricity more viral than her own lightning pierced up her spine as saturated pleasure fuddled her mind. So many different sensations and all were welcomed.

Intimacy was like a flame. When left unattended or overly stimulated with gas and oils, the flames sweltered and burned those around it until it left you with the ashes of uncertainty and mistrust and drowned you with fear. When tended with sure hands and attentive eyes, the flame fanned itself little by little with a heat that purred and seduced. It was a growl that grew into a roar and consumed you into its inhibitions, guided you into a dance, a game of sorts, to push limits, memorize every inch of skin, every sound, how he stutter-breathes when you bit his lip, how she digs nails into your shoulders when you pay attention to the crook of her neck. A game you both controlled, yes, but a game that could cost control with lust-covered eyes and addicting touches.

Neither one could tell you who was the one to kick them into going across the back of the seat with Mary Jane beneath Peter. Vision clouded by the need to explore each other, they stayed close as they could beneath the blanket. This was new, but this was wanted. This has not happened to them before, but it was a welcomed change that they did not want to stop. Sure, the inexperience shone through at times with murmurs of questioning consent, but the natural instincts came out with groans of encouragement and her pleads of his name and his grunts of hers. Fogs painted the windows and shielded them from a curious moon and her gossiping stars and prying eyes and it made everything seem heavier, more real, having that limited privacy between the two of them—

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

In a panic, Peter shot up and hit his head on the roof. "Shit!" he cursed.

Mary Jane was still in a daze, but she tried blinking out of it. Her lower body was set aflame and those flames were licking to her upper body. "Wh-What—?"

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

Peter shifted off of Mary Jane as he rubbed his head and held Mary Jane to sit back up. She leaned against him, bones melted, and he called, "Yeah?"

Silence.

"The heat better be on in that car if the windows are this foggy."

That snapped Mary Jane out of her daze and she (annoyed) and Peter (horrified) groaned, "Oh, no…"

Mary Jane pushed away from Peter to unlock the car door and open it to see her father standing there, too casual for her liking. She saw his car had been parked a little bit away. "Daddy…" she seethed. "What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Laxus reasoned, innocent. "Glass got all fogged up and since I know you don't smoke, just had to make sure everything was okay."

Mary Jane ran a hand down her face. "How did you even find out where we were?" She shook her head. "Does Mom even know you're out here?"

"I was your age too as hard as that is to believe and I know where kids go when it's late at night." Laxus nodded to the car. "I have a few words for your boyfriend."

Mary Jane rolled her eyes. "Peter…!" she called, glaring at her father. "My daddy wants to talk to you." She leaned back into the car to murmur something to him before they switched places.

Peter winced when he saw Laxus and tried to a smile (and hoped to God he fixed himself enough that he did not look indecent). "Hello, sir." He faltered under the weight of Laxus' stare. "Um… Cold night, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Laxus drawled. "You like cold nights, Peter?"

"Y-Yes, sir," Peter quickly answered. "Love 'em. Love winter."

"Good to see you like the cold." Laxus leaned down. "Because you better be thinking of a nice cold shower right about now would be Heaven on Earth Land."

Peter jerkily nodded and took a hard swallow. "Y-Yes, sir, of course, sir. Cold shower. Sounds good. Perfect, one might say."

Laxus opened his mouth when the sound of his Compact ringing drew him away and he straightened up to answer it. The Thunder God of Fairy Tail showed a bit of fear and hesitation before he answered the call in a faux babied tone, "Baby, I was just—" He paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. "No, I'm not terrorizing him," he grunted. "If I wanted to terrorize him, I would've brought the damn bat—" He growled when Mira seemed to say something he did not like. "But—!" He turned away from the car and muttered, "Yes, Mira."

A hand rested on Peter's shoulder and he looked back to see Mary Jane glaring at her father. "I should've known his whole 'I'm a nice guy' act was just an act," she grumbled. She tossed her boyfriend a thoroughly remorseful look. "I'm sorry, Peter. Daddy really is trying to be nice…" Her eyes flashed to her father as he was reprimanded over the Compact by his wife. "Or as nice as my mom makes him be."

"No, it's fine." Peter gave her a weak smile. "But I think him coming up here was the cold shower I needed."

The call must have ended because Laxus scrubbed his face before whirling around and pointing a finger at Peter who ducked partially behind Mary Jane in fear. "Like I told you, kid, I can find you anytime and anywhere," he growled. "Keep those windows clear and keep your hands above my daughter's waist."

Peter shakily nodded (he would do just about anything at this point to make sure he even made it home alive) while Mary Jane scowled at her father's hovering. "Daddy, if you keep threatening my boyfriend, I'm telling Mom I saw you with a cigar last Saturday!"

Laxus' eyes widened. "When did you—?"

"Cousins talk," Mary Jane answered snidely.

Laxus gave pause. Then, he narrowed his eyes at his daughter. "You wouldn't."

"Try me," Mary Jane challenged.

Laxus huffed. "Fine. I'll keep the threats to myself…for now." He crossed his arms. "Be home by eleven?"

"Eleven-thirty," Mary Jane pressed.

Laxus arched an eyebrow, but when Mary Jane did not back down, he sighed. "Fine. Eleven-thirty. I'll have my Compact on at all times if you need to call me—"

"Good night, Daddy," Mary Jane gritted.

But Laxus was not done. "—and I know every single Guard in Magnolia if you need to—"

"Good night, Daddy."

"—and I'll still be up when you come home—"

"Daddy!" Mary Jane's nostrils flared as she reigned in her Magic. "I'll see you at home since you're leaving now."

Laxus raised his hands in surrender. "See you at home, Butterfly." Grayish jade-orange cut to Peter in a fierce glower that had Peter hiding even more behind Mary Jane for safety. With a smirk, Laxus trailed back over to his car and the couple watched him leave the overlook.

Mary Jane pulled Peter back in and shut the car door while Peter shivered, wide-eyed. "That was terrifying!" he gasped. It barely registered to him Mary Jane climbed onto his lap and took his arms to wrap around her waist. "Just when I thought your dad actually likes me, he scares the shit out of me!" A tingle hit him when Mary Jane kissed his cheek then his neck, but he was still far into his mortification. "I'd take my granny over him any day of the week—!"

"Peter…"

Hands cupped Peter's chin to force him to tilt his head and look at Mary Jane. "What?"

"I'll protect you from my daddy." Mary Jane leaned down to press a kiss on his Adam's apple. "So don't worry." Her hands slid up to comb through Peter's hair. "Okay?"

Peter's eyes rolled back until he shut his eyes, shuddering. "Fuck," he cursed. "I'm supposed to be keeping this above the waist or your dad's going to give me the electric chair." He pulled back Mary Jane and his eyes dropped from her heaving chest up to her lips and back to her eyes. "I have to get you home by eleven-thirty?"

Mary Jane bit her lip and nodded.

Peter gathered her into his hands and could have groaned just watching her teeth sink into her bottom lip. Mary Jane must have seen the hesitation war in his mind for she raked her hands through his locks and tugged at them hard. Liquid gold aflame, Peter growled, "Fuck it; I had a good life." He pulled her down for a maddening kiss and pushed her back onto the back seat for a night of sensual kisses and body-tingling touches.

---

The night had settled in nicely on this December evening. With it being so close to Christmas, most stores had given later hours to help along the later gift-givers. The bars held a few holiday events with racy Misses Clause and elf outfits and a bodacious Rudolph ensemble. Even with it being late, the adults stuck around in the Dragneel household for some drinking and murmured conversation. Julia, Gale, and Galileo mutually decided to hit the bar and, since Nashi was not keen on being out in public too much, she packed more things to take to Gary's condo before she and Býleistr jumped away. Luke stayed shut in his room.

That left Luna.

It was hard sneaking out of the house when you had Dragon Slayers in the house, but it was possible. At least, now it was possible. Luna stood in her room with her wool winter cloak, her mini backpack, and Icarus in his Dog Form close to her. He panted like a normal dog, but he tried to scold, Pup, you should be in bed—

Icarus, for the last time, I'm going, Luna snapped. Stop trying to stop me and be my guardian and watch out for me, okay?

Icarus sighed. As you wish, Pup.

Thank you. Luna held onto his fur. Stay close to me. After double-checking her room was in order, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she felt for her Magic. One moment, she and Icarus were in her bedroom…

…the next moment, they several yards away from the house.

Luna silently did her happy dance at her escape as Icarus shook his fur and transcended into his natural form of a large wolfish dog and his carrot horn sharper than before. He summoned his saddle and crouched down, but when Luna was basking in the cleverness of she, he prodded her with his nose. Pup?

Oh! Luna smiled, sheepish. Right. Sorry. It's just nice to actually teleport on command now. She mounted onto Icarus' back, drew up her hood, and held onto the reins. Okay. I'm good. Let's go. Icarus, then, got up and began his silent sprint away from the property. As they delved further and further into the trees, Luna could not resist one more glance back to home. If my parents find out, I'm in so much trouble…

Then, perhaps we should get you back into the den, Icarus suggested as he ran. If you do as your told, you no longer have to worry about trouble.

Luna sighed and held the reins tighter. I told you. I really need to see Bleu.

And will you tell him?

Luna frowned. Do I have a choice?

Icarus jumped over a fallen tree trunk. You always have a choice, he told her. But your choices should be a paw step in the right direction.

Then, yes, I'm going to tell him, Luna determined. I just feel bad. He already asked about Gale and I shut it down, but I feel like I'm betraying him by saying I like Gale too.

I disagree. Icarus ran around a cluster of bushes. Your male is very adept at reading your body language and unspoken words. He is intuitive which makes him quite an impressive male. I believe you have nothing to fear in his reaction. He does not seem like one to smell of jealousy—only acceptance.

Luna remained unconvinced, but Icarus' words help dislodge some of her worries. Do you think Gale would let me go if I chose Bleu?

I am uncertain, Icarus confessed. He turns more Dragon by the day. Dragons are notoriously selfish creatures. Once they have their sights on a treasure, they will fight to claim in. He added carefully, But Dragons also do not take mates for life. At least the Dragons I used to witness. It would seem times have changed.

Something about that did not sit right with Luna, but she decided it was better to ignore it. I see.

Icarus sprinted in silence. The moon blessed their travels with clear skies and dazzling stars. Wildlife noticed a predator was running about and made themselves scarce from his path. Icarus needed no guidance on where he was going. Luna had provided the destination in their Rigil Link and Icarus had been allowed to run through the woods during his time out with Actaeon and Lelantos when they bonded through hunting game and playing around and doing perimeter checks.

Luna's eyes fell to her hands. I have to tell Bleu. I don't want to lie to him. I just… I feel horrible. She sighed. I just hope he can forgive me. She blinked up when she sensed something was off with Icarus. Icarus, what's wrong?

We are being followed. Icarus gave nothing away as he continued to run. I thought I sensed a presence and mistook it as a wandering animal, but now I am sure we are being followed.

Is it—?

I am uncertain if it is His Majesty, Icarus grunted. They hide their presence well. His Majesty is capable of doing so and the same can be said to his second-in-command. The wards hold true. This follower is not here for malicious intent. However, that does not mean they are on our side.

Luna glanced behind them, but she could not see anyone. Her eyes narrowed. Where are you hiding, stalker? she wondered. She lightly kicked Icarus' sides. We need to keep going to where I told Bleu to meet me, Icarus. I can't get out my Compact to tell him anything.

But if we're being followed—

Just get us close. Chocolate darkened. I'll handle it.

Icarus wanted nothing more than to fight that sentiment, but he let it go to get them back on course. A tense silence stirred between them as both kept their eyes and ears peeled for any sign or mistake that their follower would make. Luna tried hard to not give in to the urge to look over her shoulder. Sagittarius had been the one to guide in her riding and taught her to never look back while riding. Even with Icarus being an old Celestial Spirit, as his rider, she needed to be responsible for any guidance and commands.

Could it be Papa? Luna's jaw went taut. I wish I knew. He would have stopped me by now, right? But then again… If he's trying to find out if Bleu and I are together…

After a few more moments of Icarus sprinting, Luna thought to him, Stop up here.

Icarus slowed to a steady trot, then a walk, then he stopped. He crouched down for Luna to dismount, but he kept low and his teeth bared and ears pricked. Luna cradled his jaw with a hand as she looked around and tried to catch a glimpse of their follower. The moon must have been upset for she brought clouds to cover her shine and Icarus and Luna were brandished into a darkness that had Icarus growling and restless. Steady, Luna urged. It's okay.

I do not like this, Icarus warned. They are toying with us. I feel eyes on us.

Luna had enough of this and called, "Who's out there?"

Silence.

"Come out and face me," Luna challenged with all the valor she could muster even if she was shaking on the inside. "Show yourself!"

No one answered.

Luna stepped back and her other hand held onto Icarus. Her eyes darted around.

The forest quieted.

WSH…!

Luna nearly buckled if it was not for Icarus next to her. A shadow had blurred into the distance. She was positive. "Icarus," she whispered.

I know. Icarus nudged her to go underneath him. Take cover beneath me. I will protect you. His head lowered as his tail went low. I do not sense your sire or his second-in-command. I will dispatch this threat on sight.

Luna resisted Icarus' attempts to hide her beneath his stomach. I'm staying, she refuted. I'm not leaving my Celestial Spirit to fight my fights for me.

You are stubborn, Icarus growled. Fine. Stay close to me. He dug his claws into the earth as he craned his neck protectively over his mistress. And do not hesitate if we must run.

Luna nodded and looked out to the forest. She scanned the dark tree line carefully and went in and out of focus as she analyzed each tree silhouettes—

WSH…!

PATTER-PATTER-PATTER…

Luna swallowed, but it was to shove away the nerves climbing up her throat. Icarus—

I know. Icarus let out a growl to warn this stalker. I saw.

Luna called, "We know you're out there! P-Please come out!"

No one heeded her call.

A blurred shadowy stood only meters away without the protection of the trees, but with the moon's darkness cloaking their form.

Luna squinted to try and figure out what she was seeing. "Come on out!" she called. "It's okay!"

Pup—!

Luna ignored him. "Please! I live here! Are you lost?"

The blurred shadow seemed to understand her words as it swept closer.

Icarus' growl increased. Pup, get underneath me—

Icarus, hush, Luna quieted. It's fine. She lifted a beckoning hand towards the shadow drawing nearer. "It's okay," she encouraged. "Really, it's okay. You can come out now. We won't hurt you. We're friendly. Are you friendly?"

The shadow stopped just out of both Icarus and Luna's range. From what both could assess, whatever it was had the form of a man, but that was all they could understand. The shadow was downdraft, so Icarus was left at a disadvantage to trace a scent. But it stood there just out of reach, observing.

"Who are you?" Luna wanted to know. "What do you want with me?"

A chuckle. "I'm just looking for a princess."

Luna could not believe it and neither could the moon. She narrowed her eyes as the clouds were shooed away. "Step into the light."

The clouds cleared as the shadow came forward. He looked different in such a way, Luna was taken back. Black scales clumped on his body, jagged and not as fluid as her father's or as her own. He could not cover his entire body, but the fact he could make scales for himself was impressive. They looked like the absorbed darkness and glittered like diamonds. A ring of emerald taunted his red eyes.

The moonstone on Luna's bracelet pulsed.

The sunstone on an armband replied with a faint glow.

"Gale…" Luna named. "What are you doing here?" Her eyebrows slammed together. "Why are you spying on me? Did my papa put you up to this?"

Gale shook his head. "He didn't."

"But I thought you left with Julia—"

"I left, yeah." Gale stepped towards her. "I came back."

Luna swallowed and dreaded the answer to her unspoken question. She left it unspoken.

But Gale did not leave it alone. "Do you know why I came back?"

"Gale, please," Luna tried to calm. "I really need to get going—"

"To see him." Gale rolled around the growl in his throat. "I had a feeling. That's why I came back."

"For what?" Luna shouldered herself into Icarus. "What exactly are you here for? To stop me?"

"No, I'm not here to stop you," Gale promised. "I'm here to make sure you tell him."

Luna's eyebrows shot up, affronted. "I told you I would," she snapped. "And I'm still going to so if you don't mind…" Icarus lowered himself down for her to mount him again. "And don't follow me," she ordered. She wanted to order Icarus to move, but Gale's hand came up to grasp her arm. "Gale—!" Her anger halted when she saw something vulnerable in those sanguineous depths.

"You care about me, right?" Gale whispered his words like he was too afraid saying them too loudly might break the illusion. "You really like me?"

Luna tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach and managed, "Yes."

"Then, don't kiss him tonight."

Luna sighed. "Gale—"

"Blondie," Gale pleaded. "Don't. For me."

That made Luna feel worse. "Gale, please don't make this harder for me," she begged of him. "Bleu and I are dating. Kissing is normal—"

"Don't make this hard for me," Gale asked of her. "Blondie, I've been kicking myself in the ass for not saying anything and I regret that a lot. But I have a chance and I don't want to lose it. I want you to choose me, but I want you to think carefully. But I keep seeing you and him…" A growl threatened the last of his words, but he forced away the ring of emerald when it tried to appear again. "Don't kiss him tonight." Kiss me, he wanted to add.

Luna gently pulled back from his grasp to cup his chin. She sighed when he held tight to her hand. "I told you I'd tell him," she reminded. "Let me go tell him. He's probably waiting for me."

Gale flinched, but he nodded. They both knew what she meant. She would do what she promised him, but she could not promise anymore. Keep him waiting, he wanted to say. Just go home alone. Or stay with me. But he sighed and leaned his cheek against her hand. "I love you, Blondie," he murmured. "Don't forget that." Don't forget me when you're with him.

"I won't." Luna could not forget anymore and she had to stop trying to. She slipped her hand from his face, but Gale caught her to place a chaste kiss on her fingertips. Emotion bubbled inside her chest, but she tamped it down. "Bye, Gale."

"Not 'bye'," Gale refused.

"Right." Luna smiled, even if it was tainted in sadness. "See you later."

Gale accepted that and let her fingers slip away from him. "See you later."

Luna looked away from him to lock her hands on her reins. "Ha!" And Icarus took off towards their destination with his paws thudding against the earth. She did not look back. She could feel Gale's eyes on her as Icarus rushed through the forest. A sputtering exhale.

Are you okay? Concern couched Icarus' words. Are you sure you can do this tonight?

I need to before I lose my courage, Luna told in dejected jest.

For what it is worth, Pup, many pups at your age in this modern time would not be half as brave as you, Icarus gave to her. They string along suitors like it is a game and play volley with their words. Perhaps, once upon a time, you would have done the same. I am proud of you for doing the right thing.

It's not like I came up with this all on my own, Luna pointed out.

True. But you heeded the advice given. No matter how many times you say you had no choice, you had the choice to ignore Gale. You had the choice to stay quiet. You chose honesty. You chose to confide in those you trust and, in turn, you chose to be honest to yourself and to Gale and Bleu. No matter what the outcome is, I will be by your side and be proud of you, Pup.

Luna sniffled and rubbed away a tear. Thank you, Icarus.

Paternal love threaded through their link. Collect yourself, Icarus told her gently. We are almost there.

Luna took heed of Icarus' advice and gathered herself. Icarus had gotten them to Dragon Pond. Sure, they had taken the long way around, but they could not risk anyone coming out to the deck or her father and Gajeel seeing them. Their ears were tuned to the backyard, or so Actaeon had told Icarus who relayed it to Luna, so they had little choice but to take a scenic route. Dragon Pond had been dressed up for the wintertime. Natsu and Lucy made sure any improvements did not mess up the environment under Natsu's domain to encourage animals to live natural lives. The gazebo floated on the water with flat stones to get to it. Luna glanced over to see a Lacrima Car shaded beneath a tree and Bleu stepped out.

Luna murmured to Icarus and Icarus slowed to a stop and crouched for her to dismount. She rubbed his jaw as Bleu came over. He dressed casually with a long-hooded jacket, a plain long sleeve, and some black cargo joggers. Bleu respected Icarus enough to approach the Celestial Spirit dog first with a courteous bow and his hand out. Icarus sniffed Bleu's hand before licking it and bumping it with his nose. With a stern look at Luna, Icarus lapped her forehead before he raced off.

"He's going to hunt," Luna told Bleu. "But he'll keep checking the area so we're unbothered." Bleu opened his arms and Luna fell into them, latching onto him. "Thanks for coming."

"You said it was important. I had to come," Bleu murmured, kissing her forehead. "I missed you, Treasure."

"I missed you too." Luna nuzzled into his chest and took a deep breath of his scent. She could not help but compare now. Bleu had a warm musk to him with a citric ginger that Luna could find herself addicted to, but it was different than Gale's earthy spice-infused scent. "I missed you a lot." She pulled away to tip her head up to look into his eyes.

Bleu padded her check as he searched her gaze. "What's wrong, Treasure?" he murmured. "You look upset. I can feel it."

Luna closed her eyes. "Let's go into the gazebo." She placed her hand in his and interlaced their fingers before she led him to the gazebo. The beautiful part about the gazebo was the little flames that came to life the moment anyone stepped inside after a certain hour. A bench curved the edges with a sturdy wood sanded down and stained. As they crossed into the gazebo's protection, a rainy snow drizzled down. Winter was not yet ready. It was testing the waters for now.

Luna sat on the bench and Bleu followed in suit. He laid an arm around her waist and thumbed her side as Luna leaned against him. She just needed a moment. And he was content with giving that to her. They listened as winter played Devil's advocate with watery snow that the earth would reject staying on its soil for too long. The hush of it could soothe the foulest of moods.

Luna did not know how to start. She had no experience opening a conversation like this when she never had a conversation like this to behind with. She could have danced around. She could have hemmed and hawed. But she was so tired. So, so tired. So she broke all preamble and let it go. "Gale's in love with me."

Bleu kept thumbing.

The snowy rain fell.

A silent inhale. A chilly exhale.

"I know, Treasure." No jealousy. No anger. No sadness. A neutral acceptance.

Luna squeezed her eyes shut tighter. "And I like him."

An adventurous cardinal flew out in desperation to find a snack.

A fox burrowed deeper into his nook in the trunk of a tree and flopped its tail over its nose.

"I know, Treasure." Again with the acceptance.

Luna sniffed. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I don't know." She did know. "I feel like I lied to you or cheated on you or…something… And you don't deserve that when you've been so good to me."

The thumbing stopped.

Luna blinked when Bleu lifted her to settle onto his lap. She peeked up at his light eyes and tried to read his expression. "Bleu…?" She feared the worst. "Are you mad at me?"

"Not at all, Treasure," Bleu told her, timbre soft.

"Then, say something," Luna implored. "Please say something."

Bleu sighed and thumbed her cheek—thumbed away a tear. "What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know, I just…!" Luna leaned into his touch as her stinging eyes closed. "I don't know what I want you to say. I was just so worried you'd hate me or get upset."

"Why would I be upset?"

"Because I told you if Gale ever told me something like that, I wouldn't care," Luna murmured, miserable. "I told you I'd reject him."

"Have you?" Not a spiteful question. Nothing derogatory. It was fleshed with innocence and curiosity.

Luna shamefully shook her head. "I told him I'd choose," she whispered.

"I see." Bleu placed a kiss on her cheek. He would kiss her tears away. "What did he say?"

Luna sniffled. "He told me he'd fight for me," she relayed. "And he told me you wouldn't. And he asked me to choose him."

Bleu moved his kisses to the other cheek, slow and attentive. "You don't want us to fight." Not a question; a statement.

"No," Luna choked. "I'm not worth that. I don't want any more fighting." She turned her head away, chagrined by her situation, the situation she dragged two people she cared about into. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Another kiss. "I know, Treasure." A kiss on the corner of her lips. "I'm not mad. I understand." A kiss on the side of her nose. "Don't be sorry. You can't help how you feel."

"I wish I could," she whispered. "It would make everything easier and less confusing. And I could be with—"

"Don't say it."

Bleu pulled back with a soft smile and softer eyes to meet Luna's watery stare. "Don't say anything you don't know you mean," he murmured.

"I like you, Bleu." Luna wanted to make that clear to him. "There's so much I like about you. I'm not lying when I say I don't think I've felt like this with anyone else."

"I feel the same. I like you too, Treasure. I haven't felt like this before either." Bleu cradled her jaw. "We don't have to rush anything. We can just date. I'm a patient guy. But I know Gale isn't patient."

"He isn't," Luna agreed in hushed tones. "He… He asked me not to kiss you tonight."

"I figured he'd do that if he found out you liked him," Bleu reckoned. Such acceptance. It was as if he knew this scenario would happen and he prepared for it. "Treasure, what you do is your choice and no one else's. We can ask you to do things, ask you to choose one of us—but it's your choice. I want you to know that. And I want you to choose whoever you want to choose."

"Why are you being so nice?" Luna asked. "Why aren't you angry at me?"

"What's there to be angry at?" Bleu questioned. "Getting angry won't help anything or get anyone anywhere. The only thing it will do is get you upset and you're upset enough."

Luna winced. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Bleu lightly admonished. "Just promise me you'll think things through. Don't listen to me or Gale. This is your choice to make. And whoever you choose, we'll respect that choice." A smile touched his face. "I won't lie, though. I do want you to be with me. And I'd fight Gale if you let me—"

"I won't." Luna frowned at him. "No fighting, Bleu."

Bleu chuckled then sighed. "I won't fight, Treasure. I promise." He kissed her forehead. "Just think things through before you do anything rash. Can you do that for me?"

Luna nodded.

"Thank you, Treasure." Bleu pressed their foreheads together. "Do you want me to go?"

Luna bit her lip and shook her head.

"What do you want right now, Treasure?" Bleu asked.

Luna let her eyelids fall shut. Selfish desire trampled over anything else until a sliver of remorse was left. I'm sorry, Gale. She voiced her wish. "Kiss me."

Bleu did not hesitate as he angled his lips. Luna's hood fell to reveal her blonde hair and she flushed her palms to her cheeks as Bleu drew her in for a kiss.

CR-CRACK! CRACK! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

Lightning chased through the sky in streaks. The snowy rain dribbled from the sky and thunder snarled, disturbed.

Bleu nor Luna cared. This gazebo was their own little oasis for the time being. Luna knew she might have let go of a tear or two, but she fell into the kiss and let everything pour into it. Her apology. Her care. Her warmth. And she felt cherished and safe and light from each kiss.

CR-CRACK! CRACK! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

It didn't snow that night. Even in December, it still didn't snow.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

CR-CRACK! CRACK! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

Nashi slept soundly in Gary's bed in one of his t-shirts. Býleistr dozed in his Lion Form beside the bed, but his ears twitched as Nashi turned to her side. Eyebrow twitching, her muscles were kicked into an unwanted memory that plagued her dreams and turned them into nightmares. She skittered and made a muffled noise of distress, but she was trapped within the realm of make-believe.

CR-CRACK! CRACK! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

Jaxton held Tesla in his arms. He had bathed her, fed her, and helped braid her hair for the evening. After an aggressive-turned-tender session between them with emotions so high-strung and whittled down into kissing away tears and affirmations of love, she lay naked in his arms, too tired to dream tonight. But Jaxton lay awake as he watched over her for the night.

CR-CRACK! CRACK! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

So many things went so wrong in such a little time… All because of the choices we made…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

CR-CRACK! CRACK! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

Luke laid in his bedroom wide awake and in no hurry to try and fall asleep. Dragging a hand down his face, he swung his legs out of his bed and lumbered over to his desk. He woke up his DAL, typed in his password, and was set to log in and put on a movie when he saw ⟪ Folio ⟫ was open. He clicked on it and let those series of numbers reflect in his eyes.

CR-CRACK! CRACK! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

Car windows fogged beyond belief, neither Mary Jane nor Peter could stop their shameless touches and fervent kisses. They broke, at times, with little laughs and little teases only to be guided back into that need to be closer without crossing the line they had set for themselves. Long ago, their coats had come off until Peter had helped Mary Jane out of her shirt to worship her neck and chest in kisses that had her panting and breathing his name in reverent prayer. She straddled his lap with her fingers in his hair and her spine curved when his kisses pressed against the material of her bra.

Peter paused and looked up at Mary Jane. Tresses an attractive mess, a ring of violet glowed in her heterochromia eyes and it made her look like a seduced goddess. Heated liquid gold fueled his eyes to match hers. Breathing uneven, they gazed into each other's eyes. The lust was there, but there was that undercurrent of simple affection—of care. He ran a hand through her locks like they were reams of gold. "Is this okay?" he panted.

"Yeah," Mary Jane said back, just as breathless. A flicker of uncertainty. "No sex?"

"No sex," Peter agreed without hesitation. His hands traced up her spine until his fingers landed on the clasps of her bra. "Would this be okay?"

Mary Jane bit her bottom lip, but her lips twitched when Peter let out an unrestrained groan at the action. She plucked at his shirt. "Would this?"

Peter grinned. "You drive a hard bargain, Sweets." His hand came up to give her a biting kiss on her bottom lip.

"Is that a no?" Mary Jane whispered into the next kiss. A hiss escaped her when she felt the restriction of her bra leave her. "No fair," she pouted. "You still have a shirt on."

Peter pulled away and his hand came to the side of his shirt to take it off in two short motions. Mary Jane appreciated the tautness of his skin without an ounce of decency. Their time together made her more confident. She could touch more, let her stares linger, and sure they would share laughs, but she never felt it was at her expense. She felt a comfort, a bond to it. "This is mine," she declared. Maybe if both of them noticed more, they would see a bit of scarlet leaked into her cerulean eye. "No one else's—Ah…!"

Peter watched as she threw back her head at his claiming touch to her chest. "You took the words out of my mouth, Sweets." And his lips descended and Mary Jane cried out.

CR-CRACK! CRACK! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Even with the year ending, we still had so many obstacles to face… And there was only so many we could take…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Hendrika's hotel suite was quite the living arrangement. All Magic Council personnel that were the Magic-speakers or administrators for their country were permitted a complimentary stay at any hotel in D.I. and were automatically raised to the best suites available without ever having to ask. The only time they did have to ask was if they were bringing along an assistant who preferred an adjunct room to their supervisor's living space. Fresh from a long shower, Hendrika took advantage of the robe the hotel had offered her and wore it loose, but it still did little to calm her.

Hendrika toweled her hair as she remembered the Angel Princess of Fairy Tail and the way she broke apart as Chinlien knocked her down word for word. Her ministrations paused at the remembrance and she sighed. Am I doing the right thing? she wondered. I know I have no choice, but… What if there is a choice and I just haven't found it? She finished towel-drying her hair to fold the used towel neatly before she disposed of it into the hamper.

Hendrika stretched over to her bedroom. She had a queen-sized bed all to herself with a heated blanket and an LV, mini-refrigerator, and a mini-bar. The drinks did not entice her even if she sorely longed for one. She was still presenting her image before the people. She could not afford for her image to be tarnished anymore it had been. She sprawled on her bed before turning onto her back.

"Perhaps there is no choice," she whispered to herself in Bellish. "Perhaps this is the only way." She laid a hand atop her eyes. "I am just as bad as them for doing this. But I have no other choice."

"You always have a choice," came Bellish murmur.

Hendrika sat up on her elbows and her eyes rounded to see the Native Meidilandian woman standing in her room with her twin braids and leather wraps like she owned the suite. Those dark eyes drank in Hendrika's body with a grin on the woman's lips and Hendrika scrambled to cover herself and tried to scream. Her scream hitched into a whimper when the woman prowled closer and purred, "Don't bother covering up on my account. I was enjoying the show."

"What are you doing here?" Hendrika demanded to know in accented Minstrish. "Get out! Get out before I call my guards!"

The woman chuckled like Hendrika had said the funniest joke in the world. "Sweet Hendrika…" She knelt onto the bed and appraised the way Hendrika dared not move. "You think I didn't kill your guards before I came to see you?" Her laughter increased at the horror slapped on Hendrika's face. "Don't worry. I didn't kill them." Fingers drifted to Hendrika's ankle. "But they won't be awake for a while. You should hire new guards."

Hendrika tugged her ankle away. "What are you doing here?" she growled. "I have done everything you wanted! Leave me alone!"

"That won't do…" The woman was relentless as she crawled up the bed and her hand smoothened onto Hendrika's legs. "Did you shave? You feel so soft…" Her grin widened when she caught Hendrika's leg before it could kick her. "See, this is why I like you. You're don't take me lying down…"—she watched Hendrika's chest heave—"yet…"

Terror filled Hendrika and a wave of thick anger, but a low-hanging heat tempted her as the mysterious woman kept hold of her. "What do you want?" Hendrika gritted through her teeth. She hated how she felt her eyes drift down to watch as the woman's hands scaled up her legs.

"You've done so well, Hendrika," the woman breathed as she slowly spread Hendrika's legs apart. "You did everything I asked of you like a good girl. My boss is happy which means I'm happy." She licked her lips when the robe split and showed the most intimate part of Hendrika for her to see. "And I always reward my pets when they do the trick I wanted them to do."

"I'm not your pet!" Hendrika spat, but she hated her legs twitched and her body ached when the woman massaged her inner thighs. Sparkles shocked up her legs and across her spine. "You won't get away with this," she hissed at the woman.

"I already am." The woman drifted her hands closer and watched the way Hendrika lifted her lips and did everything in her power to hold back her whimper. "You'll be a very valuable pet after tomorrow. I like to keep my pets happy, Hendrika." A guttural groan came from her throat when she could sink a finger in with no resistance and Hendrika's back arched as a wild mewl came out from her lips. "Let me make you happy"—white sclera inked into black—"my pet." And the woman went between Hendrika's legs.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

But for now, when we didn't know what was going to happen…when we were still dwelling on our mistakes and our choices…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

DRIP.

Sunstone dulled.

DROP.

Through the influx of rainy snow, tormented rubies watched as Bleu and Luna held each other and kissed like there was not a tomorrow. The precipitation matted down Gale's hair and his scales had rescinded, but he could not help but watch something so painful, he felt gutted to the very core.

DRIP.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

…it was a good day for rain…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

DROP.

---

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…

As much as things just might start falling in place, it seems more things are falling out of it. What exactly is Chinlien up to? Are Gary and Skade going to come home to Magnolia…to Nashi? To find out, tune in to the next episode of Fairy Adventure!

---

Chibi-Luna beams at her students. "Hi, class!"

"Hi, Teacher!" the students hello happily. "What is our Fairy Lesson for today?"

"Today's Fairy Lesson is on the Ministry of Magical Creatures!" Chibi-Luna tells her students. She shows them her slideshow and begins to click through it. "The Magic Council has different departments and ministries for different things. They have the Ministry of Magicianry, for example. The Ministry of Magical Creatures houses its own Super Archive to track all magical creatures listed in Earth Land!"

A hand goes up. "Teacher, why didn't the ministry know that Skade was an endangered species if they can track every magical creature?"

"Excellent point!" Chibi-Luna cheers. "The Ministry of Magical Creatures were well-aware of Devils, but their awareness was dated back to when Devils were more volatile and blacklisted as a Dark Creature. Decades ago, an order was given to control the Devil population, but people took it too far and pushed the actual race of Devils into extinction. The powers the Devils had were transferred to the ones who could handle it, but people still killed over those powers. Since a power can't be listed as an endangered species, Devil Slayer power was considered a 'Rare' type of power and was in discussions of being moved to being called 'Illegal'. Since Skade is a natural born Devil from the actual race of Devils, he qualifies to represent his species, making him critically endangered."

She clicks to her next slide. "The Ministry of Magical Creatures works together with the Worldwide Wildlife Conservatory and biologists and scientists all over the globe to make sure magical creatures and normal animals are kept at peace, within population control, and even work with some reservations and zoos with bringing magical creatures who border endangered into captivity to be bred." She goes to her next slide. "The Ministry of Magical Creatures also carefully documents any domestic magical creature currently seen as a 'pet' and many Tamers work in the ministry. In fact, the minister of magical creatures is an S-Class Tamer themselves!"

She looks around the room. "Any questions?"

"I have one!" Chibi-Gary steps in with ears and a tail, a collar and leash in his hands. "Does this mean I can be Angel's pet?"

Chibi-Luna sweatdrops. "Um, I don't think Nashi would like that—"

"The Hell I would!" Chibi-Nashi storms in to drag Chibi-Gary away. "Dammit, you stupid dog, you're not my actual pet!"

"But I want to be Angel's pet!" Chibi-Gary whines.

The entire class sweatdrops now. He takes roleplay very seriously…

Chibi-Luna jumps in to say, "Well, that's all the time we have for today! Next time, on Fairy Adventure: WHEN THE MASKS FALL!"

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

Ena Fernandes – Xanthe Huynh

Silver Fullbuster – Yuri Lowenthal

Hisui E. Fiore – Morgan Marby

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Nashi Dragneel – Lauren Landa

Býleistr – Scott Freeman

Kyler/Mister Wilson – Ray Chase

Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel – Cherami Leigh

Mary Jane Dreyar – Erica Lindbeck

Makarov Dreyar – Bruce Elliot

Lance Dreyar – Johnny Young Bosch

Igneel Dragneel – Bryce Papenbrook

Peter Shuusei-Thompson – Joe Zieja

Bowie Thompson - Nicholas Guest

Eloa Shuusei-Thompson – Salli Richardson

Erza Fernandes – Colleen Clinkenbeard

Aine Fernandes – Carrie Kernanen

Jasper Langley – Zeno Robinson

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Icarus – Christopher Sabot

Luke Dragneel – Alan Lee

Natsu Dragneel – Todd Haberkorn

Zelda Lynk – Gabrielle Union

Tesla Greer/Hylia Lynk – Galena White

Julia Fullbuster – Michelle Ruff

Jang-ta "Jaxton" Yang – Eddy Yeung

Roderick "Ricky" Boseman – Jovan Jackson

Sycaña – Christen Auten

Lucifer "Bleu" Demiurge – Xander Mobus

Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns

Skade – Sean Schemmel

Mirella/Miss Wilson – Edie Mirman

Mammon – Paul St. Peters

Talia/Mirella – Serena Varghesa

Margaret "Maggie" Shuusei – Jennifer Lewis

Jennifer "Jin" Shuusei-Benigno – Reagan Gomez-Preston

Levy Redfox – Kristi Kang

Gajeel Redfox – David Wald

Gray Fullbuster - Newon Pittman

Mirajane Dreyar – Monica Rial

Laxus Dreyar – Patrick Seitz

Hendrika Sandström – Laura Bailey

Mysterious Woman – Amber Midthunder

• — • — •

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 ⌟

•

⌜ENDING THEME

⟪ STAY BY MY SIDE ⟫

TWICE

Lyrics by & Composed by

Atsushi Shimada, Fredrik "Figge" Boström & Malin Johansson⌟