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!

70. Adventure 070

Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it, nor any pop culture or classical references. All original plots and characters are mine.

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

---

LAST TIME, on Fairy Adventure, three weeks have passed for our heroes and a lot has changed since then. For starters, it looks like Nashi's going to bite the bullet and start her journey of being a voice for equality and freedoms for the magical oppressed and Aberrants. Luna and Gale might be training together, but it doesn't mean their friendship is back to where it was before. But at least it looks like Gale is cracking the shell he put on himself to speak out Emma. With Mystogan being gone for weeks, Luke takes it upon himself to work alongside Shadower Cullen and find out what Mystogan was doing before he disappeared. Tesla is stuck between a rock and a hard place with Jaxton's main mission taking a toll on her as well as her father's up and coming release from jail. Speaking of release, I don't think I say it coming that Carlisle would return and as Dante's…special friend. But it looks like Dante isn't the only one interested in Carlisle, just in a different way. But it makes me wonder… What other cases to Jaxton take on? And for who?

"Maybe Tesla was right… What the Hell sort of mess did we get into, Gary?"

You know, Jax, I'm curious about that too. And if it wasn't already mentioned, guys, I have a slight feeling Silver has a crush on Ena.

---

Nashi knew that she was panicking, but she could not help it when she came back out from the closet to display her outfit of choice for this round: a long-sleeved bow blouse tinged pink and a navy pencil skirt. She twirled around before she gestured to her outfit to a highly unimpressed Býleistr. "How about this one?"

Býleistr sighed. "Princess, you've pretty much gone through your entire closet—"

"I feel like the skirt is too big on me." Nashi picked at the material with a worried frown. "I don't know if I've gained weight or I've lost weight. I don't want to look frumpy—"

"Princess," Býleistr said sharply, "you looked fine in the last ten outfits. Pick one and let's go." He glanced at the time and cursed. "You barely have enough time to get to the station unless we Jumped—"

Nashi went back into the closet and told him flat out, "We are not Jumping, Býleistr. I told you for the last time, my Teleportation License won't be in until the end of the month and, even still, we have a curfew to follow. It is what it is. Stop bitching."

Býleistr huffed. "It's unnatural for me to have to walk everywhere," he grumbled. "I never had to deal with all these stupid laws and regulations. I could go wherever I wanted whenever I wanted unless someone put up a ward." His tail flicked. "You humans and your need to control everyone."

"Half-human!" Nashi called. It sounded like she used the other entryway of the walk-in-closet to go into the bathroom. "And it serves a purpose! You know how many assholes that are out there that would try to teleport anywhere and steal anything they wanted?"

Býleistr heavily rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Are you ready yet?"

"Just about." This time Nashi came out of the bathroom doorway. She had fixed her hair into a shoulder draping ponytail and dabbed on one last coat of lip gloss. As she fixed her cuffs, she asked him, "We really have to make sure we watch time, so I can go back to the house for Luke and Luna since Mama and Papa are gone."

Býleistr followed Nashi out of the bedroom and down the hall. "I'm always up to see your siblings, but do they really need you to babysit?"

Nashi sighed as she got to the kitchen to see her purse and her travel tea mug. "I don't know. They asked me to come over and I'll do it. Besides, gives me a chance to get stuff from my room." She took a sip of her tea and held up a finger when Býleistr opened his mouth. "Don't start with me again. I am not moving in with Gary. This is my temporary home until he's permanently back in Magnolia. Then, I move back in with my parents."

"You even call this place your home—" Býleistr snorted when Nashi shot him a glare. "Fine. Not another word." He went over to drag out Nashi's snow boots and her heels before he picked out a coat for her. "How are you feeling about the interview?"

"Nervous, but I'm excited." Nashi stepped snuck her feet into her boots, but she flinched bending over and rubbed her shoulder.

Býleistr was on alert. "Something wrong?"

"Nah, it's nothing." Nashi finished putting on her boots and went for her coat. "My back has been killing me. Just old scars acting up again." She stole her heels from him to put into her oversized purse and flashed him a smile. "No need to worry. I'll put some balm on it when we're at my parents' house. It's been a while since I've applied them anyway. Ready?"

Býleistr nodded and let Nashi pass as she unlocked the door. She began to practice what she wanted to say while Býleistr took a curious sniff at her back. His nose scrunched and he took a deeper sniff only to frown. It's faint, but… That smell. I can smell something leaking, but it's not necessarily magical… It's not blood…

"Býleistr?" Nashi called from the hallway. "Come on. Transform so we can hit the road."

Býleistr shrunk into his Cat Form reluctantly as Nashi locked up. "You said those scars on your back were from a training accident or something?"

"Something like that, I guess." Nashi turned to him with an unconcerned shrug. "Probably. I don't really know. But I'm pretty sure it was." She let out a breath. "Let's get to it, kitty." She trotted down the hall to the elevator.

Býleistr kept pace with her, but his thoughts went elsewhere. She lost those wings of hers some time ago. They bled out when she read that children's story, but it doesn't look like her memory has come back. And if they're hurting her, then what does that mean?

DING!

Mistress and Celestial Spirit entered the elevator together. As Nashi fiddled with the buttons, Býleistr curled his tail around his paws. I'll be a lot calmer when we're back at Miss Lucy's territory. Maybe Capricorn will be around for some answers. But even so, that unease he felt stubbornly did not go away.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

You can do anything

Your hands grab even your life

What will you use them for?

You can take my warm hands

If it makes you feel yourself

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Where Miss Anna lived was nowhere close to Magnolia and quite the right amount of space needed for her, Katja, and Makarov to live away from it all so none of them were disturbed. It was in the countryside where the water was crystal clear and magical creatures did not feel threatened. A Terumiho and a Glacumiho pairing were hunting for fresh kill. A farmer with two collies was rounding in mythical sheep with glowing wool. Snow compounded onto the vast expanses of land and distant mountains, but the trees were mainly coniferous and did not feel the cold like their less fortunate relatives.

The cottage Anna lived in was nice and quaint and just right for her. What looked like a lynx was outside and tousled around with an overgrown wolf who acted more juvenile than an adult. But the pair of them were Celestial Spirits on guard from whatever would come their way. They both perked when they saw a car coming down the way and the wolf transcended into a burly man who looked defensive while the lynx let out a warning warble.

The front door opened to reveal what looked like an anthropomorphic bear in overalls, an apron, and a yawn fresh coming from his mouth. It looked like he had taken the traits of a brown bear, according to his fur and sleep eyes, but he watched as the cars pulled in with care.

It stopped in the driveway to reveal a family climbing out of the car, dressed for the climate. The anthropomorphic bear lifted a hand in greeting and yawned, "Good morning to ya, folks."

⌜CELESTIAL SPIRIT

Name: Miles

Species: Celestial Spirit (Ursa Major)

Owner: Anna Heartfilia

Likes: calzones Dislikes: fish

Special Note: Miles might be a bear, but he thoroughly hates honey and fish and prefers calzones after Nashi introduced them to him! I wonder why he's not hibernating…⌟

"Morning, Miles," Mira chirped. "Miss Anna told us she'd be at the academy for the day, but we still wanted to come and see Makarov."

"Miles," Laxus greeted warmly.

Miles bowed a little to them both. "Just finished with breakfast. Makarov isn't awake just yet, but you're welcome to join…" He trailed off when he yawned again. "We made the works since y'all were headed this way." He stepped aside and gestured inside the cottage. "Come on in."

Laxus made sure Mira went in first before he looked back at Mary Jane who had brought a backpack with her. She went in before him while Laxus lingered to speak to Miles for the moment. Mary Jane took a moment to look around before she took off her shoes in exchange for slippers. The cottage always had a way to bring a sense of calm to her. Maybe it was all the personal touches such as all the pictures and paintings on the walls or maybe it was the gentle buzz of Magic in the air.

Mary Jane laughed when she saw Sana come over to her, eager. "Hi, Sana." She scooped up the Nikora. "Nice to see you again."

"Pun-pun-pun!" Sana replied merrily.

Her mother called, "Mary Jane, come say, 'hello' to Miss Katja."

"Coming, Mom!" Mary Jane ferried Sana over the open kitchen where her mother had gotten out of her coat and hat and gloves to help out a lithe beauty with a bob of dark blue hair and nurturing brown eyes. "Hi, Miss Katja!"

"Well, hello, Mary Jane," Katja greeted warmly. "I see Sana was happy to meet you at the door."

⌜AMBROSIA VILLAGE

Name: Katja

Occupation: Home Nurse, Teacher

Likes: calzones Dislikes: fish

Special Note: Katja used to be a disciple of Will Neville and lost her Celestial Spirit Magic. But she's more than happy to live with Miss Anna and help tutor students from Saint Layla's!⌟

Sana twisted in Mary Jane's arms to wildly gesture at Katja and exclaim, "Pun! Pun-pun-pun-pun!"

"What did she say?" Mira asked, curious to know.

Katja gave an apologetic smile. "Your guess is as good as mine, I'm afraid. But I can tell she's happy Mary Jane is here. She was bouncing off the walls the moment you called to schedule a visit." She finished off another omelet and slide it onto a plate. "How's school going for you, Mary Jane? How're Magic studies?"

Mary Jane pulled an exaggerated groan which made her mother and Katja chortle. "School is school," she supposed as she sat at the island. Sana hopped onto the island counter with Mary Jane got off her backpack. "But I had to bring some with me. Magic is going fine, I think."

"Oh, yes!" Mira beamed. "She'll be headed out on a job this weekend with me!"

Katja beamed as well. "That's wonderful and so exciting!"

Mary Jane flushed. "It's not like I haven't been on jobs," she murmured, all shy. "It's just this will be the first job I'm on that I'm using my new powers." She saddled her mother with an uneasy smile. "Are you sure it's safe for me to go on jobs? M-Maybe I'm not ready…"

"You'll have me right there with you every step of the way," Mira promised her daughter. "It's nothing too serious. We're just clearing out an unwanted horde of Blizzardverns."

Mary Jane thought to all the images of Blizzardverns, from their large draconian figures to their claws, and she and Sana simultaneously shivered. The fact she says it's nothing too serious makes me remember how strong Mom is. "If you say so…"

"I do say so." Mira began to pile the plates with cubed potatoes. "And I'm sure Miss Katja would like to know all about your boyfriend."

Katja gasped while Mary Jane blushed and tried to cover her face (Sana mimed her movements cheerily as though this were a game). "You have a boyfriend!"

"Y-Y-Yes," Mary Jane stammered in admission.

Katja put her work on hold to give Mary Jane her full attention. "And just how has Father Laxus taken this little adjustment?"

A gravelly grunt came, "Not very well." Laxus filled into the kitchen with a scowl, but he did off Katja a kiss on the cheek and a hug. "Must you women have to talk about the fact my little girl is being practically kidnapped?"

Katja snorted. "It's called a relationship, you oof. You had one. Your older children are all in relationships or have been in relationships. Stop trying to shelter her like b—" But she pressed her lips together.

Mary Jane's brow furrowed, confused when she witnessed a flash of guilt and remorse go through Katja, but Mira was quick to interject, "He's gotten better. Before Peter left, he came over a handful of times and even played cards with us." Her smile was both kind and terrifying. "I cleaned him out, of course."

Mary Jane and Laxus sweatdropped. Yeah, that was an evil move to do…

"So his name is Peter," Katja drawled with a grin. "And what's this young man's last name?"

Laxus rolled his eyes. "I think I'm going to keep myself busy with LV until this Hell speech is over," he decided and slumped out of the kitchen.

A round of giggles was in order before Mary Jane answered the question. "His name is Peter Shuusei-Thompson. He's a, um, Wizard, actually."

"A late-bloomer," Mira filled in for Katja. "He just discovered his powers in November and he's Mary Jane's age."

Katja's eyebrows rose. "Oh, my. A very late-bloomer, but better late than never. What's his Affinity?"

"He's an Alchemist," Mary Jane supplied, "and an Alkahest."

"Wow, he's a rare one of his kind," Katja breathed, a hand on her chest. Concern grew on her face. "How's he adjusting? I'm sure it was a shock to his family and to him, no less."

Mary Jane thanked her mother for giving her a stacked plate with an omelet, potatoes, a bowl of white rice, and a croissant. "He's doing pretty okay," she told Katja. "He actually just moved to Minstrel to attend Alexandria there for his magical studies."

"Quite the adjustment!" Katja decided to get a head start on the dishes. "I hear Alexandria is a top university for magical studies, so I hope he enjoys the experience. How are you taking it, dear? I'm sure it's not easy on either one of you."

A pang hit Mary Jane and she rubbed her chest. That was…weird. Dismissing it, she admitted, "I was really emotional when he left, but I've been okay. We call every night and FaceCall, so it's nothing too bad. And we're both focused on studying. He'll be home for spring break, so there's that." Another pang hit and she winced.

Mira noticed and was immediately worried. "Everything okay, sweetie?"

"I'm fine, Mom." Mary Jane's face twisted into pain as she rubbed her chest even more. "My chest hurts a little, but it's nothing I can't handle."

"Are you sure?" Mira fretted as she came over with a fork and knife and a glass of apple juice. "Do you want anything for it?"

Mary Jane accepted the juice and utensils with a smile. "No, Mom, I'm okay. Really, it's nothing. It's been on and off for a few days anyway." Like the weird crying fits. "Maybe I'm just getting close to that time or something." Which would explain those weird emotional fits.

Mira still frowned. "Well, just let me know…"

"I will, Mom, I promise," Mary Jane assured as she cut into her omelet. She offered a tiny piece for Sana to take and the Nikora was overjoyed so much so that Mary Jane could not help but feel happy. "Speaking of my mom, look what she made me!" She shoved off the crocheted bracelet. "She made one for Peter and me to be matching."

Katja paused in her work to admire the bracelet. "So cute!" she cheered. "Oh, and that necklace is from him too?"

Mary Jane looked down and her hand automatically came up to massage the acorn button with a thumb and forefinger. "Oh, no," she said, voice hushed. "This is a gift from a very dear friend of mine."

Katja must have sensed something in Mary Jane's tone for she softened. "They must be special."

"They are." Mary Jane could see a glassy reflection within the charm of herself. "They had to leave last month to do something. I just hope they're okay." Her heart sighed and her happiness was sullied in loneliness and a chill she could never get over.

Sana looked glum that Mary Jane felt down and placed her paws atop Mary Jane's hand in an attempt to comfort her.

Mary Jane thanked Sana as a little bit of warmth flooded back. "It's okay," she soothed the Spirit. "I'm okay. I just…miss him terribly is all." She winced when a deeper pain pounded at her chest. "You know, Mom, I think I will take you up on that offer for something to help with the pain," she rasped as she dropped the charm. "It's not letting up." She did not notice Katja and her mother exchanged a knowing look.

"I'll get look at the medicine cabinet," Katja proffered, already moving away. "I'll be right back."

With Katja gone, Mira came over to rub Mary Jane's back and let her daughter lean on her. "You've been a little up and down with Peter gone," she noticed. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"That's the thing, Mom. I was okay," Mary Jane stressed. "But then I just…" She scrambled for the right words. "I don't know. I'll be okay and be fine and, suddenly, I get all this pain and I start crying." She looked up at her mother for answers. "Am I really that sad and pathetic that I start randomly crying?"

"How do you stop feeling emotional?" Mira questioned.

Mary Jane chewed on her bottom lip in thought. "I don't know… Normally, I just lay down."

Mira hummed. "Do you normally lay down with Igneel's scarf?"

"Well, yeah." Mary Jane said that like it was the obvious answer. "It's still warm. I know it's weird, but, for some reason, it's like a nice little heater and I'm getting so cold lately with it being winter and everything." Another pang hit her, but it was nothing like a natural pain. It felt…punishing.

"Did you bring Igneel's scarf with you?"

Mary Jane grimaced. "Yeah. It's in my backpack."

"Here." Mira abandoned her daughter to go to the backpack. With ease, she found Igneel's scarf and gave it to her daughter. "I think you need this."

Mary Jane might not have seen how greedily she took Igneel's scarf, but her mother did. Mira watched through worried eyes when Mary Jane sunk her face into the material and took a deep breath. The tension that her body had contracted and the pangs that hit her and muddled her were banished and a deep relief came, a warmth that chased away the bone-chilling cold.

"I think the scarf is Magic," Mary Jane groaned. "Igneel's been hiding out on me. He probably enchanted the scarf." She peered up at her mother with happy eyes. "I feel so much better, Mom—" She paused when she saw tears gather in her mother's eyes. "Mom?"

Mira shook her head and waved a hand. "I'm sorry." She forced a smile and kissed Mary Jane's temple. "Now I'm getting emotional."

"Oh, Mom." Mary Jane lurched to give her mother a side hug. "No need to get emotional over this, I promise." She felt a tugging and saw Sana. "Want a hug too, Sana?"

"Pun!" Sana wasted no time to let Mary Jane put her in her lap and she snuggled against Mary Jane's bosom.

Mira closed her eyes to repress all the emotions she wanted to display. It's becoming stronger. Guilt and horror maimed her thoughts when all she could see was a bandaged boy with fierce green eyes. What have we done?

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 070

Imposters

私たちの中には詐欺師がいます！ 未来は不確かかもしれませんが、現在は気になります！

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The day was still young for Luke and he was severely thankful for that as he drowned himself in facts and knowledge with no plausible answers to his own question. His room, once again, looked like a wreck due to his own handiwork, but he did not care. His screen was filled with tabs on the Boundary Forest; however, he was most dedicated to the Lost in Time: Creatures of the Dark Ages with his brow furrowed as he pulled words from the book to translate into Minstrish, but the task did not come without its drawbacks.

At one point, Luke slacked, the spell gone, and the book fell to the ground. "I've never had to work so hard for a Translation Spell," he panted.

Cullen, the ever-helpful Shadower, came to Luke's aid with his water bottle.

Luke took it and tossed a smile. "Thanks, Cullen." He gulped down some water before he glared at the book causing him so much trouble. "This is harder than I thought to decrypt." He saw Cullen fidget and rushed to explain, "It's not like you haven't been a big help with the translations, but even without your help, maintaining a spell for this text is difficult." He sighed and put the water bottle to his forehead for some relief. "And it's not like I can ask Aunt Levy anymore. Mom said she's on some sort of excursion with the Archaeology Society with Uncle Gajeel. And, well…" His shoulders drooped. "It's not like I don't want to ask Gale, but it's just awkward, you know?"

Cullen shook his head before he left the room.

"You're lucky you're a Shadower." Luke grunted as he got up to toss himself onto the clear section of his bed. "You don't have to worry about social cues." Silence spun into the air and he closed his eyes to just breathe and relax. "I feel like I'm not getting anywhere." A disheartened comment. "I mean, sure, it's been a day, but I'm normally better than this."

Luke set down the bottle and took off his glasses to rub his eyes. "It's like Sensei didn't just drop off the face of Earth Land, but then all his research is a huge puzzle and I don't even see where the end corners are. If I could just decipher this stupid book…"

GARA-GARA-GARA…

Luke stopped rubbing his eyes to tip his head up and see Cullen had come back and he held a container with him. Luke recognized the container. To the average eye, the contained look like a dodecahedron that was etched with nonsensical symbols on each side, doused in white. But Luke knew better and he sat up abruptly. "Where did you get that?"

Cullen looked behind him and to the door then back to Luke.

"I know. I did say you could look around, but I didn't think you'd mean this." Luke came over to gently take the dodecahedron from Cullen. "We're lucky we were able to find one of these. On the outside, it's made of Ether, but the inside is made of Anti-Ether. Sensei calls it the 'Forever Container'." He frowned at the Shadower. "What were you doing with this?"

Cullen gestured to the Forever Container.

"You…" Luke's brow furrowed. "The inside. You could tell there was something inside?"

Cullen nodded.

Luke went to his desk to set down the dodecahedron. "Well, you're right. My little sister is pretty badass. The Demons she's faced all termed into these gemstones," he explained. "But it was hard for our guild mates who know about to know if the Demons were actually gone or if they could reform from those gemstones. So"—he tapped the shape—"we found the solution. As long as the stones are in here, the Demons shouldn't be able to revive themselves and cause more chaos."

Cullen slowly nodded, but then he pointed at Luke.

Luke quirked an eyebrow. "What about me?"

Cullen gestured from the shape to Luke and gave him two fingers then one.

"The Demons… Me…" Luke's eyebrows rose. "You can tell I'm half Demon?"

Cullen hesitated then nodded in his silent confession.

"Impressive," Luke gave the Shadower, a little put off. "Yeah, I'm half-Demon. Well, half-Etherious, a type of Demon. My dad's a complete Etherious Demon."

Cullen understood, but he gestured to the dodecahedron again.

Luke studied the shape until Cullen's gestures clicked. "You're trying to ask me what separates me from the Demons in here." He looked back at the Shadower. "Am I right?"

Cullen made a so-so gesture with a hand.

"The first thing I want to say is our intentions, but…" Luke remembered the life near dying from Gale's eyes due to his own hands. "I can't say I've never made mistakes that could have killed someone." He shook his head. "But we can at least feel remorse and love and emotion. These Demons are different."

Cullen shook his head.

Luke frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Cullen put up two fingers then one finger and went from the dodecahedron to Luke.

"We aren't one in the same," Luke countered irritably. "We aren't murderers, Cullen."

Cullen shook his head and it was amazing to see a silhouette that seemed almost frustrated. An idea must have come to him and he pointed at a lamp.

Luke guessed, "Light?"

Cullen eagerly nodded then he pointed to himself.

"Darkness."

Cullen nodded again and pointed to Luke's chest.

The realization donned onto Luke. "Everyone has light and darkness," he translated, though such a phrase was more troublesome than comforting. He swiveled back to study the container. "I guess I never considered that," he confessed. "Which is stupid. When my older sister was testifying for Gary, she said the same thing. Not all people associated with darkness and Curses are necessarily 'evil'." He waved over to Cullen. "You're a Shadower. Religious types think you're from Hell, but you'd never do anything to hurt them."

Cullen nodded.

Luke sighed and rested his cheek on his knuckles. "I guess it's not necessarily a far-fetched concept to think their species of Demon can have good and bad in them and we just got the bad ones," he supposed. "But it still makes me question why Demons are doing this in the first place. I know some people don't need motivation to be evil. I play lacrimagames that have the villain be unhinged for no reason. But it's not adding up what the Demons want to accomplish." The urge hit him and he had to keep talking.

"Orias was a Demon Nashi went up against. I don't know all the details about it, but she pretty much said Orias was collecting children," Luke explained. "Then, there was that Demon Zagan in the Arborea Summit. Sensei said it seemed like he was collecting people as experiments. Then, there was Forneus, but Igneel didn't explain much about it other than the scar he got. And then there was that Demon in Bellum too. He was collecting people. But why? Why even do all this?" He scratched his chest. "And there was Bluenote in Margaret Town. A Warlock. Someone contracted to a Demon. But why did he do all that? What was the reason?"

Luke sighed. "Cullen, am I reading too far into this? Have I gone crazy?" He turned to see the Shadower shake his head. "Yeah, well, I feel crazy." Letting out a yawn, he snatched the container. "I'll go put this back. I need a break." He hauled himself out of the chair. "Want to play some games when we're done? Yuuma should be online." He turned to catch Cullen's gesture when he saw Cullen staring out the window. "Cullen? You okay?"

It took Cullen a long time until he managed a nod.

Luke shrugged it off. "All right, well, I'll be back." He left the room.

Cullen glanced over his shoulder before he looked out the window. Shadows had been cast into the snow from the trees and whatnot. But he looked at the shadow of a random tree in the forest.

A shadow that was detached from its maker.

---

Whether Gale wanted to admit it or not, he very much needed to get out. With his parents gone and it being into the semester, his friends were hard at work with school or with actual work. It was not like he did not study, but considering he had graduated, he had very little guidance in what to study unless he wanted to visit The Society for their IQ-based independent study program. With training done for the day, he spent a good majority of his day at the Orchid State library to simply be around others and, at the same time, be alone in his study room.

The books he picked up were nothing. He had decided to do some more intensive reading in Cipanguese to keep up with his skills, but, for some reason, he found himself losing focus. Grunting, he paused in his reading. "This is stupid," he muttered. "The Hell is wrong with me."

No, he knew what was wrong with him.

And that "what" had blonde hair, brown eyes, and was forbidden.

Gale scrubbed his face. "Fuck it. I'm done for the day." He packed up his things into his bag before vacating the study room. He had some nods of greetings as he left the library and turned back in the keycard before he was waiting for the elevator to take him to the underground parking light. Before he could think of wrestling out his car keys, his Compact lit up with Olivia's contact. He did not hesitate to answer it. "Hey."

"Is Leo still being pouty?"

Gale snorted as he found his keys just as the elevator opened. He camped inside and pressed for the second underground level. "Glad to see you miss me, Liv."

"You know what I meant, smartass."

"Yeah, he's still in his emo mode," Gale sighed. "Not much to do about it. He's on a job, I think. Probably a short one, but he needs to do something other than getting fat and mope."

Olivia snickered. "I can contest to that." A beat. "Where's Mom and Papa?"

The elevator opened again and Gale departed to find the Lacrima Car his parents lent him for their time off. "With the Archaeology Society somewhere with the old man and I'm pretty sure she's going to give a lecture and he's going to try his best to have a second honeymoon with her."

"Ah. That again. Lovely," Olivia snorted. "What are you up to?"

Gale unlocked the car when he got to it and opened the driver's side. "You mean am I trying to plot Blondie's boyfriend's death as we speak? No."He closed the door behind him as he sat inside and immediately turned on the car to warm himself up. "I still have morals."

"Hmm. Loose morals."

"Morals are morals," Gale muttered as he went into his bag to find some gum.

"Seriously, Gale. How are you?" Olivia questioned. "How's therapy?"

Only Olivia could question him and he would not feel the urge to freeze up, only the reaction to sag his shoulders and slump over. He could make a snide remark, but exhaustion had worn him down. He stopped in his search to slacken in his seat and breathe. "I…started talking about her. About…Emma."

Silence.

"Are you ready to talk about her more?"

Gale exhaled through his nose. "I don't know," he murmured. "I know I should, I just…" He rubbed his forehead. "It's hard."

"I'd expect it to be," came Olivia's soft reply. "I only saw the tail-end of it and I know you've been hiding this for years before we ever knew, Gale. You're brave to start talking about her."

Gale shook his head. "I don't feel brave. I feel fucking stupid."

"Gale—"

"It's just so embarrassing," Gale croaked. "I'm not… I'm not supposed to…" He shook his head and sucked in a breath.

It sounded like Olivia had shifted before she spoke. "Gale, you're going to listen to me closely," she commanded. "Maybe what happened is embarrassing to you. You have a right to feel that way. But whatever did happen wasn't okay, embarrassment aside."

"Liv—"

"And I know I don't know everything," Olivia continued. "I know. But I'll keep telling you this until you accept what I'm saying: you were never at fault."

Gale's closed his eyes and swallowed. "Olivia," he said softly, painfully, "I'm not…" But he swallowed down the words he wanted to say and flexed his jaw. If I tell her, she'll get worried and call Mom… I don't want to worry her. "I'll get there," was what he settled on.

"That's all I want." She shifted in the background. "Ugh, I have to go before one of the twins finds me. Jian and I have some practice."

Gale simpered. "Jian, huh? That a guy?"

A huff of a laugh. "Shut up. Love you."

"Love you too. And if you need a re-education in safe sex—"

"Fuck you."

The call ended.

Gale opened his eyes as he chuckled. "Same ole Livy." He sighed through his nose as he brought down his Compact to check the time. "I don't want to stay here, but I don't want to go home. I can't relax at home." He went to the Fairy Tail app and decided to look at job listings. "Hey, Sycaña. What do you think about a little job?"

Oh? The Earth Dragon stirred, humming. Do you think that is wise?

"Not like I'm hurting for jewel or anything, but I just need to be away," Gale muttered as he scrolled. "Blondie will do fine with me here to spar." He stopped when he found a particular job that read:

⌜new

Transportation Escort

Infiorata Town, Fiore

う500,000

• Participate in onboarding of plants into truck

• Monitoring and aiding plants' overall health

• Escorting plants and transportation to designated facility

• A-Class Earth Magic required

2 days ago⌟

Gale scratched his cheek. "This sounds interesting. No time like the present to work with plants." He squinted at the location. "But Infiorata Town… That's close to the Boundary Forest, yeah?"

'Boundary Forest'?

"Yeah." Gale went to search for images of Infiorata Town. "It's a huge-as-shit forest filled with monsters and some rare stuff. I've never been there since it's close to Seven, but, hey, this could be my chance. Now that I'm an Earth Dragon Slayer, I'm sure it'll be nice to feel out the area."

Hmm… Sycaña rustled within his mind. And you are sure it is called the 'Boundary Forest'? I remember this area did have a forest, but it was never called that.

Gale synched his Compact with the car and classical music filled it. Strapping on his seatbelt, he grunted, "Yeah? What was it called back then?"

Tāne's Forest.

Gale scrunched up his nose as he stepped on the break and shoved the car into ⟪ Drive ⟫. "Why?"

It was said an ancient Spirit resided there, Sycaña informed. It was the Spirit of the forest. Of course, none had ever seen such a thing. But the energy there was exquisite for an Earth Dragon. There were times I could feel some sort of energy linger, but I never saw the source.

Gale pulled out of his spot and began to make his way up to the ground floor. "Welp. I'll take the job and maybe do some sightseeing while I'm there if the poster lets me. Maybe we'll see this mysterious 'Spirit'."

And your mate?

Gale scowled. "Not my mate," he growled. "She'll be fine, Sycaña. Not like she'll care I'm gone. She'll probably celebrate with her boy toy. Let it go."

Sycaña sighed. As you wish, Little Gem. And she retreated from him to nestle within the power she had gifted him.

Gale huffed as he broke to the ground floor and fought to get out his student pass to scan and leave the garage. She'll be fine. She'll be in Magnolia. She's safe. With that, he tried to let go of that little voice inside him that he was making a mistake.

---

DING-DONG!

Silver was the one to open the door and he beamed when he realized Luna was on the other side with Icarus. "Lulu!" He salivated when he saw the bags in her hands. "You brought us food!"

"Glad to see what you think is more important," Luna teased as she made her way inside. "I figured you and E might be hungry, so I wanted to surprise you guys with a late lunch." She handed Silver the food and tray of drinks while she got rid of her winter gear. "How is she?"

Silver blew out his cheeks. "She's a little stressed right now. One of the vendors mixed her order for matte princess blue in silk and did satin instead and there's this whole thing about robin's egg and turquoise, so she's been on the Compact." He shot Luna an accusing look. "Why didn't you tell me she knew Perench, Zhōnguánese, and Andüsan?"

"When would it come up in conversation?" Luna laughed. "And she's probably speaking Asúsú for the Andüsan language. She knows enough of those languages to chew someone out."

"Apparently so." Silver shot the hallway a wry look. "I get she threatens me, but it's even scarier hearing her do it in another language." He shivered. "I hope she never gets that mad at me to start speaking gibberish."

Luna giggled. "Don't be mad just because she's multilingual and awesome." When Silver huffed, she nudged him and whispered, "And how's it going with you and her?"

Pink steamed Silver's cheeks and he cleared his throat. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, shut it. You totally do," Luna admonished, simpering when Silver deliberately did not meet her eyes. "Silver, this won't get back to her. I promised you that, didn't I? And I keep my promises." When Silver still looked uneasy, she took the food from him. "Here. Let's set out everything and talk."

Silver tried to protest, but it did not matter when Luna was moving and Icarus followed her. He trailed after her, reluctant, and helped set up the coffee table for their late lunch. Luna had gone to Double Trouble for their food and had gotten all of them their favorite burgers with fries for him and her and cheesy fries for Ena. Icarus even had his own doggie bag and was grateful when Luna put down his bowl so he could eat.

"Now." Luna sat on the couch and made Silver sit with her. "What's going on? Have you told her anything?"

Silver shot her a wide-eyed look. "Are you crazy? Do you want me to die?"

"E wouldn't kill you if you confessed." Luna thought about it and her smile slipped into a sheepish one. "She might fatally injure you though…"

Silver sweatdropped. And that's assuring how? He shook his head and focused on his fries. "No, I haven't said anything because there isn't anything."

"Silver." Luna shot him one of those looks. "I did not have you nearly flood my house for you to lie to my face."

"I said I was sorry," Silver said weakly, shoulders sagging. "And it doesn't matter anyways that I l-l-li…l-li…th-that I…" He covered his mouth and mumbled out quickly, "ThatIlikeher—"

"Ah-ha!" Luna snapped her fingers. "So you do admit—!"

"That nothing will happen because it'll go away." Silver further insisted when Luna scowled, "It's just a crush, Lulu, it doesn't mean anything! They say it happens when you're around someone for a long time—"

"Who is 'they'?" Luna's eyes narrowed before they widened. "Aw, you did a Goggle search on this—!"

Silver hurriedly cut her off before he could wilt in embarrassment, "And anyways, we just started to be friends and she barely is even nice to me. So there's no way I could do anything about my crush that wouldn't leave me rejected." He shoveled in some fries.

Luna frowned at his admission. "When did rejection stop you with Paige?" she pointed out. "You literally didn't care about that. You just kept going."

"It's different, okay?" Silver muttered. "It just is. And she doesn't even want a relationship. To her, 'men serve a purpose'," he quoted in mocking. He shook his head. "She's so…so…cold about love."

Luna went to unwrap her burger. "Yeah, but I get where she's coming from." Her eyes zoned on her burger. "And, honestly, I don't blame her for not wanting a relationship. It's not like I can talk."

"Why?" Silver observed her. "Everything okay with you and Bleu?"

Luna sighed. "Yeah. He's just busy. I just need to be patient." She took a bite of her burger, chewed, and swallowed before turning to him. "But back to you and E—"

"There is no Ena and me, Lulu—"

"—I think you two would be cute together—"

"What?!"

Luna took another bite before answering a red-faced Silver. "What? I think you two would be cute," she cooed. "Can't you see it?"

"Well, yes, I—" Silver realized he had blurted the truth aloud rather than in his head and hated how Luna's face lit up. "No. I meant no, Lulu, don't start with those eyes."

Luna chortled. "I'm not doing anything with my eyes! I'm just excited!"

"Shouldn't you not want your best friends to date or like each other or something?" Silver desperately called out. "I mean wouldn't it be awkward for you?"

Luna lifted an eyebrow. "Can I remind you I'm currently training with Gale even after weeks ago, we said we loved each other, and I'm dating someone he hates?"

"Yeah…" Silver grinned. "That's a lot more awkward." He guffawed when Luna hit his shoulder before he sighed. "Honestly, I don't know what to do and I don't know if I want to do anything." He picked up his milkshake and swirled his straw around. "Sure, she didn't do a one-eighty with us being friends now, but… There are times when she gets really kind and considerate." His eyes shone as he remembered being snuggled into her.

"And being able to work with her? I get to just watch when her face lights up when she has an idea. And she'll go on these rants about it to me." A faint smile. "I might not understand everything she says, but… She's just so excited that I could listen to her all day." He played with his straw some more. "I don't want to ruin that, you know? She has so much going on and she made it clear she doesn't want anyone else in her life. I don't want to push her. I don't want to ruin everything going on. I just want to stay where I am. Is that so wrong?"

Luna put down her burger to shift her body towards Silver. "I've always admired E for so many reasons," she confessed. "E has this drive about her that I love. It's inspiring to see her work. I'm lucky to have her as a best friend." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's fine if you want to stay where you are. I get it. Just don't torment yourself, okay? You should think about your heart too."

Silver let out a brittle laugh. "I understand my mom and Gary a lot better," he told her. "It sucks she doesn't like me and probably never will. But I'd rather be here with her as her friend and her assistant than be somewhere else." He rubbed his jaw. "I feel like such a girl."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I feel pathetic—Ow!" Silver rubbed his shoulder. "Okay, yeah, I deserved that."

"You did." Luna broke into a little smile. "But I understand. You're not pathetic. You're just a person who likes someone and that's okay. The good thing is? You like someone who is amazing and talented and kind and beautiful inside and out and she can handle herself." She grimaced. "The bad thing is…"

"She'd rather kill me than kiss me," Silver said glumly.

"That's not true." Though, Luna sounded uncertain. "She didn't sound all that angry when you kissed her on New Year's, right?"

"Uh…" She just warned me she would kill me if I tried doing that again. No pressure or anything. "No?" He shook his head. "That's not the point. I know it'll suck she doesn't like me, but it is what it is. Let's leave at that, okay?"

Luna sighed. "Just…promise me if it gets too much for you, just talk to me, okay? I'm here to support you, Silver."

"I know that." Silver shot Luna a grateful smile, even if it was weak. "Thanks, Lulu."

She rubbed his shoulder affectionately before going back to her burger. "What are friends for?" She took a hefty bite and decided to change topics. "Now please tell me you're struggling like me in biology and can help me study?"

Silver cracked up. "You always say you're struggling, Lulu, but I know you're not. You just freak at new material for, like, a week or two, and then you ace all your tests no issue."

"Not true! I'm really worried!" Luna whined. "Please come and help me?"

"Heck no!" Silver laughed. "If I have you snap at me one more time because I highlighted some vocabulary word in red highlighter instead of blue, I will lose it."

Luna pouted and wanted to argue when Ena came storming into the living room, hair tossed into twin buns with her side braid still alive and fury in her eyes. "Well." She put down her Compact. "Everyone is incompetent to me and I want them fired."

Silver went back into assistant-mode and whipped out his Compact to take notes. "Who am I sending a termination contract to?"

"Christon Color Factory." Ena put her hands on her hips. "Incompetent. All of them. The order clearly was written for the colors to be eggshell white and they claim the kanji makes it hard to interpret. I sent that order in Zhōnguánese and in Minstrish a month in advance and they confirmed with me over Com. There are no excuses. I want them gone."

"Okay." Silver began to type. "What about the silk?"

Ena tossed back her head for a terse breath. "We'll have the silk by the end of next week which will put me three days behind. During those three days, I want to bump up the interview, cancel my Tuesday at eleven, move it to Monday at two. On Tuesday, I want a team meeting."

"Of course." Silver looked at their joint calendar to try and sift through the slots already in place.

Ena looked at Luna. "Hi, L. I'm sorry. I'm angry."

"It's okay," Luna assured. "I brought lunch."

"I'm too angry to eat," Ena groused. "People are ridiculous. Who in their right mind can mix up turquoise and robin's egg? I did not design a dress for turquoise. It's specifically for robin's egg. I made a silk ribbed blouse, not a satin blouse."

DING-DONG!

Silver perked. "I'll get it—"

"Sit," Ena snapped in command. "I've got it." She stormed to the front door.

Luna looked over at a rather calm Silver. "You took her anger rather well."

"I tried once to calm her down and she threw needles at me," Silver explained with a wince. "It's better to let her get angry than for her to kill me."

Luna giggled as she heard quiet murmuring and footsteps. "True." She looked over Silver and her eyebrows rose. "Jasper?"

"Huh?" Silver turned and his eyes narrowed when he saw Jasper come inside and Ena had lost her anger to show him a tired smile. "What is he doing here? U-Uh…" He realized how whiny he sounded and could not stand Luna's amusement. Clearing his throat and trying to hide his blush, he explained, "I don't have him on the schedule."

"Mmm-hmmm…" Luna waved over to Jasper. "Hi, Jasper! Long time no see!"

"Hi, Luna," Jasper greeted warmly. "Hey, Bullet."

Under Luna's watchful eye, Silver tried for a smile. "Hey, J. I didn't know you were coming over today. I thought you'd be in class."

"I had a morning lecture and lab at Tri-C, but I don't need to be back at my high school until a little later," Jasper explained. He showed off his camera bag and messenger bag. "I came by to show Miss Ena some of the edits for the summer line."

"Oooh!" Luna perked. "Can I see? I've been meaning to ask you some questions about Infinity."

"Sure!" Jasper looked down at Ena. "Is that okay with you?"

"Well, at least someone will be happy," Ena supposed in a sigh. She patted Jasper's arm. "Come on. We'll talk in the study and you can show me your things. L, do you mind if Jasper and I get business out of the way, and then you can join us?"

"Sure!" Luna said brightly. "Go on! Do you want to take your lunch with you?"

"In a minute," Ena told her. She gestured to Jasper. "Come."

Jasper snickered as he followed her out of the living room. "And here I was going to offer if you wanted to get something before I had to head back to school. Do you have any dinner plans?"

"And if I say, 'yes'?"

"Then, I'll drop the subject and awkwardly bring up something else."

Ena chuckled as she opened the study door. "Am I allowed to drink?"

"That bad of a day, huh?" Jasper chuffed. At Ena's snort, he assured, "A drink for the fashionista it is if it means you'll have dinner with me."

Ena contemplated for a moment then decided, "Sure. But keep it cheap." And she shut them into the study.

Luna hummed in thought as she heard the study door close. "I didn't realize Jasper and E are close," she realized. "Does he come over often?"

"Not really." Silver sounded troubled, though. "I see him at swim practice and team dinners, but I haven't really seen him since the photoshoot." He looked at Luna. "Don't the two of you get dinner together?"

"Not always," Luna answered. "Sometimes, it's me and her or Luke comes, or it's us three, but I don't know what she does when I can't get dinner with her." She tipped her head. "If she was getting dinner with Jasper, I feel like she'd tell me, but I'm not sure."

"But why would they need to eat together?" Silver coughed under Luna's humored scrutiny and muttered, "I'm just saying they don't have much in common, so what would they even talk about?"

Luna shrugged. "I don't know." She could register how uncomfortable Silver had gotten and wanted to alleviate the tension. "Silver, I'm sure it's not a big deal," she soothed. "Dinner doesn't have to mean something. Maybe they're getting to be friends."

"Yeah, I know," Silver mumbled as he fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "But she always turns me down when I ask if she's free for dinner… She doesn't even tell she'll think about it."

Internally, Luna growled, Come on, E, I thought we talked about playing nice. "I'm sure she's just…busy," she found herself saying lamely, but even she winced at her words. "You know E can get. She gets wrapped up in her work—"

"I guess tonight she isn't." Silver turned his head away and rubbed his cheek.

Luna frowned in sympathy. "Silver—"

Abruptly, he got to his feet. "I should go make some tea for her lunch." He rushed away without a look back.

Luna sighed as Icarus came over to lay at her feet. Icarus? Why are feelings so hard? She took a hefty bite of her burger and stuffed in some fries. I don't know what to do. It's not like E's in the wrong or anything. But I don't want Silver hurt…

This is something the pair of them will have to figure out on their own, Icarus told her. She is well within her right to reject romance. He can long for her all he wants, but he is smart enough to recognize she owns her feelings and not him. He nosed her leg. It's not your place to interfere.

Yeah, I know. I just wish both of them could be happy in the end. Luna wiped her hands on the napkins before she patted Icarus' snout. Looks like someone always has to be unhappy in the end.

Even you?

Luna hesitated. I'm not unhappy, she reasoned. Bleu's just busy and, well…you saw the vision, didn't you? He was proposing to me and I must have said, 'yes'—

But how do you know you did? Icarus gently questioned. Your visions aren't fate, pup; they are destiny. It may be a potential path, but it is not your permanent one.

You don't know that, Luna argued albeit weakly. We don't know anything about my Second Spirit outside the visions. Tapping into it is either random or when I do concentrate on it, it saps the life out of me.

I think it's worth training in, Icarus advised. Future sight in its clarity is a rare gift to have. More have prophetic abilities or get future glimpses, but you are able to see Fate and Destiny. Honing that ability might save you or others from harm.

Luna sighed again. "Yeah, I know," she murmured. "I guess it's back to meditating for me." She noticed her Compact had lit up and checked her notifications. A message from her mother came in.

⌜MESSAGES

Mama

Make sure you come home after lunch! And remember, while we're away, keep to the area. We love you!⌟

Luna huffed. "Geez. I'm not going to run off on a solo mission." But she texted her mother to placate her regardless. "I hate having to stay home every time my parents leave."

They're just worried about you, Icarus assured.

More like hovering. Luna grabbed some fries as she went to Twit and scrolled mindlessly through the feed. I get I'm not strong, but I've been improving too. Hey! She swallowed her fries and asked, "You think they'll let me go to the Inter-Guild camp this year in Mount Altana?"

Icarus cocked his head. What is this 'Inter-Guild'? Another Magic Pack?

Luna set down her Compact and launched into a raving description of the Inter-Guild training camp, she never saw that her feed had scrolled down for a Twit from news station to display a picture of the castle of Alvarez with the following message:

⌜Insider of the royal family states: "His Majesty has declared that, while the First Prince will be absent during the press conference regarding the alleged heirs, the First Prince will return for a special announcement and the rumor is it might be about an engagement".⌟

---

With breakfast long since done and a lunch already consumed, the Dreyar family spent their time between the living room and the dining room. Velvet and Mira enjoyed their tea time with a happy Lynx Spirit at their feet. Laxus had the news broadcast up while he worked on his PAL. Another Celestial Spirit had made their appearance. This was a male Star Spirit who was dressed rather lavishly in a series of deep blues, teal, and violet. He was the Celestial Spirit of the Peacock and it made sense with that luscious cape of his that, when fully stretched, looked like elongated feathers and were hypnotizing to look at. He and Laxus were going over assets Laxus had inherited from Makarov, various antique trades, and so forth.

With no more school work, Mary Jane kept her entertained with Sana and Therium. The Herculean man with ears and a tail was quite the partner to practice her Cribbage card game and Sana was a little stinker who helped out both parties.

Katja swept in and announced, "Mister Makarov is awake." She turned to Laxus and Mira with soft eyes. "I'd still advise one visitor at a time. He's in good spirits, but we don't want to overwhelm him. Pippoko is glued to his side."

"We understand." Mira gestured to his husband. "Why don't you go first?"

Laxus stood and came over to his wife to give her a gentle kiss. "I'll be right back." He followed Katja back down the hallway.

Mary Jane took a shaky breath. Sana noticed her nerves and came to her side in comfort. Therium lost focus on his "crib" for his tail to droop. "Is everything okay, Miss Mary Jane?" he asked, worried. "If it's about Mister Makarov, you have nothing to fear."

"I know, but…" Mary Jane folded her cards down and toy with her acorn button. "The last time we spoke, he thought I was my sister…"

Therium understood her worry. "Stay for as long as you can handle. We'll all be waiting for you out here when it's your turn." He cocked his head when Mary Jane bobbed her head and swallowed. Setting down his cards, he opted to pour another class of iced tea. "I haven't been with Queen-Alpha for long and Mister Makarov and Miss Katja. What was Mister Makarov like before?"

An automatic smile unraveled on Mary Jane's lips. "He was the best granddaddy ever," she described. "He was always so fun to be around. He had all these stories and he always snuck me gifts when my parents weren't looking. We'd always play together and he'd show me some of my great-great-granddaddy Yuri's collection and tell me stories." She sighed over the fond memories. "I always loved visiting him and when he was able to come visit us. And seeing Pippoko was always fun too."

Therium chuckled. "I like Beta Pippoko. He always has so much to say."

That got Mary Jane curious. "You can understand him?"

Therium's ears flicked. "It comes with the territory."

"Right." Mary Jane giggled behind a hand. "That would make sense." She glanced at the hallway. "Well, since my parents will be first, let's keep up with cribbage." She got him unaware with a grin. "You better be prepared. I'm almost at one-twenty-one."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

And then…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mary Jane and Therium had switched to poker after all when Mira had come out of the hall. She spotted her eager daughter and had to smile and incline her head. "He's ready for you."

Mary Jane beamed. "Okay!" She set down her cards and offered Therium an apologetic smile. "Is it okay if we finish this a little later?"

Therium opened his mouth, but it was Mira who answered, "I can take over if you'd like?"

Therium looked a little scared at the gleam in Mira's eyes while Mary Jane snickered and got up. "You're welcome to do so, Mom, just please don't clean him out," she requested. She noted Sana looked ready to follow her and winced. "Sana, would you be okay if you waited for me? I promise I'll come back."

Sana pouted, but she nodded. "Pun-pun…"

"Thank you." Mary Jane took a breath and headed down the hall where Katja was waiting. Still, even with the door right there, Mary Jane hesitated. "Are you sure he wants to see…me?"

Katja patted her shoulder and explained as delicately as she could, "He is generally aware his guests are people familiar to him, but he's having trouble putting names and faces together."

"Really?" Mary Jane felt her stomach drop.

"I won't lie. He had a little trouble with your mother and his words are a little broken." Katja searched Mary Jane's face. "Are you sure you want to go on?"

Mary Jane gulped and jerked her head. "I want to see him."

"Try to let him approach you first," Katja reminded. "Keep the conversation simple. Let him lead. If he starts to get agitated, just let me know. I'll be right here, okay?"

Mary Jane nodded and strengthened herself, but as she headed into the room, trepidation lined her gut. The bedroom her grandfather resided in was not too large for him, but it was full of contrasting colors to make it easier on her grandfather. He had his own bathroom, though the door had been taken out. The inside of the bedroom door was painted in a bright blue and the light switch had emboldened ON and OFF stained onto the outlet. The bed sheets were a nice white on her grandfather's hospital, the same as Pippoko's dog bed, and the wood floor was clear of any clutter. Her grandfather might look frail to the untrained eye, but she still saw him as the Giant of Fairy Tail. He had officially shaved his hair and allowed his beard to grow out, but she recognized those laugh lines.

Makarov sat at his window-side table in his wheelchair as he enjoyed the light that came in the scenery of the snowy lands outside. Pippoko remained at his side in his harness with his cane on standby. It looked like he had been given some tea to drink. Mary Jane felt her eyes heat as she smiled.

Makarov turned to face her, but there was little recognition in his eyes. He offered a wan smile. "Ah. Katja told me you're my babochka…"

⌜AMBROSIA VILLAGE

Name: Makarov Dreyar

Occupation: Ex-Guild Master

Likes: glitter Dislikes: milk bread

Special Note: Even with his Alzheimer's, Makarov Dreyar is revered as a great Wizard!⌟

"Hi, Deda," Mary Jane greeted warmly as she tried to repress all those tears she desperately wanted to let out. "My name is Mary Jane. It's nice to see you again."

Makarov perked at the term of endearment. "You speak Alkyztik?"

"Only a little," Mary Jane confessed as she came over to the other chair to sit down. "I was taught a little bit, but studying it alone was hard. I hear Papoolya speak it and I know Nik is pretty proficient, but I'm not as good as them."

Makarov faintly nodded. "Your otets is…Laxus?"

"Da." Mary Jane poured herself a cup of tea and tried to keep her hand from shaking.

"Nik… Nikolai…" Makarov tested the name. "Brat… Brat…" His brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to think of the word.

Mary Jane assisted him. "He's my older brother," she supplied. "I have two older brothers, Nikolai and Lance, and an older sister, Veronika." She looked up at her grandfather as she blew on her cup of tea, but Makarov seemed to have lost interest in the conversation. It might have stung, but from all the conversations Mary Jane had with her grandfather, she knew it was coming. "It was nice to have snow on Christmas this year. Winter looks so beautiful." She stared out the window and sipped her tea with shaking hands and a heavy heart.

Keep the talking light, she reminded herself. Don't cry. It's okay.

"It snowed…so beautifully there…"

Mary Jane turned her attention onto her grandfather, but she dared not interrupt him when she saw a faraway look in his eyes.

"The country…so beautiful in winter," Makarov rasped. "There were songs… Yes… Songs sung by children… Such a beautiful song…" His lips twitched. "I liked their songs… The castle looked so pretty during winter."

Does it mean the Mercurius? Mary Jane wondered, but she withheld asking any questions. Instead, she agreed, "I'm sure it was."

It went on like this for a few minutes. Makarov would insert his soft comments about the beauty of winter in this mysterious country and castle and Mary Jane murmured her agreement to placate him. In that time, Makarov's chest rumbled in a chuckle. "The palace gardens always had such wonderful lights…" He raised a shaky finger to the window. "Do you see them? So beautiful… Just like how I remembered…"

Mary Jane's stomach churned. He's hallucinating. I better get Miss Katja. She set down her tea to try and rise from her seat. "Very pretty," she agreed. "I'd better—"

"Yajeel wanted to see them one last time before he died." Despair drenched in the words.

That gave Mary Jane pause and she accidentally blurted, "Who?"

Makarov's hands tremored a little. "They killed him, you see." A hushed whisper. "He knew too much. He always knew too much. So they killed him. And they'll kill me next."

Fear pumped into Mary Jane. "Granddaddy, no one is going to kill you," she promised. "Let me get Miss Katja—" She bit her lip when Makarov reached to grab her wrist. "Granddaddy—"

"They're already here, you see." Makarov's eyes were fogged like he was physically here but he was not mentally present. "They've been trying for years to find the Spriggan's true heirs. They found the three. But they didn't know there was a fourth. We all know too much."

Mary Jane wanted to shout for Katja, but she knew it was too much of a risk to cause a scene. "What do we know?" she questioned instead.

"We knew about the fourth," Makarov insisted. "The Spriggan's blood runs through them. They're alive. And they will be forced to lead." He let go of Mary Jane's wrist as his shoulders slackened. "Yajeel knew too much. He knew Jacob never wanted non-blood to stand where he stood. It was a ruse. Why didn't he listen to me?"

Mary Jane edged towards the door. "Granddaddy, I'll be right back, okay? I just want to tell Miss Katja something."

"Why didn't he listen to me?" Makarov's face contorted into anger. "Jacob, Kareem—they never wanted him to stand where he stood. The Spriggan will live on. He lives on in those four poor kids." He suddenly looked at Mary Jane with a strange expression. "You need to control him." Blank words. "The Spriggan will run strong in him as the Demon runs strong in the other. It'll be just like before. August. It will repeat itself. You have to control him before August."

But all those sentences baffled Mary Jane and made her heart race. "Wh-Wh-What?" She shook her head. "N-No! I don't want to control anybody—!" She glanced at the door. "Granddaddy, please, just let me get Miss Katja—"

"But you must!" Makarov's voice grew loud. "It will happen in August! He won't survive without you in August! Control him before the Spriggan returns!"

Katja slowly opened the door. "I heard a little yelling." Her eyes settled on the rattled Makarov. "Oh, my. What's wrong, Mister Makarov?"

"August!" Makarov hissed this at a startled Mary Jane. "It will happen in August, girl, don't you see? You have until August! No one will survive after August!"

Katja carefully pulled Mary Jane back. "She understands, Mister Makarov," she promised. "She has until August." She murmured to Mary Jane, "Would you be okay waiting outside? I think Mister Makarov is done with visitors today, I'm afraid."

Mary Jane felt burning in the back of her eyes and jerkily nodded. "Yes," she croaked. "I'll just, um…" She turned and went for the door.

"You can't run away from him, girl!" Makarov cried after her. "Don't let history repeat itself!"

Mary Jane was in the hall and closed the door behind her when streams of tears and heaps of dread crashed down around her. Breath quickened, she caught her parents had come around the corner with concern blatant on their faces and ready to comfort her. But she just… She just could not. She ignored their frets when she darted past them and blindly sifted around for the one thing that made her felt safe.

Igneel's scarf.

The moment the material was in her fingertips, her knees felt weak and she dropped to the ground to let out a startled cry. She could barely feel her parents' touch nor the worried Sana hovering and giving a low "pun". Her grandfather's words rushed in her ears and brought along a panic she never wanted to feel again. Her blood rang cold as fears swarmed her and her skin felt like ants crawled upon him. A semblance of a warning was shoved in her mind. Those words were not the words of a man losing his mind. They were a warning. A threat. And just knowing that made Mary Jane sick all over again and her thoughts massacred into terror.

It was then she felt a familiar nudge. No more whispers plagued her, but that nudge of power—that little seep of madness—it frightened her.

No, she whimpered when she felt its pull. I just… I need to calm down. I'm not weak. But it was easy to say that and much harder to do so. The seep of power sought the weak points of her mind and she felt a shiver go down her back the second she felt it try to embrace her. She shoved back as her sobs turned to hiccups and vaguely heard her parents calling for her. Please… Go away...! I just…! I need to calm down. Stay calm. Just stay calm. But she could not. She felt her heart leap up her throat and her body shook.

It was sudden when a warm cloaked her that was not her own. It did not feel like warmth from the sun or a blanket. It felt like…a body had cocooned her. A sigh of warm breath paced her neck and a rumble hit her ear. MJ.

"Laxus… He's here." It sounded like her mother. Why did she sound so fearful?

Her father growled. "I know. Dammit. We need to…"

But Mary Jane could not hear anything else he said. She screwed her eyes shut and kept Igneel's scarf pressed to her face as that warmth swelled and rubbed against her skin, the only comfort that felt like comfort. Maybe if she were more aware, she would know her father had picked her up and was carrying her off, but she could not feel him. In her desperation, she whimpered, "Igneel, don't go."

The warmth flamed around her and a whisper swirled around. Never.

She felt her body had hit something soft. A bed. She was in a bed. She pulled the scarf away for her eyes to flutter open and the world looked fuzzy to her. She could the faces of her parents as her mother ran a hand down her cheek. "Mom?"

But her mother looked sad and resigned all in one go. "It's okay," she assured. "We'll watch over you."

"But…" Exhaustion suddenly weighed upon Mary Jane and she had no room for confusion. Her eyes felt heavy and so did her body. The grip on Igneel's scarf tightened and she took a deep breath of that lingering scent. Dying embers, an alluring spice, a hint of sweat, and something else she could not place, but it made the threat—the warning—her grandfather had disturbed her with into a distant memory. Her lips parted as a sigh escaped her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Igneel…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

It never registered to her as odd where she was or maybe she was just too exhausted to care. The warmth that cocooned her had expanded and she felt a buzz of Magic all around her. Nothing threatening, however. It felt familiar. Why was it so familiar? Strong arms had embraced her, nurtured her, and she was flushed into a chest. But nothing about this felt odd to her either. It felt soothing. The power that tried to infect her was gone. Thoughts of dread and anxiety were forbidden. She was at peace.

Drearily, her eyes cracked open to reveal violet irises. A naked chest was the first thing she saw as she stirred. "Mmmm…"

A hand came down to thumb her cheek. "Sleep, MJ."

"Igneel?" she questioned. Not out of confusion. She just needed assurance.

"It's me." He kissed her forehead. "I'm here. You were scared. But I've got you now."

Tears sprung up loosely and trickled down her cheeks. "August," she rasped. "I need to…remember… Granddaddy…"

"Shhhh…" He kissed her tears away. "Nothing will happen."

Mary Jane tried to shake her head as she sniffled. "August… He said…August…"

"MJ, open your eyes."

Mary Jane did so and tearful violet flashed with sincere emerald.

Igneel lay flushed against her, half-naked, out of breath, but he was present. He was here. And he would not let her go when she was scared. He murmured, "Do you trust me?"

Mary Jane nodded. "Yes, but…"

"Nothing will happen," Igneel vowed without a hint of doubt. "I'll protect you."

Mary Jane tried to shake her head as her hand went out to his cheek and traced his jaw. "But what about you?"

"I'll be okay," Igneel assured as he leaned into her touch. Carefully, he turned to press a kiss into her wrist. "I won't let anything happen to you. I'm right here."

Mary Jane still was uncertain. "I have to protect you too," she insisted in a low whimper. "You're my…" But she could not remember the word. "You're my…my…" Confusion set in but so did frustration that she was so close to figuring out something that had plagued her.

His eyes softened when he felt her frustration. "I know. I'm yours and you're mine," he hushed. He kissed her forehead then her nose and he hovered over her lips. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," he promised. "I have to be okay if I'm going to be the one to make you smile." His eyes flicked to her lips then to her eyes in silent question.

Mary Jane nodded.

Gently, he slanted his lips atop hers…

…and she responded in kind.

The kiss was warm and full of care and love and comfort. It lasted for a short while before Igneel pulled away to kiss her cheek. "I love you, y'know," he murmured to her.

"I love you too." Mary Jane felt her bottom lip quiver as more emotions tugged on her.

Igneel snuffled her under his chin. "Sleep, MJ," he murmured. "You won't be afraid here, I promise."

"Don't leave me," she whimpered as she shifted. "Don't go again. Please don't go. Stay this time, please."

A pang hit him and his tongue thickened. He could not lie. But he could not tell the truth either. Instead, his chest rumbled into what sounded like a pleasant purr. Within a minute after listening to the purr and his heartbeat, she fell fast asleep in the protection and shelter he provided. He could feel her emotions. They were mangled a little, but it was due to the fear and apprehension. Most of it had bottomed out with them being close and she felt a selfless love and longing.

"August," he repeated, a note of anguish in his voice. "Shit." He looked around the place he had haphazardly pulled them to. Grass covered the area with an endless blue sky bothered with a few wispy clouds. They were beneath a tree with one of its load-bearing branches harboring two rope-and-wood swings. A blanket had been rolled out beneath them. For once, he was glad she was too emotional to notice where they were. He had been desperate.

"Just give me some more time," he pleaded. "I promise you, MJ, the second I'm done, I'll come for you. Please wait for me a little longer. Be my strong Wendy." He curled around her and took comfort in her scent. He might not be able to physically be close to her, but this was the only thing he had left.

Still… He had one more thing to do before he could fully indulge in the one he kept close and relax with her.

Igneel stroked Mary Jane's back as he closed his eyes. His lips moved.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"We have until August."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Laxus stiffened when he heard that voice, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Irritated, he paced the side of the bedroom while Mira had laid beside her daughter in an effort to keep her calm and dry her tears. "Penelope taught him this," he growled. "Why?"

"I don't know." Mira stroked the sleeping Mary Jane's cheek. "But I'm beginning to think she was right."

Laxus stopped to glare at her. "She had no right interfering with this," he hissed. "She's too young to understand."

"Is she though?" Mira offered her husband a sad look. "She and Pearson would be probably the only people to understand, Laxus. You felt it for yourself." Those cerulean eyes turned back to Mary Jane. "We thought what we did was for the best—"

"And it was—!"

"But how can we know that now?" Mira countered. "Laxus… Maybe we were too emotional to think rationally when we—"

Laxus was shaking his head, body poised for a fight. "Mira, don't," he snapped. "She was a child, for god's sake! She was just my little butterfly!" Lightning flashed in his eyes. "He had no right to do that to her—!"

"And he was a child too," Mira reminded, timbre soft. "They were both children, Laxus. You can't blame them for being children."

But Laxus was snarling away. "She's just a child, Mira! She doesn't understand! They both don't understand! They were too young to make that decision then and they're still too young now," he insisted.

Mira sighed. This was getting nowhere. "One way or another, Laxus, it won't matter what you think." She leaned down to kiss Mary Jane's temple and brush back her bangs. "We have until August." She did not need to look up when she heard Laxus angrily leave the bedroom and shut the door behind him. She sighed instead. "We'll figure this out, baby," she promised Mary Jane. We have to or…

But she could not bear to finish the thought.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Meanwhile, elsewhere…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The jungle was almost impenetrable and was thick with a visible heat and fog. Nature gurgled around from the croaks to the snarls to the twitches that showed a predator had captured prey. With little sunlight and more vegetation, it was a madhouse for hunting and survival. Unruly at best, unstable at worst. Magical creatures crept alongside their nonmagical counterparts. Another breed of Wyvern lived out here in smaller hordes, their scales a murky green and they might have been one of the biggest predators here, but they were smaller than their regular forest counterparts. Even the little ponds found here and there were traps set. Water magical creatures lured in their prey before grabbing them and killing them underwater. It looked like a jaguar had succumbed to that fate.

They had hidden in the trees which was a far safer fate than hiding on the ground. He was on scouting duty as he watched from his perch with his enhanced vision honing on an unnatural camp that attempted to hide from his Sight. Past a field of Illusion Magic, he witnessed people that were forced in cages and chains, gaunt and desperate for food or drink. But those people were not just people—many were Aberrants with tails, ears, scales, fur. He spotted a few intelligent Chimaera, one of which was hiding her cub from their fate.

His ears twitched as he listened to the people parading about in their half-masks mutter in a foreign language that had an accent similar to Sinnish, but it was not quite that. His eyes narrowed and he focused on one of the tents. The man who existed had a blank look on a face and looked so odd to be in a jungle in a suit, but here he was. A chained leash was in his hands and he seemed to be tugging out a young man that had been tainted. Darkness marked his body as he foamed at the mouth like a rabid dog. One of the half-masked men approached and seemed to talk to this suited man, but he could not get a read on what they were saying.

A cool touch breached his mind. Report, came soft command.

He snorted. His Majesty is busy? He winced when he felt reprimand in his mind. An exchange is going on. Just like we thought. They're experimenting on the whole lot. More Aberrants than anything. Probably tryin' to activate a hidden gene again. He shook his head in disgust. Humans. He stood up on his perch. Not sure if this transport is going to Tamamoro, but we're close. He felt the channel was open and she heard what he said, but he felt out her concern and now it made him worried. What is it?

Hesitation.

Now he grew wary. Well, no need to hold back now, sheila, what happened?

It will happen in August.

He felt his body tense. Shit. Did he at least give a year? Or would that be too obvious?

It doesn't matter, came dismissal. We need to be prepared. We've moved fast within these two months. If it's this August, we need to move faster.

He sighed. Right. See what I can do topside. You stay here with His Majesty. Now he hesitated. How is he? If he's awake, we should—

He's with her.

He cursed. Dammit. Now? He couldn't hold off for, like, another day or so?

I felt his fear and it nearly consumed me, came admission. Something must have happened. We were tailing the vehicles when he couldn't focus. I'm watching his body, but… A trail off.

But he knew where she was going. Why the Hell can't we just kidnap her again? She sounds troublesome, but if it means he calms the fuck the down—

You haven't seen the life-force she possesses, came calm answer. She is needed with Her. It isn't our place, anyway, to determine where she is.

Yeah. Not until August. He focused back on the camp as he watched the suited man exchange the leash to who appeared to be his assistant while he took out a pocket watch to check the time. Looks like the deal wrapped up. I'll follow them out to the border, see if they're headed for Tamamoro. Will you be okay on your own?

Always. Don't forget to check-in. And try not to hunt. We can't afford another slip-up.

Those LV reporters are leeches, he grumbled as he crouched before springing onto another branch and then another and another. See you later.

°•°•°•°

She felt the channel nearly close, but the link was threadbare and ready to be ripped open in times of emergency. She let out a sigh as she settled within the cave. It was the best place she could find for a hiding spot as it dug high into the mountainside. Only those with proper climbing equipment or wings could get into the cave with its curtains of dripping roots and whines and moss, but even then, they would never make it past the expanded borderline she had summoned. The cave was none-too-deep, but it was obvious that one of the little nooks connected it to a much larger network of caverns. They would not need to know about them. They just needed to be safe.

She sat crisscrossed as the gemstone on her forehead glistened and she sighed and touched the jewel. "I know," she murmured. "I am worried too." She took a deep sniff of the cave and, yes, she smelt its sweaty earthiness and natural grime. She caught his scent full of flames tampered with a feral, dark, and twisted edge. She caught his fear that slowly ebbed away. But when she felt around for the auras around her, she felt someone else was with them in spirit but not in mind. She felt her. She felt a shared bond that lived a fraying half-life.

August, she repeated. We have until August. Her eyes shifted to the body she guarded, taut with muscle and a hardened feral edge that would never go away. His skin was marked with a few scars, but she saw it while he tried to deny it. The scar on his stomach was darkening and those who scented it could smell a twisted darkness that smelled like death and madness.

The body quivered and even with him unconscious, his lips curled up in a snarl. Power and aggression waved off him and choked the cavern air. It affected her as her gemstone gleamed and she felt the urge to bow her head in submission, but she knew he was not exuding this dominance as a challenge. No. This was a male who was growing agitated his Truth, his life, was not right here. Like every other time this happened when he was too wound up in her to think about the mission they had ahead, she breathed and expanded her own powers. It mangled with his own and for a moment, like always, she stilled when he snarled even louder, angry someone was trying to deny him his right. But, like always, that only lasted for a moment as she pushed past his aggression and suppressed it with nurturing thoughts. She dragged out the memories he thought he could keep away. Memories of his youth, of her. And, like always, he relaxed, abated for now.

She sighed and opened her eyes to watch him, to study the scar, but—oh, this was new. A streak of black had sullied those gold-touched locks.

She knew what that meant.

The gemstone fizzled and she heard a low growl. It was not an angry one; it was out of pure worry.

"I know," she whispered as she touched the jewel to placate it. "I did what I could to facilitate the connection for her powers, but if I still can't do enough…" She shook her head. Enough of that. I cannot afford to think like that. He'll be fine. Her fingers threaded each other and locked together. We have until August.

---

The place Petra had chosen for the interview was more discrete than how most interviews would go where they would meet at a café or elsewhere. Instead, Petra had summoned Nashi to come to her place of work where the security was high and she could still have a sense of privacy. Still, to be safe, Nashi had cast a spell over herself to get back those black locks and beauty mark. Býleistr played the spoiled fat cat (much to his displeasure) as Nashi walked up the steps of a rather large building with asymmetrical architecture and half made of glass.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the DREAM building, home of Fiore's DREAM magazine employees. From advertising to the editorial staff to interns to photography, the building has around seven thousand employees staffed and is growing. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi came up the steps and passed by security without a hitch once she showed them her badge. The inside of the building was quite the spectacle. Covers from previous issues glowed on holographic screens alongside news reports around the world and interviews going on. Clocks from every time zone were posted on the walls. Security was at a standstill in their suits, DREAM SECURITY jackets, and shades. The receptionists were warm and welcoming people and it pleased Nashi to see an Aberrant receptionist who had been born with rabbit ears and a cute little nose. She stepped up to reception and readied her Magic to alter her voice as she took off her sunglasses.

"Hello. I'm here to see Petra Cromwell." Nashi showed her badge to prove it.

One of the receptionists checked it over and beamed. "Right. Let me call her to let her know."

As the receptionist went to the Communications Lacrima to call, Nashi took a moment to look around. Wow… This place is so big. She grinned down at a huffy Býleistr hanging about in the fluffy carrier she had brought for him. Feeling fancy yet?

Shut up. Býleistr's tail flicked. I understand why kitties hate being put in these. My feet can't touch the ground. This is unnatural for a cat.

Oh, so you admit you're a—

Shut the fuck up.

The call was over and done and the receptionist gestured to the right. "Please take one of those elevators to the sixth floor. A receptionist there will guide you back."

"Thank you." Nashi shoved on her shades and strut over to the elevator. She could feel a few appreciative stares befall her, but she dismissed them. None of them mattered to her. You think this was a good idea? she thought to Býleistr. Master recommended a Compact interview, but it just didn't feel sincere enough for my message.

DING!

Nashi hopped in the elevator and barely moved out of the way when an attractive man and woman pairing came in and Nashi had to do a double-take before forcing herself not to look again. The woman was a striking plump curvy and pulled off her pantsuit and heels well. Her eyes were an interesting yellow-green and she dared wear a choker to work. The man was more of an enigma, but Nashi instantly did not trust that grin on his face nor those magenta eyes and she rolled her eyes when she felt his gaze.

He cleared his throat for her attention. "What floor, sha?"

"Excuse me?" Nashi remarked, wrenching up an eyebrow. "What did you call me?"

He chuckled. "Excuzamias, ma chéri," he pardoned in a cross between Perench and a southern drawl that was unfamiliar to Fiore. "Not from around this turf. It was just a little somethin' to call the sweetest things like you." He ignored his female companion who was heavily rolling her eyes.

"Sixth floor, please," Nashi said tersely.

The man pressed the floor and the elevator would have closed if it were not for a poor mail boy who rushed in late with a few packages shoved in his hands. He barreled into Nashi and his packages dropped. "I-I-I-I'm so sorry!" the mail boy sputtered as he hurried to get the packages. "Are you okay?"

"Are you?" Nashi stooped to get the last package to hand to him and took a moment to look at him. He must be an intern, she thought as she took in his large glasses and the cute little husky bowtie he wore. "And don't worry about it. Accidents happen."

The poor intern looked at her like she was a goddess amongst mortals as his fingers brushed hers to take the package. "Th-Th-Thank you, ma'am," he stammered, red on his cheeks. His eyes darted to the man and woman who refused to even regard him with a glance.

Nashi's eyebrow twitched at the title. 'Ma'am?'

"She's no 'ma'am', T." The man saddled Nashi with a wider grin. "More like a catin."

The mail boy stumbled his apologies all while Nashi glared at the smug man. Ass. She deliberately flicked her hair and looked at the mail boy. "It's no problem! Like I said, accidents happen. And don't worry about the title, yeah? At least you sound genuine." She looked out of the corner of her eye to see the woman was snickering behind a hand while her male companion's smile faltered. Yeah, sorry, asshole, I'm happily taken. She glanced at Býleistr's carrier. But back to my question…

I think an in-person interview is fine, Býleistr told her, but you did tell your little master you would be conducting the interview in Magnolia.

And I was, Nashi reminded, until Petra asked if I could come to the building instead and I said, 'yes'. Who cares? I'll be back home in time for Luke and Luna, anyway. Just to irritate the man further, she offered the highly anxious mail boy a smile to which he grew red and the man further scowled while his companion looked highly entertained. And this is Petra. She's been interviewing our guild for a few years. She might not get everything right, but she does her best.

Býleistr snorted. Yeah, I'm sure.

DING!

Nashi glanced up to see her floor was the first stop. The elevator doors opened and before she could get out, the poor mail boy somehow fell forward and his packages scattered everywhere, both in the elevator and outside of it. As he fumbled and stammered out apologies, Nashi caught the smirk on the man's face and hatred for him began to grow. What an asshole. She began to crouch—

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the man intervened. "He's just a little clumsy." He offered his hand. "Might I help you out?"

Nashi ignored his hand to begin helping pick up the rest of the packages. "There's a difference between clumsy and then purposefully being pushed." She shot the mail boy a kind smile as she offered some packages to him. "Here you are."

"Th-Thank you, ma'am. Again, I mean." He took the packages from her and got to his feet before offering his hand. "Allow me?"

Nashi took his hand with an appreciative smile. "Thanks!" She looked over at the scowling man and tip down her sunglasses to sear him with an icy glare that said it all. Still, she bit out, "Have a nice day." She left the elevator in a huff. My god. What is wrong with people?

Maybe he's compensating.

Nashi let out an unladylike snort as she went into reception. Oh, I so hope so. Could you imagine? The receptionist looked quite young with pin-straight black hair, forehead bangs, and dressed in the loudest tint of yellow she could find. Nashi smiled and said, "Petra Cromwell is expecting me."

The receptionist did not smile. "Allow me to take you back."

"Thanks." Nashi followed the receptionist and had a look around the floor. It was mainly cubicles that filled the floor, but the dress code for today was relaxed. Many dressed in jerseys and sports attire and it got Nashi thinking. It's hockey season, right? She smiled. I'm pretty sure Gary would be hyped. I can't believe I agreed to a hockey date. She shook her head. I think he knew to ask me when I was too exhausted to know what I was agreeing to. Stupid dog.

The receptionist took Nashi back to a hall and meeting rooms and led her to the third one. She opened the door. "Can I get you anything to drink? Water, tea, coffee?"

"Tea would be fine, thank you," Nashi requested. "Do you have anything with honey?"

The receptionist nodded. "Yes. I'll bring some to you in a few minutes. Please wait here. Miss Cromwell will be by to see you soon."

Nashi thanked her in a murmur and went inside. The meeting room was nothing too fancy. It had a long table and was set up with a projector map on the wall and a whiteboard. Chairs had been pushed in, so she had her pick of the litter. The windows that looked outside had been covered by blinds instead. She settled in a chair and put Býleistr's carrier on the chair next to her before unzipping her. "There now, kitty-kitty," she teased.

Býleistr sat up and gave her a stink eye. You better watch it or you might need to start buying litter boxes. He hopped up onto the table. This seems a little…boring.

"Well, what did you want? An interrogation room?" Nashi questioned, incredulous. "This is fine with me. Not intimidating and definitely relaxing." She fiddled with her blouse. "I wonder what Gary is doing right about now…"

Jerking off, probably. Býleistr cried when Nashi smacked his side. That's animal abuse!

What you just said allows me to hit you, you dick, Nashi retorted. Just gross. Not all guys think about that, you know. And he has important work to do in Arcticados anyway. He's probably training or working. She looked up at the ceiling with a smile. I'm so excited he's coming home this weekend.

You just want to bone him—Býleistr narrowly avoided Nashi's swipe.

I want to just see him and be with him, Nashi hissed. It's been weeks, okay? I…might have missed him. It's not exactly easy sleeping alone after spending days wrapped up in hi, you know?

I wouldn't know, Býleistr thought dryly. I hope I never know. He swished his tail. Jokes aside, I'm sure he's missing you like crazy too, Princess.

Nashi felt a little giddy hearing that. Really?

Considering he clung to you like a leech our entire visit and followed the car to the edge of the property when we left? Býleistr decided to dampen the side of his paw to clean his face. Yeah. Wolverine's probably missing you. You could have always visited him—

Not while he's working, Nashi cut in abruptly. That's what we agreed on, Býleistr. He needs to focus on his work in Uki. I need to focus here. When we get better schedules, we can think about meeting up. She had more to say, but the door opened. She was ready for the receptionist, but, to her surprised, a bespeckled young woman in a plaid skirt suit, white blouse, and white gloves had come in with her PAL, a notebook and pen, and her coffee mug. Nashi stood and offered a hand. "Hi, Petra! It's nice to see you again!"

Petra set down her things to shake Nashi's hands with both of her hands. "Nice to see you too, Nashi!" She gaped when she saw Býleistr who looked at her through slitted eyes. "And who is this little fella? Is this Býleistr?"

⌜DREAM MAGAZINE

Name: Petra Cromwell

Age: 29

Occupation: Multimedia Journalist

Likes: long winters Dislikes: cold feet

Special Note: Does that last name seem familiar to you? Petra is part of the Magic bloodline of the Cromwell's, but she doesn't have any of their Magic! She does have a good inkling for magical events though~⌟

Býleistr's fur rose as he hissed at Petra the moment the woman attempted to pet him.

Petra withdrew her hand in an instant. "Oh!"

"I'm so sorry!" Nashi scooped up Býleistr who still glared at Petra. "Sorry, he's not good when other people outside my family pet him." Býleistr, behave.

She doesn't smell right, Býleistr growled.

She could smell like a gym locker and it wouldn't matter. Calm it down or you go back in the cage. Nashi settled down with Býleistr on her lap. He kept his glare on Petra, but he kneaded Nashi without his claws to keep himself in check. "He won't attack or anything. I'll just keep him in my lap for now."

"I see." Petra adjusted her glasses as she opened up her PAL and set a Recorder Lacrima onto the table. "So, I know we went over the process over the Compact, but I still want to make sure the ground rules still stand. I know we agreed that under no circumstances would we bring up any potential bestiality, but are you sure you're comfortable speaking about your past experience?"

Nashi swallowed. "I am."

The door opened and the receptionist returned with Nashi's tea with a thing of honey and lemon for her to use. She left with a bow and that was that.

Petra offered Nashi a look of concern. "You don't have to if you don't want to, Nashi," she forewarned. "I know I'm a journalist, but I respect your right to speak about your experience on your own terms."

"N-No, it's okay." Nashi let out a breath as she stroked Býleistr's back and dropped her Transformation Magic. "I'll do it." She reached for her bag and pulled out a straw to put into the teacup. When the straw did not change colors, she relaxed. Can never be too careful. She began to make her tea as she asked, "How long until the interview gets published?"

"The interview will be part of a piece we're doing on the trial in itself," Petra explained. "Once this has been edited and added into the format, all we have to do is wait for our fact-check team about the trial, but that shouldn't take them any more than a couple of days." She smiled. ""I'll let you read over the piece before we publish it, though. It's standard courtesy."

Even so, Nashi felt touched. "Well, thank you." She grabbed the spoon from the saucer and mixed the honey and lemon in the boiling hot water. "I'm ready whenever you are then."

Petra nodded and focused on her PAL before she set it aside to go for the Recorder Lacrima. "All right, so once I hit the record button, I'll give a standard introduction, we'll start with the basic questions, and you're free to add in anything you'd like. This is your story we're covering. Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Nashi promised.

Petra hummed and pressed the record button as Nashi took blew on her teacup and took small sips. "This is Petra Cromwell of January XX of XXXX here with A-Class Fairy Tail Mage Nashi Dragneel, the Angel Princess," she started. "Today, we'll be discussing her thoughts and views on the trial, a brief overview of her relationship with the free Ice Devil and S-Class Mage Gary Fullbuster, as well as her own message dedicated to survivors everywhere." She nodded at Nashi. "Miss Dragneel, I'd just like to thank you for taking the time to interview with me. The whole world has been dying to hear from you."

"So I've been told," Nashi chuckled. "I'm dying to speak."

Petra smiled. "Well, then, let's get to it, shall we?" She glanced at the preapproved questions on her PAL. "How's it feel to be back home in Magnolia after everything went down at the courthouse?"

And that was how it went. Safe questions that Nashi could answer with ease. Nothing strayed from her own thoughts and feelings on the trial including her annoyance for Bellum's crass behavior towards her and Skade as well as her sympathy to the victims of the disastrous event. Since she had no political weight to through around, she gave blanket statements she and Erza had rehearsed. Býleistr stayed close and she lazily petted him, but as Petra kept going, a relaxing buzz filled Nashi's mind and made her eyes half-lidded.

Accidentally, Nashi let out a yawn. "Excuse me," she pardoned. "I guess I'm more exhausted than I thought.

"That's okay," Petra assured. "I'm sure it's been rather exhausting for you these past couple of weeks."

"It has," Nashi admitted with another yawn. "I'm so sorry. That was the last yawn, I promise." She held back from rubbing her eyes even though her eyes fell heavy. "What was the next question?"

Petra opened her mouth, but a knock came from the door. An emotion crossed her face, but Nashi could not decipher it. "That's odd." She stood up. "I'll send them away. Excuse me for a moment." She went over to the door.

Nashi yawned. I feel so…sleepy… Her head felt woozy. Mmmm… I could use a nap… She gave a lazy grin to Býleistr who looked at her with urgency. "What's wrong, kitty? Not a fan of cat naps?"

Býleistr let out a strangled meow as he pawed at her chest.

Nashi laughed as she slowly blinked, but she found her lids staying shut for longer each time she blinked. "Can't…fall asleep…on an interview…" But her eyes shut and she found very little strength to keep them open. Body weakening, she felt herself go forward and her cheek smacked the table. "Five minutes…"

Býleistr weaseled his way out from Nashi to get onto the table and he stared in horror when Nashi was dead to the world. Wake up. He pushed her with his front paws, but she did not move. Wake up! Why haven't you been listening to me?

"Oh, this won't do."

Býleistr whipped around, hissing and hackles raised, when he saw Petra had closed the door and locked it. "I knew something wasn't right with you," he snarled. "What are you? Who are you?"

Petra cocked her head. "That's none of your concern, Realm Breaker." Quick as lightning, she threw something at him.

Býleistr bunched his muscles and launched towards her as his Magic expanded to transform into a lion, but whatever she had thrown hit him and made him convulse. Within seconds, his solid form grew translucent as stardust leaked from him and he was left gasping on the ground, paralyzed. "What…? What did you do to…me…?"

But Petra paid no mind to him as she moved past him to scoop up a sleeping Nashi and held her close. "You should be lucky I didn't break your key. We wouldn't want Her Majesty in too much stress," she reasoned. Waving a hand, a portal of dark energy rippled against the wall like it was nothing. "Don't worry, Lion Spirit." She glanced back at him with emotionless eyes. "She'll be safe where she's going…as long as she behaves."

BAM!

Petra froze when the door burst open and the man and woman from before were the culprits, chests heaving and eyes locked onto Petra and Nashi. The man burst forth as his magenta eyes lightened and he flung explosive glittery Magic out at Petra while the woman clutched her temples and focused, but Petra was quick and scurried into the portal so it could close behind her. Býleistr could barely keep himself together as he watched his form breakdown and felt the call to return to the Star Realm. But his unfocused eyes went to the hazy figures who swept into the room. "Who are…you…?"

The man cursed as he got to where Petra disappeared in a foreign language, but the woman had approached Býleistr and he smelt something strange about her. But he was too far gone to try and place it. The woman hushed, "Sleep, cat. We'll find her."

Býleistr knew the gate was forcing him back through, but he wheezed, "Find…Gary…Fullbuster… Kyler…" He could say no more when he broken into shards and was gone from this world.

The man turned to the woman with an I-told-you-so look on his face. "I told ya that stupid little mauvais toad was trouble, sha," he viciously snipped at her. "You shoulda just let me—!"

"We have more important things to do than argue," the woman reminded him as she gathered Nashi's things. She grimaced when she found the silver Celestial Spirit key. "We have a lot of explaining to do," she reminded in reluctance. "And the boss won't be too happy with our explanation." She sighed. "Do you want to call her or do you want me to?"

The man snorted. "She likes me better. I'll do it." He gestured outside the room with one hand while he wriggled out his Compact with another. "Go do some damage control." He only had to press a few buttons until he was calling his boss and he did not have to wait long to ring. Rubbing his neck, he sheepishly began, "Bonjour, ma chérie. We, uh, weren't able to grab the ange in time. Looks like the Changeling and the toad familiar were smarter than we took for granted. But the lion told us to find Kyler and Gary Fullbuster. What's the plan?"

°•°•°•°

The East Forest of Magnolia might have salivated snow, but that did not mean life slept the winter away. Many critters and creatures were outside, hunting and living life. No, the rivers were still frozen in ice and the waterfalls could barely survive the temperature drop, but the forest held its ancient beauty even in a time of cold.

The Dragneel House was visible from this distance. Most of the curtains had been closed to prevent anyone from seeing inside, even though the house was so deep in the woods, no one would really look inside. But there was a pair of windows still on display. Luke was inside as he dipped in and out of his room. His mouth moved. It appeared he was taking to a Shadower who followed his every move like an actual shadow would.

"Get a sample," came command. "If she was a Changeling, we need to track down the real Petra before anyone notices. I'll bring in Morningstar. Don't worry about what the Lion Spirit told you."

"You sure about that?"

"Don't question my command, Cajun," came crisp reply. "Make sure Pandemonium has a clear DNA sample of the Changeling to run it through." The call ended and she huffed.

A motherly voice crept behind her. "They will be safe as long as they stay in Magnolia."

"Yes, but she went out of Magnolia," came terse retort, "so it's possible the other two might."

"And the third?"

A hand waved off the question. "Sub-zero and Deva will be fine with him. Besides, I highly doubt the General himself is interested in him anyway. He can't be tamed unless they want to die by fire." The focus crept back into Luke's room.

A hand rested on her shoulder. "The Shadower will aid him well. It might have taken some time, but he finally has the Shadower. And he is quite strong."

"Tch. He's just a boy."

"And if he were any other boy, you would have been content leaving your wards," came reminder. The hand slipped off. "He isn't just any boy."

Hands clenched to fists. A cloak fluttered as she turned around. "We're going to Morningstar," came decision laced in iciness. "You're right. He'll be fine. Let's move."

A heavy sigh. "As you wish."

She turned once more to peek into Luke's room from her distance. Her fingers twitched and it was compulsory when she whispered, "Bli her."

From Luke's room, he shivered when an odd sensation crawled over his skin. It was not a negative sensation, per se, but it was not necessarily a positive sensation either. It lasted for a second or so and it was gone within an instant. Wildly, he looked around. "Cullen, did you feel that?"

But the Shadower shook his head.

Luke brushed back his bangs and blew out a breath. "I must be going crazy with all this," he decided in complaint. "Maybe I should take a break." He checked the time and his brow furrowed before he checked his calm. "Lu isn't due home until a little later, but I thought Nashi would text."

He blinked in surprise when a call poured in from Yuuma and he answered it. "Hey."

"I didn't mean to interrupt," Yuuma told him with a thread of irritation in his tone at the sound of whooping further back in the call. "I was hoping you could babysit Kei."

"I heard that! I'm not a kid, Chouchou!" came Kei's indignant whine.

Luke chortled. "I'd love to babysit, but I have to stay home until my little sister gets back home," he explained. "Actually, want to log onto Ghost Story and do some side missions for a while? I need to take a break."

"Yes. I'd like that." The relief in Yuuma's voice was almost comical for his normal bland register. "I'll log on now." He hung up like that.

Luke sat back in his chair with a sigh. "Cullen, you want to learn how to play A Zhōnguánese Ghost Story?" He turned to see the Shadower looking out the window again. Concern made Luke get up to peek out the window. "What are we looking at?"

But there was nothing out of place.

Luke shrugged and patted the Shadower's back. "I'm going to get an energy drink and get ready. Let me know if you want to join." He left the bedroom.

Cullen looked out the window. Out of the shadows, a white mare appeared with gold encrusting her horn and mane. She stared into the window and bowed low.

Cullen bowed his head in reply.

And just like that, she was gone.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

As much as Silver hated being awkward, he believed he hated this feeling even more. His Lulu had teasingly said it was "jealousy" he was feeling. He had been in denial about it. He had felt jealousy with Paige, he had insisted, and it felt nothing like that. Luna had pointed out he had illusions of grandeur with Paige and his treacherous heart having it out for a murderous witch had a genuine liking to her.

He would have strangled Luna if she were not his best friend and if said witch he liked was not Luna's best friend. If he touched a hair on Luna's hair, he could kiss his future good bye thanks to a handy rapier that was always ready to stab him.

…maybe he should recognizer if he was sane for having feelings for Ena considering she could and would murder him or turn him into a rat.

But to prove it to a too smug Luna, Silver made every effort to be the perfect assistant to Ena and host to Jasper while he had been over. He had brought in Ena's lunch and tea, taken notes, offered Jasper any beverages and food, and he even helped Jasper pack up his equipment. He thought he did pretty well at this. Granted, his smile was a little too robotic when Ena laughed at Jasper's joke that was not really that funny and he broke his pencil in half when Ena would consider going to Jasper's swim practice which was technically his swim practice too, but the moment he pointed that out, much to his heart's dismay, Ena actually looked like she would decline the invitation until Jasper promised her dinner.

(What the Hell was up with the two of them and dinner anyway? Did Jasper not have a family to eat with? Not that he said this aloud, of course. Not with Luna waiting for him to snap.)

So Silver was all too eager to help move Jasper towards the door, briefly speak to him, and then wave him away.

CLICK-CLICK-CLICK.

Silver's smile grew increasingly hard to maintain as he watched Jasper and Ena laugh with each other. Why is he still here?

Luna sidled up to him with that grin he began to loathe. "Take your jealousy out on your poor pen, why don't you?" she teased.

Silver immediately dropped the habit and to mutter, "I'm not jealous. He should be leaving anyway to get to the high school. I wouldn't want him to be late." There. That sounded reasonable.

But, of course, Luna did not buy it as she folded her arms. "Ah-ha…" She cocked her head towards Ena and Jasper as Ena took Jasper's hand. Granted, it was nothing romantic. Ena was trying to point out something. But the moment Luna's eyes swung over to Silver, she watched something shadow Silver's face. "Are you sure that's the reason why you want him to leave?"

Silver ignored her and could not help himself when he cleared his throat and strode towards Ena and Jasper (and he knew Luna was simpering behind him). But the second he had the pair's attention, he faltered under Ena's inquisitive stare and scrambled for a reason to interrupt. "Um, uh, you still have a call to do, remember?" Smooth, idiot.

For a moment, Ena looked confused, but it cleared up in a second. "Ah! The recruiter!" She shot Jasper a smile (and Silver started feeling…okay, maybe, a little jealous Jasper saw her smiles more than him). "Sorry. You should get going to get to school."

"Right." Jasper adjusted his bag. "Dinner?"

Ena sighed. "If we must…"

"No, you mustn't," Silver grumbled under his breath.

Ena snapped her eyes to him in irritation. "What was that?"

Wide-eyed, Silver looked around until he pointed at himself. "Who, me? O-Oh, I didn't say anything." He ignored Luna's cackle in the background.

Ena shifted her eyes back to Jasper for a much friendlier expression. "Dinner," she agreed. She poked Jasper in the chest with a finger (and Silver's locked his jaw), "Just nowhere fancy."

"You have my word." Jasper peered past her to wink at Luna. "And you just text me if you need any more help on Infinity, okay?"

Luna beamed. "Sure, Jasper! Thanks for all the helpful hints already!"

Jasper nodded and turned to Silver with a grin. "See you at practice, man."

"Right. Practice," Silver agreed with a forcible cheeriness. "Bye."

Jasper nodded and with a murmured farewell to Ena, he turned to job down the steps. Silver swept forward before Ena could to close the door and lock it with a deep exhale. "I thought he'd never leave…"

"Oh?"

Silver stiffened.

"And why is that?"

Slowly, Silver turned to see Ena observing him with an inclined chin and he felt like he was sweating. "D-Did I say that out loud?" he nervously laughed. He saw Luna nodding behind Ena and cut her a glare only to lose it when Ena arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Well, I just meant he had school and I didn't want him to be late. Enough tardies get you suspended from team and club stuff, so…" He trailed off when Ena's expression did not change. Please buy that.

Ena hummed, but she dismissed him to turn a sunny disposition onto Luna (and missed Silver's sigh of relief). "Thanks for being so patient, L," she appreciated. "I have a call with the recruiter that Fullbuster, but after that, I'm all yours, okay?"

"No problem! Take your time!" Luna encouraged.

Ena nodded and made her way down the hall before snapping, "Fullbuster. I don't have all day."

"Coming!" Silver rolled his eyes at Luna. "See? She's never nice to me!" he hissed at her.

Luna patted his arm. "This is as nice as she's going to get right now, Silver," she consoled. "Now go before she starts throwing Magic." He might have grumbled and hemmed and hawed, but Luna caught that delighted gleam in his eyes as he scurried at Ena. She snickered to herself as she settled in the living room and turned the LV on while Icarus lay at her feet. She munched on a spare fry while she found Nulu and told him, "What do you think about the name Silvena for a ship name?"

I still find it odd humans have titles for relationships, Icarus told her.

Luna snorted as she settled on watching HQ: Fly High! and thought to him, You're a talking dog. You have no reason to judge. She laughed when Icarus nudged her foot with a good-natured growl to boot. As the episode started off on the summer camp arc, she sat back and closed her eyes for a moment. Icarus, she breathed. Do you really think I could learn how to see into the future at will?

Soothsayers have done so before, Icarus remarked. You live in a realm with an Ether Core meaning your realm has a strong bond to the universal energy around it. You have an easier way to access your power than other realms. But you still must practice it and perfect it. And I think you can. He hesitated.

Luna felt it. But…? she prompted.

But, Icarus heaved, I worry if Future Sight will taint your present.

Luna opened her eyes to look at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Icarus sat up and scratched at his collar. Those touched by Time and Destiny may use their powers for good and evil, as all beings can. More who saw the future only had Prudence. They got glimpses of the future that made little sense and had to string together a story to make sense of it all that could be half right and half wrong. But they clung to those half-truths and some committed crimes. Some Mildians who were Time-touched relied on their Foresight more than their own instincts. They attempted to sway their fate in their favor by changing the destinies they saw.

I think I get it, Luna understood. They grew obsessed with their powers, or, well, their futures. They relied on the visions too much to actually make their present relevant or something like that.

Icarus dipped his head. Yes. I do not want you to rely heavily on your Second Spirit.

Luna knew where this was going and looked at her lap. It wasn't like I was trying to see into the future, she pointed out. But I saw it.

You have seen futures with both of them, Icarus reminded in response.

Yes, but…! Luna struggled to explain it. Those visions… Something about them felt…different than the others. But I just don't know what. She blew out a breath. I just wish I knew more about this and what all those strings meant and why the Time Oracle is so cold to me.

Icarus brushed her thigh with his nose. There is a way.

Luna glanced over at the hallway. Could you stay with me?

I will follow you wherever you go, pup, Icarus promised.

Luna paused the LV and decided the floor had better leverage. Icarus kept a safe distance away, but she felt him within her mind, calm as ever, a paternal presence to rely on and cling to if she needed an escape. She got into her meditative position with her hands folded in her mudra and forced out the tension in her body as she closed her eyes. With weeks having been passed, it grew easier and easier to call upon her First Spirit with its boundless purity and mass. But she still had to try a little harder to find her Second Spirit through the throng. At first, it felt like she was swimming through her Magic and it would never end. But then, she felt the call of her Second Spirit with its mystical air about it.

To feel the Magic of time… It was like when you felt your head was full of air, but you were smiling because it felt euphoric. And at the same time, something in the back of your mind was trying to come forth while you suppressed it.

Luna shivered when her Second Spirit encompassed her, still not used to it. It was not that the power felt wrong to her; it was that it was still foreign. It was not as warm as her First Spirit, but it was not cold either. It was a presence that flared up at the most inappropriate times. The darkness behind her eyes burst forth with the masses of strings in the multitudes of colors, knotting and crossing and getting kinky before straightening out. She witnessed fraying strings and dozens of strings gave out and died per second. Guilt and sadness hit her, but she tried to hold it back.

Icarus? She tentatively felt for him. Are you there?

I am here.

Relief filled her. Oh, thank goodness. She looked around at all the strings. I don't even know what to look for. I don't know if I want to look for anything.

Then she heard a tinkling she had not heard in quite some time. Brrrr!

Luna perked when she felt Syra's presence circle her. In her mind's eye, she could feel Syra's fur and the love the ikenga had for her. Syra?

Syra butted against her mind affectionately. Brrrr! Brr-brrr-brrr!

Luna's laugh echoed within the recesses of her Second Spirit. Syra, I've missed you so much! Emotions bubbled up and threatened to choke her, but she could not afford to get overwhelmed. Did you come here to show me something?

But rather than answer with her strange purr, Syra did something else that Luna knew right on the spot. She remembered that tingle of Magic and fear took place. No! she cried. Please! Don't send me back to the—!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

She might have seen visions, but this was the first time Luna could register she had a body in them. She was floating and her body was a translucent white. Still, she trusted nothing as her eyes darted around with quick breaths and she saw only steel and felt a sensation that made her stomach plummet. Steel doors, steel floors, factory lighting, and people dressed in both protective gear and lab coats swirling about the place and speaking in a language she could not decipher.

'Icarus?' she called.

'I am here.' Icarus sprung forth in his natural Spirit Form, but he had a stardust translucence to him. 'Fear not, Pup. I will not abandon you.'

Luna looked around. 'Yeah, but it seemed like Syra did…again.' She brushed off the minor annoyance to float around. 'What is this place? Ack!' She shivered when someone passed right through her. 'Ugh, that felt so gross. Is this how ghosts feel?'

Icarus doggy-paddled over to her, chuckling. 'I would assume so.' He sniffed around. 'I can't smell a thing, I'm afraid. At least we can hear. But I don't think anyone can hear or see or sense us.'

'But where are we?' Luna was careful to not let a scientist pass through her before she looked around again with more attentive eyes. The meal hallway might have been full of personnel and no windows, but she did notice that this was not the only floor. Or, at least, when she focused on an elevator, seeing as there was an up and down button, she could guess that much. A symbol had been embedded into the steel of the elevator, but she had no idea what it was. 'Do you know what that symbol means?' she asked, pointing.

Icarus inspected it, paddling over. 'No. I've never seen anything like it.'

The symbol looked like a compass and a clock combined to a point, but that was where the similarities ended. Unfamiliar symbols had nurtured the thing and, in its center, seemed to be a very complex knot.

EEEH-EEEEH-EEEH!

An announcement came on overhead, but Luna did not understand one word of it. The personnel milling about, however, seemed to care about it. At least, the scientists did with a look of relief and excitement on their faces, and they all started flowing in one direction. Curious, Luna turned to Icarus who nodded. She hooked onto his fur as he paddled after the scientists. They went down a series of corridors that would have left Luna's head swimming, but they all seemed to arrive at some sort of glass observation deck. They yapped, all excited and proud, while Luna and Icarus tried to understand what was going on. Once Luna was able to find somewhere to observe (and she shivered against when two scientists passed through her), she was even more confused.

It looked like the observation deck was not just this one, but many others had been cultivated to look down upon this…arena of some sort. Maybe arena was the wrong term for it, but that was what Luna thought it was. It was barren, for the most part, but Luna shivered when she saw deep scratch marks and bloodstains had maimed the walls and the floor.

'What sort of creature could do that?' Luna whispered to Icarus.

Icarus was on high alert as a red light flashed within the arena. 'I think we will find out.'

A steel door drew up and out came a man Luna felt she could not forget in her life and she only commented that because of the man's very dramatic appearance. He looked tall and slinky, but that was not what Luna referred to. His hair was in vertical multi-color lock of red, blue, and yellow, for one, and he had a bone through his neck. Luna was not sure if that was decorative or something or other. He wore a lab coat, a gas mask, and rubber gloves. His mouth opened and his voice reached the scientists.

Luna's brow furrowed when she still could not understand. 'What's he saying?'

'I am unsure,' Icarus responded. 'This language is most unfamiliar.'

Luna huffed when a surge hit her so hard she gasped and all of a sudden—

"—present to you the improvements in Experiment Seven-Seven-Seven," the man boasted in Minstrish. "He's a little weak from the last demonstration and, well…" He chuckled for added effect. "We might have gotten a little too trigger happy when he couldn't finish his course in time."

The scientists laughed while Luna felt disgusted. 'They did what?'

The man cleared his throat for attention. "Now, Experiment Seven-Seven-Seven will be demonstrating to you, my friends, how efficient he can be against one of our improved animavores." He laughed when the scientists looked a little unsettled. "Don't worry, friends, these are our improved animavores, remember? They won't eat his soul unless we saw so. And do we say so?"

The scientists all participated in a shout of "No!" as if they were happily calling back to an MC.

"Good." The man clapped his hands. "Boys, bring in Experiment Seven-Seven-Seven, if you'd please." As a red light flashed and another steel door slid open, the man reminded, "I remember we were all saddened at the departure of our greatest experiment. The Morningstar." He hung his head in mock pity. "He was truly a diamond in the rough. Experiment Seven-Seven-Seven might not be as go-getting as the Morningstar, but broken, he will become our best weapon we could have designed."

A team of armed men came out of the hall and they carried with them a steel cube large enough to hold several people. Trepidation coiled within Luna as the scientists rallied and cheered as though cheering for their warrior. Luna clung to Icarus' fur to keep her steady, but something did not sit right. 'This… This is wrong,' she whispered. 'We have to do something.'

Icarus sensed Luna's panic and tried to soothe her, 'Pup, what is it?'

'I don't know.' Luna shook her head. 'It's just a feeling. This is wrong to begin with, but it's like… I just… I don't feel right. Something isn't okay with me.'

Icarus would have responded when another set of armed guards came in, but they did not have a steel cube. Chained and collared, they looked battered and weak. They looked like…

Luna wanted to vomit. 'Children?'

Icarus snarled. 'What in the name of the Moon is going on here?'

The children were obviously malnourished and dirty. One little girl peed herself in fright of all the stares and for the task ahead of her. But these children were not normal Spiritless children. These children had wings while some had tails. The girl who peed herself had gills that had dried up. The youngest of the bunch looked like he was part bear. They had been given scraps to cover themselves with, but that did not matter. Their guards unleashed them, but the collars they had stayed on.

The man crooned, "And looked at our little animavores all ready for the day!"

'Animavores?' Luna echoed, still horrified. 'Icarus, what…?'

'Soul eaters.' Icarus glared at the man with undisputed hatred. 'But animavores do not look like this. They come from the darkest part of the Soul Realm. Evil souls that manage to crawl their way out and have a thirst for harvesting souls until they feel full. They have…tainted these pups to become soul eaters. They looked starved because—'

'They can only eat souls.' Luna's throat burned and her eyes stung. 'Icarus, I want to go home,' she whimpered. 'I don't want to—'

"And let's bring out Experiment Seven-Seven-Seven!"

Luna tugged on Icarus' fur to pull the snarling Celestial Spirit away. 'Icarus, please, let's just go—!'

But it was too late.

The steel cub opened one side of itself and automatically tilted to deposit a body. Luna's eyes were wide and focused on the mangled body, olive skin full of old scars and new wounds. He looked like he was barely an adult and he had been given nothing to wear, unlike the children. A collar clung to his neck with angry red burns marks to show he had been shocked repeatedly. His hair was dirty, but it had grown in curly black locks that looked frayed.

Something stirred in Luna. Pain. Agony. 'No…'

A few armed guards came by and kicked the poor young man. He did not move. The guards had no mercy as they hauled him to his knees, but he slouched forward, done with life, broken, a shell.

'No…'

Icarus was too late when Luna surged forward and went through the glass. 'Pup!' He rushed after her as fast as he could.

Luna ignored everything about what the man was saying and his excuses to the crowd about their test subject not being as excited as they had planned. Her eyes grazed the children and their murky looks and so much anguish bombarded her. They were children. Aberrant or not, it never mattered. They were children who had been tested on and changed into soul-eating monsters. What made it worse was when one of the guards snapped at them and pointed at the man, a few children licked their lips, hunger in their eyes, and it sickened her.

'They're looking at him like he's their only meal,' Luna whimpered. 'He probably is.' She found herself in front of the young man, if only by a few feet. The guards kept up his arms, but he kept his head down, hair crowding his face. Luna sucked in a breath when she noted all the wounds. Some had been healed properly, but she could tell others had been left to get infected. 'He's been hurt so much…' Her eyes continued to roam him—

That was when she noticed it.

An arm band was the only thing this man wore. But it looked odd for an armband. It looked like…

Luna looked down when she saw the moonstone on her bracelet blink happily. More horror filled her. 'No…' She covered her mouth with her hand when she recognized the armband. She recognized the color. It was sunstone. 'Oh my gosh, please no…! No…!'

'Pup.' Icarus teethed her shirt. 'You are too distressed. We must leave—!'

The young man looked up.

Dulled gold clashed with chocolate.

Luna felt like she was frozen. Relief was there that it was not Gale. But then other emotions came in for her that were so strong, her head began to pound. Overriding fear drenched her, but then she felt sympathy and hopelessness. She felt a vile touch invade her before it ended in grieve and despair and, finally, a dulled acceptance and a lack of will to live. Her mouth opened to cry, but she could not move. She was stuck. She could only look at the dulled golden eyes that could not see her.

Icarus nudged her. 'Pup…'

Luna stumbled forward and her hair flung out to pass in front of the man's face. That should have been the end of it.

The young man's nostrils flared.

Luna's eyes widened when life sparked in those golden eyes and met her stare directly.

His lips curled.

Those limp hands clenched to fists.

No one could have expected it. He had been broken, a shuck of himself, for goodness sake. He had to be moved like a doll. But it certainly took him less than a second for all that lifelessness to melt away into something. Muscles taut, he kept his gaze locked on Luna and he snarled something.

And then, much to the disbelief to the guards, he lunged at her.

Luna felt and saw a myriad of things.

The second that young man passed through her, she saw a quick overview. Sunsets rising and falling. A happy family. A threat in the form of weapons never seen. Death. He was alone. So, so alone. He was in the world afraid and alone and in darkness. Cruel touches had become normalized to him. Shocks, ice water, knives—they happened like a revolving door, day in and day out. There were feminine touches, but none of them felt wanted and each one came with that feeling of anxiety and the need to flee. And then there was nothing…until now.

Luna screamed and the laboratory was gone as she was dispelled from it and cast into a sea of strings that passed her, shifting and knotting and fraying and dying. Each string that touched her showed her more and more even if she wanted to see less and less. She saw images of people she had never seen before, but she saw visions of people she knew like the back of her hand.

She saw her sister as strings connected to her frayed and crossed and rebuilt like little city paths. She saw Nashi with wings in her full glory. She saw Nashi and Gary, but there were so many versions of them. One of which had Nashi pregnant with a sunken face while Gary was on his knees, in tears, pleading for her, and she did not respond to his attempts. Another showed Nashi happy but she was not with Gary. Another man had taken his place. From the back, it looked like…Orochi? Then a vision crashed over of Nashi looking at her face in the mirror, her exhausted and stressed face, as a man came to her, olive-toned with a cold and calculating look about him as he whispered in her ear. Something he said must have upset her as her face screwed up in agony, but she composed herself seconds later. The last one showed Nashi happy by Gary's side as they swayed in a place Luna had never seen, spacious and big.

She felt through a tangled of knots and a burst of visions appeared for Igneel and Luke and Mary Jane, separately and together. She saw Igneel on his knees as flames rippled around him, drawing a dark red and tipped in black. He was unstoppable as the flames burned down everything around him and his body convulsed into a nightmare of a creature with wings of tainted flames and the horns of a king. She saw Mary Jane, unhappy and broken, as she sat in a little kitchen with herself, tears in her eyes, as she held a knife to her wrist, but the vision changed and she was in the kitchen, tears in her eyes, and Igneel was at her side, soothing her. She saw Luke carrying a baby, but the baby was not human. It was a monstrous baby, a blue thing with one eye, but he had a spiteful glare at a cloaked woman who looked so remorseful. But then, it was wiped away and she saw…Luke holding Mary Jane in an intimate way that Luna had never dared thought about.

She crashed down through another set of strings and she could see so many things. She could see a glitching scene. One moment, her parents were fighting with her mother's bags packed, and the next, the scene was gone and her parents were playfully bantering over what show to watch. One moment, Luke and Ena were together in a bedroom, older and surer and far too close for friendliness, but the next, she and a younger Silver were together as he kissed her through his tears and her own surprise. One moment, Gale was slaughtering a monster with a mysterious man at his side with his mohawk and gauges and, the next, Gale was at the mercy of that man Luna had seen with the gold eyes. One moment, she could even see Carlisle who cried, and Bleu who held his cousin through his own grief, but the next, she saw a teary-eyed Carlisle outside of a cage as he looked at a prowling beast, holding Jaxton's hand.

'No more!' Luna screamed. 'No more! Let me out!'

She saw it.

She saw them.

The scene had just started and she saw herself, more nature, and she saw Gale, scruffier, wilder, but they were together.

Luna shook her head to get out of the vision. 'LET ME OUT!'

She was thrown into an icy pitch darkness in the blink of an eye, the shock making her breathless. A chilling whisper echoed in this new place and Luna knew it would haunt it in her nightmares: 'I knew you were Her.'

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Get her more ice! She's burning up!"

"I'm trying, I'm trying!"

Luna could not feel her body, but she could open her eyes. Everything was numb. Nothing was okay. Her eyes opened with a haunting vagueness to them. She knew Ena and Icarus were fretting over her, but she did not feel anything. Silver had come back around with ice, but she did not really see him. She felt nothing. She felt…numb.

"L?" Ena checked Luna's eyes with the flashlight on her Compact and sucked in a breath. "Her pupils are blown out." She went to her Compact and found a contact. "I'm calling an ambulance."

Silver set down the ice as he studied Luna's face. "Lulu?" he whispered. She did not answer him. She did not even blink. Silver trembled. "Lulu, please," he pleaded. "Talk to us. We heard you screaming."

She said nothing.

Silver shot Icarus an accusatory look. "Who did this to her?" he snarled. "What's wrong with her?"

Icarus whined and nudged Luna with his snout, but he could not speak to them.

"Hi, yes, this is Ena Fernandes," Ena rattled off to the dispatcher on the other end of the line. "My friend, um… Look, I don't know. She screamed and she's here and she's not saying or doing anything. Her pupils are blown out—" She got interrupted and anger registered on her face. "What do you mean 'what's her race'? She's a human! A Mage! What does that matter?"

As Ena grew more indignant with each question the dispatcher gave her, Silver felt something in his stomach. A feeling. He did not know what the feeling meant, though. He kept observing Luna's face in hopes she might recognize him, but she did not. "Lulu, please," he whispered. "Just talk to us, o-o-okay? Say something."

Luna remained quiet.

Silver's bottom lip quivered and he sniffled. "Don't go," he whimpered. "Please. You're my best friend, Lulu." He reached a hand to touch her cheek. "I can't—"

It happened so fast.

Luna batted away Silver's hand and pressed her palm against his forehead. Silver could not even fight it. The moment her palm touched his forehead, he was a goner. His body slackened and his eyes dulled. Even his jaw dropped in a stupid expression. It might have looked like she was possessed or magicking him.

But Icarus knew exactly what she was doing and growled. Pup, don't—!

"L, what the Hell are you doing?" Ena dropped her Compact to shove Luna and Silver apart. Silver fell on his back, dazed, while Luna looked…moved. As Ena grabbed Luna's cheeks and checked her over, Luna blinked and blinked until life was back in those eyes. Still, Ena cursed. "What is going on? Why were you screaming? And what were you about to do to Fullbuster?"

"'Do'…" Luna blinked rapidly as a haziness overcame her. "I… I don't…remember…" Her eyes closed. "Visions… So…many…"

A groan.

Both girls and Celestial Spirit looked over at the sprawled-out Silver who had broken into a cold sweat and face cringed with pain. "Hurts…" he hissed. "It…hurts…"

Ena quickly tended to him, cradling his head. "Another attack," she grunted. She was angry but not at Silver or Luna. Only at the events happening with no explanation. "We need to get him into a bathtub now." She chanced a look at Luna to see her best friend was still coming out of it and cursed again. "Lay down," she commanded as she shoved her arms beneath Silver and dragged him upwards. "Let me get him into a bathtub and I'll be right back to take care of you."

"No."

Ena did a double-take as she finagled carrying Silver. "What do you mean 'no'?" she retorted. "L, lay down—"

"No, that isn't…" Luna blinked thrice. "If I do… No, that can't happen…" She passed Ena a perplexed yet knowing look. "Ena," she said softly, "you need to tell him you won't go. You need to take care of him."

Ena felt a headache coming on as she shifted Silver in her arms. "Well, I planned to help him, but I'll come back for you." She turned towards the hallway. "How about I get him settled and call Luke—?"

Hearing Luke's name from Ena's lips sent Luna into a wild panic. "No, no, don't do that!" she urged. "If it's just you and him, you'll…" But she trailed off, confused herself. "You'll… The bond…"

Ena huffed. "Lay down," she commanded, "and I'll be right back." She ignored Luna's confused mutterings as she turned down the hall and carried Silver to the bathroom. She placed him on the cool tile as she plugged the bathtub and filled it with tepid water. After closing the door to give him some privacy, she held Silver's chin as he groaned and softly called, "Silver. I need you to listen to me."

"Have to…go…" Silver mumbled. "Have to…go…"

Ena sighed. "Silver," she sounded out patiently, "can you take off your clothes, or do you need help?"

But Silver only repeated, "Have to…go…"

"My help it is then," Ena said dryly. She took no victory in helping Silver out of his clothes. It was not that he wore too many layers, but her mind was flying a mile and minute and her nerves were frayed. First, L screaming, then he gets an attack, and now they're both saying weird things… She got him down to his boxer briefs. What the heck is going on? She went over to the bathtub to see it was almost ready.

"Don't…leave me…"

Ena sighed again. He's probably talking about Paige again.

"Don't…leave… Come with…me…"

Poor thing can't catch a break today. The tub was full and Ena stopped the water flow. "Okay. Let's get you into the tub." She turned to Silver—

—only to find him crying as he stared at her.

Apprehension filled her. "Silver?"

"Don't… Don't go…" Silver croaked as he looked at her. "Please…stay with me…"

Now Ena understood and she directed a gentle smile towards him. "I know it hurts," she soothed him as she stroked his arm in consolation. "But once you're in the tub, you'll feel all better." She heard his groans and mumblings, but she picked him up anyways and placed him into the bathtub, pleased when the tension of his body relaxed. "There now. You see? All better." She turned towards the door. "I'll be right back. Let me call Luke—"

A hand grabbed her wrist. "No, don't!"

Ena looked at the hand before she saw Silver's desperate face. She tried to ease out of his grip. "Silver, I need to check up on L and call Luke—"

"Stay," Silver begged. "Please."

"L needs me—"

"I need you," Silver wept and he pressed his forehead to her arm. "Please," he whimpered as his voice cracked. "Don't go. Stay."

Ena looked at Silver with new eyes. He was not just hurting—he was shaking. He was truly fearful. Of what, she could not say, but whatever had caused him to react like this had done something to him. He's so scared. Her eyes went to the door in worry. But L… She looked back at Silver and her heart sunk as he looked up at her with watery mayan blues, frantic and despaired. "I'll stay," she decided.

Silver did not let her go as he asked in a small voice, "Could you hold me?"

Maybe it was just the way Silver looked, how he made himself small and vulnerable, that made Ena reply, "I'll hold you." She stripped out of her pants and shirt before she went into the tub. Silver automatically made room for her and let her get comfortable before she threw himself at her and sniffled, tears occasionally trickling by. "No need for tears," she sung. "You'll be okay."

But Silver still sniveled. "Promise you won't go?"

Luna's words came back to her, but she was still confused. "'Go' where?" Ena asked. "I can't exactly move right now."

"Ena."

She sighed for what she hoped was the last time tonight. "I won't go," she promised.

"Okay." Silver closed his eyes and let out a heavy exhale that whooshed away all his grief and anxiety in one go.

Ena leaned back in the tub to absently brush his back. What is going on today? And as she closed her eyes to stop her thoughts moving so fast, she did not hear that the front door had been open, paw steps scraped by, and the front door had been shut.

---

The school, while in New Azalea City, looked like a mixture of a cathedral and a mansion, if that made sense. Most of the structure had old stone and design left, but it was clear the entire campus had been consistently revamped with the latest technology with holographic maps of the campus, announcements, with mainly Spiritless students making up the populace and a handful of Aberrants. Mage students were, of course, accepted, but like in all bounds, their curriculum was different than their Spiritless peers along with their requirements. A couple of students from the lacrobotics program were testing out prototype Enchanter gloves that permitted a higher voltage of lacrimal power for more intricate tasks such as surgery and repairs to smaller systems. A few theater kids complained about their theory professors as they headed out to find some food during their break. The students wore the dress code of maintaining gray pants or skirts, blue blazer with the crest of the school, a tie or bowtie in the tripped blue and white, and black blazer, but no two "uniforms" were the same. Students here were allowed to tamper with the design of their uniform so long as it maintained the colors and the crest which made for great practice for the creative.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Engeki First Magnet Academy, a school tailored for specialization in fine arts, advanced sciences, and technology. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Carlisle came out of the changing room in some loose moccasins with his loose carpi slacks with the bottoms folded up, a cropped blazer with patched squares of black and dark gray, and his tie was worn as a headband for today. His eyes were wide and excited as he bounced around the hall and cared little for whomever he bothered while another boy followed him out with medium black hair with the roots a surprising white, angular eyes, and his uniform in normal gray slacks with his black blazer turned into a glittery thing with a one-shouldered cape. He did wear gloves for some reason.

"Did you see me today, Aphtan? I mean did you see my pirouette today?" Carlisle hooted and somehow did not see that his happy jumping and spinning would have caused a poor younger student serious damage if Aphtan had not swiftly gotten the student out of the way. "I'm on fire! Wasn't I cool? Wasn't I?"

"You were the coolest, Carlisle-po," Aphtan resigned, face neutral and tone blank. "Your pirouette was incredible."

⌜ENGEKI FIRST MAGNET ACADEMY

Name: Aphtan Ángel

Age: 16

Occupation: Year 12 Student, Junior Figure Skater

Likes: glitter Dislikes: milk bread

Special Note: Aphtan is a skater just like Carlisle, so they are in the same school program together even if they are at different levels! Would you believe me if I told you they were best friends?⌟

"I know, right?!" Carlisle spun to face Aphtan with his arms waving and would have thwacked a passing student, but thankfully, the student was quick enough to duck. "It was pretty incredible, huh? I'm pretty sure this one was just a stroke of luck, but I've nearly got it!"

Aphtan blinked. "Right. You nearly do." He peeked past Carlisle to see a group of girls had already gathered, giggling and glancing over to Carlisle and him with little gifts in their hands. "Your fan club is here, but you don't have the time to—"

But Carlisle had already turned with a natural big grin on his face when he saw the gaggle of girls and offered them peace signs and a wink. "Hi, everyone! Have you been waiting for me?"

As the girls gave their hurried affirmatives and affections towards Carlisle, Aphtan messed with the ring on his middle finger and told Carlisle, "Carlisle-po, we need to go. We have intramurals—"

"Aw, come on, Tantan," Carlisle whined to him. "We have plenty of time before intramurals, don't we? We can't let all these people down, right?"

Aphtan was unmoved. "You don't have the time—"

"Sure, we do!" Carlisle grabbed Aphtan's hand and tugged (more like dragged) him down the hall. "Come on, Aphtan! If you want to be a senior, you have to recognize the people who support you are your inspiration to keep pushing farther and farther!"

Aphtan allowed Carlisle to drag him as he said, "My talent speaks for itself. I don't need much else. And those people are your fans, not mine, Carlisle-po."

"They're both of our fans, Tantan!" Carlisle pulled them both up to the swooning girls in their various styles of the uniform and he offered them his large smile. "Hi, everyone! Thanks for waiting, but you really didn't have to! I'm sure you guys have classes to go to."

One girl rushed to say, "We do, but we just wanted to make sure you had something to eat."

"You've been working so hard, Carlisle," another girl worried. "We're worried you haven't been eating right."

"We all made sure to bring you some snacks!" a third girl mentioned as the others hold up their bags. Some had brought bento boxes while others had gone out of their way to get something from the cafeteria or a nearby store. "Are you hungry?"

"Aw!" Carlisle's smile widened and his eyes turned to cute crescents when he did that. "You guys are all so sweet to me! Thank you! Aphtan made sure I ate something today, but please enjoy your food, okay? Make sure you guys stay healthy and warm for me, yeah? I don't want anyone getting sick."

The girls giggled and swooned amongst themselves. "Okay, Carlisle!" they chorused.

Carlisle nudged Aphtan and whispered, "You should say something to them too, Tantan."

The group of fan girls eagerly turned to Aphtan who only looked at Carlisle. "We need to go," he said firmly. "That's all I have to say."

Annoyance surged through the group towards Aphtan's ignoring of them, but Carlisle laughed. "Sorry, everyone, but Tantan's right. We should get going." He grabbed Aphtan by the shoulders and began to steer them away. "Bye, everyone!"

"Will you be at the ice rink after school, Carlisle?" a girl hoped.

Carlisle offered an apologetic smile. "I will, but I'm sorry. My coach says the rink is closed to everyone outside skaters." When he saw their faces fall, he assured, "But Tantan promised to record a few videos from my practice, so please watch them and tell me what you think! Your guys' opinions matter to me a lot!"

The girls were swooning again. "Okay, Carlisle!"

"Cool!" He offered them a wink and a two-fingered salute. "Bye-bye!" And he and Aphtan ducked into another hall. "You really should have said something, Tantan." He offered a smile and peace sign to a few students who passed by with admiring smiles. "They're your fans too, you know. And they're all really nice."

Aphtan fiddled with his ring. "They aren't my fans, Carlisle-po, they're yours." He paid no attention to two students who offered shy waves, disheartened at his brush off. "Whether they're nice or not doesn't matter to me. My scores matter."

Carlisle frowned. "Sure, they should matter, but that shouldn't be everything," he countered. "It's a lot more than just perfect scores, Tantan." He would have said more, but he pulled to a stop in the middle of the hall when he felt his Compact vibrate. He got it out of his pocket to see it was Bleu. "What does he want?"

Aphtan gently pulled them both to the side of the hall so they did not disrupt traffic. "Is it your ex again?"

"No, my cousin." Carlisle answered the call. "What's up?"

"Can you come outside?"

Carlisle's brow furrowed. "Are you on campus?" He saw Aphtan shaking his head.

"Yeah. I couldn't wait and Father had me in New Azalea for a quick little trip. Carlisle, please."

Carlisle looked at Aphtan pleadingly. Aphtan exhaled, though it sounded a little bit like a sigh, and he nodded before tugging Carlisle down the hall. "Fine, but it needs to be quick," Carlisle warned him.

"It will be. Thanks."

Carlisle hung up before he told Aphtan, "Tantan—"

"Five minutes, Carlisle-po, I mean it," Aphtan commanded.

"I know. I'll be quick, I swear." Carlisle and Aphtan hurried through the throng of students and went to the main lobby that was carved in a huge dome with projections from students stained on the ceiling and wall and a floating chandelier that wafted a refreshing and calm atmosphere with its light. Carlisle managed quick smiles for those who greeted him before he got to the main door.

Aphtan stopped him. "Five minutes."

"I know, I know." Carlisle winked at him. "Be right back, Tantan." He shoved himself outside. Sure, it was a bitter cold, but his eyes saw Bleu's car on the curb and he made a beeline for it. The second he got in, Bleu (dressed in a gray button-down vest, a white button-up, and slacks) was already talking.

"Did your mom say anything to you about this?" Bleu demanded to know.

Carlisle shot him an irritated look. "Of course not. It's not like we're still in heavy contact with that side of the family, you know." He crossed his arms. "We're not all bad."

"I know that." Bleu let out an exasperated huff. "Why did he call you?"

"Probably gloating about how he's another 'chosen one'." Carlisle snorted. "He's stuck around longer than others. I don't know why. I'm sure he's just hyped up he gets to do something important for once." He turned to Bleu. "You have to go."

Bleu shook his head. "Carlisle—"

"Lucy, she's your—!"

"You don't know that," Bleu shut down. "This could be temporary or something, Carlisle."

Carlisle rolled his eyes. "It's been how many years, Lucy? You've had every opportunity. She's it. Don't kid yourself. You can't just sit back and let this happen—!"

"You don't think I know that!" Bleu snapped. "The second you warned me, I wanted so badly to take her away, but you know I can't." He cracked his knuckles. "It's not as easy for me as it is for you, Carlisle, and my father…" He cut himself off in a groan.

Carlisle lost his anger for sympathy. "Lucy…"

Bleu pinched the bridge of his nose. "Her sister's Star Spirit knows what I am."

Carlisle's eyes widened. "What?" He could not fathom this. "But… How? You're so careful—"

"It was an accident," Bleu murmured, grimacing at his own error. "It was for a split second. I just… I saw her and…" He shook his head.

Carlisle looked at his lap and stewed in consideration. "Look… I know you can't do anything with being under your dad's thumb, but… What if I—?"

"Carlisle, no—"

"I'm only suggesting I can pull some silent strings," Carlisle assured. "I know I can't get involved. Mom and I have a good thing going with this family and your father isn't someone we can afford to cross. But you know me and my connections. I can figure out something."

Bleu looked torn. "First, Luther. Now, you." He shook his head. "You're both risking a lot for me."

"Not really," Carlisle countered. He nudged Bleu's shoulder. "We're family, Lucy. Remember that." He looked out the window to see Aphtan waiting for him. "I have to get to intramurals." He rolled his eyes. "I'm allowed to set only if I promise not to draw attention to myself. How is it my fault I get attention?"

Bleu snorted. "Right. It's never you're fault."

"Thank you!" Carlisle beamed and was either oblivious or simply did not care about the sarcasm. "I gotta go, so I'll let you know what I find." He opened the door and got out—

Bleu blurted, "Carlisle, wait!"

Carlisle ducked his head in with a quirk of an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

Bleu hesitated. "Is this 'Dante' your…?" He tried again. "I mean I know you date around and everything and there was your last ex, so I don't mean to assume anything—"

"If you mean 'boyfriend', then maybe." Carlisle shrugged and looked away when Bleu cocked his head. "I don't know if he's that one, Lucy. I like him. He likes me. That's pretty much it." He added in a pouty mutter, "And apparently he's little mousey tech likes him too."

Bleu grinned. "Jealousy? That's a new one. You're never jealous."

Carlisle stuck out his tongue and gave him a middle finger. "Oh, shut up." As Bleu snickered, something came to Carlisle. "Hey, you once said you ran into Tesla and her boyfriend, right?"

Bleu nodded. "Yeah. Why?"

"Nothing." Though, Carlisle sounded troubled. "Something about him seems familiar."

"You said you met him at a party, didn't you?"

"I mean, yeah, I did, but…" Carlisle sighed. "I don't know. It's like I've seen him somewhere else. I know he's a Fairy Tail Mage and all, so he's been in magazine and blogs and stuff, but it's just some sort of feelings like I've seen him…"—he waved a hand around—"somewhere."

Bleu frowned. "Anything to be worried about?"

"No." Carlisle offered a lopsided smile. "Just a feeling."

Bleu huffed. "I hate your 'feelings' because they always lead to something." He checked the time. "I'll text you later."

"Sure." Carlisle gave him a peace sign. "See ya." He closed the car door before trekking back inside the academy where Aphtan was waiting for him and was ignorant at the trio of girls giggling and glancing over to him. "Thanks for waiting, Tantan."

Aphtan guided them both through the lobby. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just some drama." Carlisle blew a two-fingered kiss towards a few students who were blushing just from his presence with admiration in their eyes. "Are you sure you want to stay after your freestyle practice for me, Tantan? You don't have to."

Aphtan shook his head. "It's fine, Carlisle-po."

"If you say so." Carlisle grabbed Aphtan's shoulders and lightly shook him. "What do you say after we finish the rink and our workout, we go get—?"

"We have a diet to follow, Carlisle-po," Aphtan cut in.

Carlisle pouted. "But if it's just one meal—"

Aphtan stopped. "Carlisle-po." He looked at Carlisle with those emotionless eyes. "You will not be veering away from your meal plan."

Carlisle smiled nervously and laughed. "Of course not, Tantan!" Maybe the Prince will let me—

Aphtan drifted away to say, "And if I find out your boyfriend has been feeding you unhealthy food, Carlisle-po, I will become angry with you and not hesitate to tell Coach."

Carlisle panicked and chased after Aphtan. "Come on, Tantan, there's no need to be cruel!" he whined. "And he's not my boyfriend!"

"My apologies, Carlisle-po. If your partner—"

"He isn't my partner."

"If your lover—"

"That's still not accurate!"

"If your sex friend—"

"That sounds worse than everything else!"

---

Tesla pretty much tried to avoid everyone she could when she was leaving school. Granted, she earned early release, so it was mainly the twelfth years leaving, but she would have given her left arm if it meant she never had to see their faces. She hustled out of the building with her bag and had to sigh in shaky relief when she saw a familiar beaten down truck waiting for her and a muscled man outside, ignoring any female attention he garnered.

She rushed to him and beamed. "Thanks for coming to get me, Dante."

Dante smiled and took her bag (and she was pretty sure she heard a few girls audibly swoon). "Considering the alternative is you driving yourself and possibly crashing…" He trailed off purposefully as he opened the passenger's side for her.

"Oh, ha-ha, very funny." Tesla climbed into the truck, relieved to find it warm, and Dante shut the door after her. The moment he had rounded over and got onto his side, she admitted, "Where's Carlisle? I feel cheated. I was hoping you'd bring your boyfriend."

Dante shook his head as he threw her bag into the back. "He has practice. He'll be by later." He pulled off the curb and got them off campus property.

"I notice you didn't deny the boyfriend bit—"

"We haven't talked about it," Dante sighed. "We just like each other and we'll take it slow."

Tesla grinned. "Mmm-hmm. And slow means making him cum in his pants?"

"He—"

"Of course he told me," Tesla scoffed. "He texted me while he was hiding in the bathroom to get my ass to your place. I was just…"—she made a gesture with her hands—"preoccupied."

Dante glanced at her as he came to a red light. "I'm sure." Two beats. "You're more than welcome to use the other bedroom, Tesla."

"And here you and your current roommate go at it?" Tesla crossed her legs. "I'm okay. My place is fine, I promise. I don't have any 'roommates'."

"For now or forever?"

Tesla stayed silent.

Dante did not beat around the bush. "Did you need me to get you heart attack food so you can talk about your feelings?"

"It depends," Tesla said slowly. "Are we going to talk about you and Carlisle too?"

Dante shrugged. "If you want."

"Then, sure. You're buying though."

Dante snorted. "Like I would have let you pay." And he stepped on the pedal.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

And then…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Everyone knew the best place for salty fries by the bucket load with grease that nearly ripped the bag from its sogginess and milkshakes came with custom creaminess was none other than this chain of drive-in restaurants. From five to fifty, it had something for everyone. Unhealthy, sure, but from the classic new jack swing music and power ballads to the sarcastic waitstaff who were allowed to curse at anyone seventeen and over, it was the place to go when you had something on your mind or nowhere to go at all.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Ed, Edd, and Ardy's Drive-in, a popular retro restaurant. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Dante and Tesla had decided to unwind with double cheeseburgers, shared a large fry, and Dante skimped on a milkshake while Tesla had no issue ordering the largest vanilla shake they had (and ignoring Dante reminding her of her lactose intolerance). Already, they had gone through their burgers and were plucking out fries.

Tesla opened their conversation with, "So he frequently stays over… You guys like each other and admitted it—"

"We admitted it yesterday—"

"Who cares? Here's the thing." Tesla slurped some of her milkshake before she spoke even more. "He's hot." She feigned innocence at Dante's flat look. "What? He is…! You should see all the YouView videos about him and all the comments. Girls go crazy over him."

Dante might have wrestled out some fries a little forcefully as he said, "Yes. I know. Every time we went out, girls started to flock to him."

Tesla held back from grinning at Dante's obvious attempts to cool his discomfort. "He's funny and he seems highly into you to hunt you down after you kept trying to avoid him." She said those words pointedly. "I don't see why you don't at least give him an official date."

"Just because you like someone doesn't mean dating is the next step," Dante reminded. "I don't know if our schedules would line up for an official date."

"Oh, bullshit," Tesla called. "If you two have enough time to cozy up and watch documentaries together, you have time for a date. Hell, that could be a date!"

Dante shook his head. "No. He'd probably complain if I made that a date. He's just so…" He made a gesture with his hands. "He's… You know… Just such a pretty boy. He'd probably want a date somewhere fancy."

"Just because he comes from NAC doesn't mean he's as ritzy as those people," Tesla wanted to point out. "Just from drinking with him, I can tell he's a lot more down-to-Earth-Land than you think. And"—she nudged his arm—"I'm sure he'd be over the moon on anything you guys did together."

Dante sighed and went for his drink. "It would take time to plan that we don't have," he confided. "It's not like I hadn't thought about it, but it's difficult. He has school and his figure skating. I have work and night school—"

"Which you gave him a key to your place last night, so he can wait for you." Now Tesla could grin at Dante's flat stare. "Keep going, Your Majesty, and list reasons."

Dante laid his head back on the head rest and let out a deep exhale.

Tesla softened. "You know it's okay to be afraid," she assured him in a gentle murmur. "But what are you afraid of?"

"My life…" Dante made a noise of struggle. "Our lives are different. His maman is a principal ballerina. He's at a fancy magnet school and he's ranked internationally for his figure skating. He's so…beautiful."

"And you have amazing points too," Tesla pointed out. "Dante, you're an Enchanter. You know how rare it is to be an Enchanter at your age? You make insane money." She chuckled when Dante shot her a look. "Setting money aside, you're driven, thoughtful, insightful—Dante, you're an awesome person to have as a friend and I'd imagine more so as a boyfriend." She cocked her head as she drank in Dante's profile with narrowed scrutiny. "Are you that worried he'll leave you for someone else?"

Dante's shoulders went rigid. Gruffly, he questioned, "And what about you and Jaxton?"

Now Tesla stiffened. "What about him and I?"

"Not even a 'we' anymore." Dante took his time to observe Tesla as she suddenly focused on their shared fries. "Tesla, if you are unhappy with Jaxton, break up with him," he advised without any inflections in his tone.

"I…!" Tesla's shoulders rose and fell when she let out a terse exhale through her nose. "I…considered it last night."

If Dante was surprised, he did a good job hiding it. "What stopped you?"

Tesla shook her head and looked out the window. It took her a few moments for her to find what she wanted to say, but she ended up blurting, "Do you ever just feel like…there's this person you felt so much for and you just…you could trust them and you thought that trust was reciprocal, but they're not at all the person you thought they were?" She shook her head. "I know if there isn't trust, there isn't a relationship. It's not that I don't trust him, but… I'm just…so angry and tired. I'm tired, Dante."

"Of…?"

"I'm tired of wanting to be okay all the time," Tesla confided. "It's not like I can afford to not be okay, but I get so tired of smiling and I'm also tired of crying." She rested her head on the glass. "I just…want to sleep for a long time."

Dante shifted as his eyes stared absently outside the front window. Maybe if he were someone else, he would hesitate to say his next piece. "He broke your trust before when you were spiraling just like I did. We had no choice but to tell your mom. Is this the same thing?" His eyes bounced to her. "Did he break your trust out of necessity?"

Tesla remained quiet.

Dante picked off a stray thing of lint from his sweatshirt. "I can't speak for the situation in complete. I'm not in the relationship. I'll respect what you do. If what he did was for your safety, I can't find fault in that breach of trust. But I get why you're upset—"

"Do you?" Tesla pushed back her braids, but her hands carried a slight tremor. "It's just… I'm so conflicted being upset or letting this go and then everything with my sperm donor getting out…!" She sucked in air when her eyes stung. "I just wish I never found out," she croaked. "Ignorance really is bliss. I'd be at his place right now and I'd feel safe for once and instead, no, I'm here, breaking down every five minutes—"

"Your sperm donor is being released from prison," Dante reminded softly. "You have every reason to be stressed." Two beats. "Is the reason you don't want to see Jaxton is because memories keep coming up?"

Tesla went rigid. Her eyes flared until tears filled them and she felt her eyes burn and her cheeks heat in a bad way.

Dante tugged at her sweater and brought her over (and was momentarily grateful his truck had a front bench) and let her weep into his chest. Maybe to her, that sounded like ugly sobs, but to him, they sounded like the cries that were bottled in for longer than they should have. "I mean it, Tesla. Come stay with me. Or with Kat," he pleaded.

But she stubbornly shook her head. "I can't—"

"You can." Dante rubbed her back. "We're going to your apartment and we're filling a suitcase of clothes and you'll stay in my guest bedroom."

"I-I have work—"

"Which Kat is getting you from," Dante quieted her, "and she'll bring you back to my place." When Tesla tried to refuse again, Dante incentivized, "And considering Lips is essentially my new roommate, I know he'd be happy you were there. He'll have someone to complain to about me over documentaries."

Tesla half-sobbed and half-snickered. "I don't want to scare off your potential boyfriend with my messy ass."

"I think he'll be more than okay if you need to cry on either of our shoulders," Dante assured. "Come on. Let's get back to your place so we can get your stuff. Will you let Jaxton know or do you want me to let him know?"

Tesla sniffled and pulled away from Dante to wipe away her tears. "I'll let him know. It's the least I can do."

"Okay." Dante waited as Tesla got her Compact to say, "Please just tell me one thing: do you still love him?"

Tesla faltered as she unlocked her Compact. "I do love him," she murmured. "It's why all this hurts even more." She swiped her cheek with the butt of her wrist. "I'll get my shit together with him, I promise—"

"No, that's not why I asked," Dante said with a shake of his head. "The only reason I asked is to know where your heart is at with him."

Tesla snorted as she brought of Jaxton's contact. "My heart is ripped to shreds."

"Your head is torn up," Dante corrected. "Your heart is straight and narrow."

Tesla shot him a watery grin. "Telling me to follow my heart, Your Majesty?"

"Following your heart or your head—what does it matter?" Dante started the truck and buckled himself up. "I can't tell you what to do. You don't feel physically safe. Protect yourself first and foremost before you try to follow your heart or your head."

Tesla strapped herself in and that was when Dante started to back up the truck. As she texted Jaxton a quick message, she casually mentioned, "You know, for all the sage advice you give, it's funny you don't take it yourself."

Dante sighed.

"And since you've been so kind in giving me your words of wisdom, can I interest you in hearing my very improvised speech on why you should like down Carlisle?" Tesla cheekily offered with a flutter of her eyelashes. "It starts with me gaining a new best friend and being deliriously happy someone can keep up with me in liquor and ends with you getting your dick regularly sucked and someone to snuggle with."

Dante was quiet for many moments as he forced the truck back on the road and Tesla thought to retract her teasing when he mumbled, "Go on."

---

Luke was downstairs by the time the front door open and shut as he snacked and indulged in a Cipanguese series Yuuma had recommended him. "Hi!" he shouted. "Nashi or Lu?"

"Luna." She trailed into the living room with the tips of her ears pink and her eyes telling about her lethargy.

Luke frowned and paused the episode to take in her appearance. "What's wrong? I thought you were at Ena's today and I would have thought you'd come back a little happier."

"No, it's not that." Luna went to the couch to lay down and Icarus settled on the floor. "Just tired. It was a long day."

"Oh. Got it." Still, Luke felt troubled seeing Luna so out of it. "Well, Nashi hasn't texted, so I don't know when she's going to be home, but I can change it to something you want to watch if you want?"

Luna shrugged.

"Are you hungry?" Luke suggested. "Do you just not feel good?"

Luna shrugged again. "I don't know. I just feel out of it."

"That's not good." Luke went over to the couch to press the back of his hand to her forehead. "No fever." He took a whiff of her scent. "You don't smell sick or like a sickness is coming." He tilted his head. No weird Magic smells. Maybe she really is tired. But still… He smiled and nudged her. "Well, I know food always makes you feel better," he prodded. "Why don't we get dinner?"

Luna still did not perk up. "Do we have to?"

"Yes, we have to." Luke took her hands forced her to sit up. "You'll be grumpy and hangry in the morning and I am not dealing with that."

"No one said you would," Luna muttered.

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Don't lie to me. You'll be knocking on my door at two in the morning in near tears that you're hungry if we don't feed you now." He grinned when Luna glared at him. "Just because you went to Igneel for all your cravings doesn't mean I haven't been keeping tabs."

Luna pouted, but she let Luke pull her up to her feet. "Fine," she grumbled. "What are we getting for dinner?" She perked and demanded, "I want to go to Nevereverland!"

Luke openly groaned as he let her go. "God, why, Lu? Why do you hate me? Why? Why?"

"Well, you said we had to eat," Luna cheekily reminded him. "I want to go to Nevereverland for food."

Luna rooted around for an excuse. "We could order Double Trouble or something," he proffered. "We could even order delivery from Nevereverland. We don't have to go there, right?" He childishly shook his arms when Luna gave him that pout and those eyes. "Ah…! I hate you so much!"

Luna whooped and did a twirl that went into a cartwheel. "Ah-ha-ha, I win…! I win, I win, I win!" she cheered. "Can I fly—?"

"NO!"

Luna gave pause to jut out her bottom lip and widened her eyes. "But—Ack!" She struggled when Luke's hand was smashing her face and cried, "Icarus! I'm being attacked here!"

Icarus lazily lifted his head, took in the situation, then he sighed and put his head on his paws.

"You are not giving me that face," Luke commanded. "I'm not falling for your tricks again. Igneel let you fly once at night and look at what happened."

Luna ripped her face away from Luke's hand to slide her eyes to the ground guiltily and shuffled her feet. "I didn't mean to do it, though… It was an accident…"

Now Luke felt bad bringing that up again. "I know, I know, but for now, until you get your license, let me do the flying, okay?"

"Okay…"

"Oh, don't give me that little pout again." Luke smiled when Luna's lips twitched. "I see that smile." He chortled when Luna shoved him away and tried to hide her grin. "I'll text Nashi and let her know that we're going out for dinner." He turned around. "Hey, Cullen. We're going out for dinner. Want to come?"

Luna let out a small eep! when the Shadower appeared from Luke's shadow and she partially hid behind her brother. Cullen noticed and he tried to make himself smaller for her sake as he gave a nod to Luke.

Luke noticed his sister hiding and nudged her from behind him. "Cullen is a friend, Lu," he reminded her. "He's not going to hurt you."

"I know that," Luna whisper-snapped at him as she watched the Shadower. "H-Hi, Cullen."

Cullen wiggled his fingers at her in greeting.

"Go put on something warmer and we can leave, okay?" Luke looked at the Shadower. "You can hide in my shadow."

Cullen nodded and slunk into Luke's shadow, fitting it perfectly.

Luke flicked Luna's nose. "Be back down in five minutes or I'm leaving you behind." He snickered when Luna smacked his shoulder and pretended to be brutally injured. "Oh, the agony, it burns, it burns! I'll never use this shoulder again!"

"Jackass," muttered Luna as she darted down the hall. "And you better not leave without me or else I'm telling Mama you buy dirty manga!"

Luke's cheeks inflamed. "You can't prove anything!" But when all he heard was her cackle, he looked worriedly at the Clifford Spirit. "She can't, right?"

It did not alleviate his anxiety when Icarus panted a chuckle.

°•°•°•°

Nevereverland drew in a good dinner crowd tonight and a diverse array of Magia characters were out and about. Ariel had her human legs and sung little ditties with each order she gave. Rapunzel had her hair thickly braided and wore nude ballet flats to make up for her barefootedness and admitted a drawing a child had done for her. A Cheshire cat was out and about and causing mischief. Those creatures were real and quite the little devils to maintain with their Teleportation abilities, but this Cheshire was devoted to Nevereverland and his owner.

Luke and Luna had been given a high-rise booth that Luna embarrassedly needed help getting into, but she slapped her laughing brother the moment she had slid in. They had quickly ordered their entire meal, starting with appetizers and ending with much-needed dessert.

Luke grimaced as he looked around. "We really had to come here, huh?"

"I love it here!" Luna kicked out her legs.

"Just no telling Mom and Dad," Luke reminded her. "They told us we were supposed to stay in Magnolia."

Luna rolled her eyes. "I won't tell them," she promised. Their waitress came back—the beautiful Princess Tiana in her yellow dress—with their drinks and appetizers and the promise she would return with their entrées. "Besides, I feel better not being in Magnolia." She took a sip of her lemonade. "I hate being stuck there."

"You won't be for long," Luke assured. "Keep up with training and Mom and Dad will let you go on solo missions. You've been progressing pretty well."

Luna snorted. "I can't tell Gale down in a fight."

"And I'd be more scared if you could," Luke confessed. "It takes time, Lu. And Gale's been training for a long time. He's a really good fighter. Who knows if you'll ever…?" His eyes widened when he caught Luna's glare and he coughed. "I mean… It just might take a little longer than you thought?"

"Nice save," Luna grumbled as she helped herself to their appetizers of sliders, party shrimp, and biscuits. "Speaking of Gale… You haven't talked to him lately, have you?"

Luke gave her a quizzical look. "Why would I?" He got his mini plate and loaded it up. "I spoke to him a little bit and I apologized, but we haven't really spoken since."

"I just wanted to ask." Luna tucked in a slider. "I know you guys aren't that close, but it'd be nice if you two could get along."

"And what about you two?"

"What about us?"

Luke gestured to her. "How are you and Gale handling your…"—he tried to phrase it delicately—"weird relationship?"

"It's…going," Luna slowly answered, her shoulders slumping. "Honestly, I don't know what to do. It's my…" She looked around.

Luke seemed to understand and he waved his hand. "There. Privacy. Say what you need to say."

She shot him a grateful look and confessed to him, "It's all my visions. I'm just…so overwhelmed by them. And today was even worse."

"What happened?" Luke studied her. "Is that why you were so tired?"

Luna nodded and looked at her plate to wince. "I was trying to tap into my Second Spirit. I didn't know what I'd find or anything like that, but an old friend showed me something I never want to see again."

Honeyed butterscotch fired with life.

"Hey…" Luke frowned. "You don't have to tell me, but if you want to—"

"I saw…him."

"'Him'?"

Luna swallowed and nodded, her body involuntarily shrinking into itself. "Mmm-hmm. It was… I think it was some sort of lab," she whispered. "They called him 'Experiment Seven-Seven-Seven', but… He was human. And there… There were children. They experimented on children." Nausea rolled around her stomach and fresh tears came to the surface. "I'm going to be sick—!"

"Hey, hey, hey…" Luke scrambled to get to her side to tuck her under his arm and rub her back. "Shhh… It's okay, Lu."

But she shook her head. "It's not okay," she croaked. "I feel like I saw too much. So much was changing just like that, Luke. You could snap a finger and something just changed." She shivered and rubbed her arms. "I don't know if I ever want to see all of that again."

"You don't have to," Luke assured her. "No one will force you to use your Second Spirit."

"Won't they, though?"

Luke was taken aback when a haunted look guarded Luna's gaze.

"They could…if they knew," Luna whispered. "They could force me to see into the future. They could kill me over it, couldn't they?"

Luke swallowed. I can't just lie to her, but will telling the truth help? In the end, he decided to say, "We'll protect you so no one ever tries to force you into using your powers, Lu. I promise you. I won't let anyone touch you and neither will our friends and family, okay? Do you trust me?"

Luna sniffled and nodded.

Luke had more to say, but the waitress came back and he was forced to diffuse the spell. Luke went over to his side as she unloaded the entrées and passed a concerned look to Luna, smiling when Luke mouthed an assurance. Once the siblings had been left alone, Luke murmured to Luna, "Then, trust we'll do whatever we can to protect you."

Luna nodded again.

It was quiet between brother and sister as they slowly started into their food. For Luke, he felt weighted with worry. I've seen Lu worry, but this… I don't know how to make her feel safe anymore. She's right. For now, it looks like no one even knows the extend of her First Spirit. As long as no one finds out she has a Second Spirit, we'll be fine, but… He sighed.

"Luke?"

He looked over at Luna. "Yeah?"

"Do you think…?" Luna furrowed her brow as she tried to find the words. "Did you ever…have feelings for Mary Jane or E?"

"What?" Luke's eyes went wide. "I mean they're both very beautiful and great friends, but no, not once. Why?"

So that must have just been another destiny. "It's nothing," Luna played off as she tried to perk up. "Anyways, I think Silver and Igneel would kill you if you did."

Luke barked a laugh. "Igneel wouldn't speak to me for two days all because Mary Jane said she thought I was the better twin. If I even said Mary Jane was pretty, it's almost like asking for a bounty on my head with him." He tilted his head. "Silver, though?" His eyebrows rose. "Ah. That would explain him acting weird and his scent."

Luna was in the middle of chewing her steak, but when she swallowed, she echoed, "'Scent'?"

"It's easy to tell who likes who by their scent," Luke filled her in. "Stuff Dad taught Igneel and me. People give off this hey-I-like-you pheromone scent around people they crush on. It's nothing anyone can control. It's just a natural reaction. I smelt it on him, but we were always in a group, so I couldn't tell if it was for you or for Bambi—"

"Me?" Luna squeaked. "Why would Silver like me?"

Luke raised his hands in surrender. "Dude, I don't know. I didn't want to assume anything." He went back to his burger, but he stopped again for a thoughtful look. "Silver and Bambi, huh?" He snorted. "Good luck with that."

Luna frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Luke bite into his burger, but he covered his mouth to speak. "I mean…" He chewed and swallowed. "I just meant Bambi is a fierce lady. I've practiced fencing with her and our score is pretty much fifty-fifty for wins and losses. She's an entrepreneur at her age and she made a name for herself. He's very brave."

"Right? Isn't E amazing?" Luna beamed with pride over her best friend. "I should be offended you haven't ever crushed on her. She's amazing."

Luke blinked. "Yes, she is amazing, but I'm…sorry I've never crushed on her? I guess? I think?" He shook his head and hulked in another bite of his burger. "Let me know how that goes…and if Silver comes out of it alive," he added in a snicker.

"Don't be mean," Luna laughed. "Besides, E doesn't want a relationship. So Silver is sort of stuck right now." A frown came back. "I just hope he doesn't push her. I don't think he will or anything like that. And I'm not really afraid that E will lash out. I'm more afraid E will be honest and it will break Silver's heart."

Luke nodded and swallowed his mouth full. "I understand. It's a tough place to be in for you and for him."

Luna hummed in thought.

Luke cocked his head. "What?"

"Well, it's just…" Luna pursed her lips before shaking her head. "No, it's nothing, never mind. So!" She offered a grin. "You never confessed if you met any pretty girls at the party on New Year's Eve…"

The conversation tumbled out just like that. Endless teasing between siblings and some more serious moments regarding studies and concerns they shared. By the time they finished their main courses and their desserts, it felt like hours had passed between them and Luna kept yawning and rubbing her eyes.

"Go to bed the second we get home," Luke commanded.

"Mmm-kay," Luna yawned.

Luke shook his head as he got out of his side of the booth. "Let me hit the bathroom and pay and then we can go," he promised her. "Will you be okay and not fall asleep?"

Luna waved him off as she propped a cheek on a fist. "I'll be fine. Go on."

"Mmm-hmm…" Luke shook his head as he skated past guests and princesses and other Magia characters to get to the bathroom. He was lucky no one else was in the bathroom and did his business before washing his hands.

THWOP.

As Luke was scrubbing between his fingers, he glanced up only to do a double-take. A woman had entered the men's room with dead eyes, small eyebrows, and a mask covering her lower face. His brow furrowed when she raised a hand. "Excuse me—"

"Egg Knock."

A pain like no other flared inside Luke and he dropped to his side, gasping for air. His blood boiled and something inside his chest thumped. It was not his heart. He knew that. It was that power. It was that side of him he thought he suppressed. His body convulsed and his head twitched his way. An unwanted foam and saliva bubbled in his mouth as his arms trembled and his superficial veins puffed up and thickened with a black coloring.

The woman was undaunted at the pain she brought to him and kept her hand towards him, but her eyes cut to the Shadower that dislodged himself from Luke's shadow to defend him.

Luke gurgled as the deep-rooted fear came to him as the whispers came back, filled with temptations and sins that he would have wanted to take to his grave. "Cull…n… Lu… Save…"

THWOP.

Another person joined them. He did not look all the intimidating at first, but there was something wrong with his freakishly large glasses. They did not reflect his eyes. It looked like they were frequency meters for the old school Radio Lacrima instead. He looked at the woman and in a voice that sounded like he was speaking from a radio, he asked, "Problem?"

The woman watched as a shadow slipped underneath them and out of the bathroom. "The fourth one is going to escape," she told the man. "Make sure she doesn't or we don't get paid."

The man saluted her. "Roger dodger!" And he left the bathroom.

For Luke, it was too late. The whispers turned into an arena of murmurs and discussions. He heard them. He heard their reminders of the wrongs he committed and how good he had to have felt when he did them. He heard them promise him the deepest desires that not even Igneel had known about. The darkness fluttered over his eyes and made the world hazy. The foam in his mouth made it so hard to breathe that he had begun to choke violently.

"Don't worry. I won't let you die."

Luke felt his head turned to the side and the foam and saliva fell out of his mouth. But that was not enough relief from the anguish that swarmed him.

"You just don't need to be conscious. That's what they said. They don't need you to be human."

He shored up the last scraps of Magic he could feel, but it was so hard. It was hard trying to fight against a darkness that he knew would consume him. The glimpses of Magic were difficult to piece together, but he did so and he did the only thing he could do when his stomach bottomed out and his eyes were rolling to the back of his head.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Icarus…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna was jolted quite rudely, in her opinion, from the little doze-off she was doing. Her eyes drearily looked up to see it was Cullen shaking her. "Huh? Cullen?" She yawned. "Mmm… Is Luke okay?"

Pup! You mustn't fall asleep!

Luna stretched her mouth again in a yawn as Cullen tried to get her out of the booth (and panickily looked around at the glances they were accumulating). But…I'm so tired…

"Excuse me?"

Luna turned her head to hum when she saw her waitress had returned and was eyeing Cullen in both fear and resolve. "Hmm?"

"I'm sorry, miss, but… Is this thing bothering you?" The Tiana waitress questioned. "We have the Guard on speed dial if you need any help."

Luna shook her head and yawned again. "No. He's my…" She covered her mouth when another yawn took her. "Oh, excuse me. Oh, no, Cullen is my brother's friend. He's just trying to keep me awake."

"And her brother would be me." Luke returned with an apologetic smile towards the waitress. "Sorry. I sent Cullen out here to make sure my little sister would stay awake since we have a little bit of a flight back home."

The Tiana waitress looked flustered. "O-Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to imply—!"

"No, it's okay, really!" Luke laughed. "He is a little bit of a scary one." He went to grab Luna. "I paid for our tab, but I think it's time we head home."

"Oh, of course!" The Tiana waitress lingered when she saw Luna's head lull. "Are you, um, sure she's okay, though?"

Luna offered a lazy smile. "I'm okay. I'm just sleepy." She looked at her brother. "Can we go home now?"

"We're going, we're going." Luke shot the waitress a smile to which she returned uneasily. "Come on, Lu." He helped his little sister down and it was a mission trying to get her to walk in a straight line when she kept stumbling and bumbling about, but they made it out of the restaurant.

Luna tried to keep her eyes open, but it was so difficult. She was just so exhausted. Her bleary eyes skimmed her surroundings with a vagueness to them, but when she was lead down an alleyway rather than the main street, something did not sit right. Soon, the dim lights disappeared and they were left in nothing but darkness.

"Hey…" Luna piped up. "This isn't the way to the parking lot…"

"I know." Luke's breath hit her ear in a very uncomfortable manner. "We're taking a little detour, Lu. Relax."

The fatigue made it hard to feel anything else, but Luna had enough strength to fidget within Luke's grips and flinch when his fingers dug into her arm and shoulder. "Hey… That…hurts…" She shook her head to try and clear the fog within it. "This… Something isn't right…"

"You're right." A hand curved down her back. "But it will be."

Alarm forced her to open her eyes and disgust bolstered it. "You're… You're not my brother." Gathering her strength, she threw herself out of this Luke's grip and stumbled back until she hit a wall. Pain set in and she faltered to her knees.

"Isn't this a sight?"

Luna looked up to see "Luke" standing before her with a fangy grin and hungry eyes. He licked his lips. "What a shame we were told we had to keep you 'pure'," he told her. "But they didn't say we couldn't touch you."

"Wait… 'Pure'…?" Luna squinted as the fog swam back into her head. She tried hard to find it in her to fight when she felt a hand grab her shoulder and knock her back against the wall. "No…" When the hand moved down her shoulder and to her chest, the fatigue lessened a little for her to slap away the roaming hand. "No…! Don't…touch me…" She flinched as she blindly went for her pockets.

"Looking for this?"

Luna's head lolled, but she could see it in the haze. She saw Icarus' key. "Give… Give it…" She tried to reach for it, but her efforts were in vain. Her arms dropped like they were made of lead. "Icarus…" Her eyes moved this way and that. "Cullen… Help…"

"Shhh…" "Luke" pressed a finger to her lips. "Your Shadower can't help you. It's too dark for him to form here."

Luna tried to shake her head, but it felt so heavy. The fog thickened in her mind and her body could not support herself anymore. Her eyelids drooped as the alarm took a backseat to the urge to sleep. "Mmm… No… Luke…" Her head fell forward as darkness overcame her and she blindly called out.

Gale…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A scene brightened from the darkness. Scenes overlapped themselves in fast-forward and nothing particularly stuck around for long enough to memorize what was going on. Sensations passed through her, none that were her own, and sets of eyes that tried to convey a message. But some of the scenes pieced together long enough for an understanding to be made.

For a few seconds, she saw a mysterious girl drenched in black. She stood within an area that was chockful of slinky familiars ready to die for the master's cause, the familiars were frozen in time. The young woman did not seem to care about the familiar. Instead, her focus was on a gilded cage that housed a chain set of wings large enough to carry a human being. She got out a saber handle and beaming through it was a swirling energy—

Death and blood and urine combined were enough to make anyone vomit. Carcasses had stormed the blood-soaked prison. Chunks of their bodies were missing with the light and life in their eyes long gone and their mouths opened in a forever silent scream. Amongst the dead was one living. He looked fairly human for the most part, but the horns and tattoos of black spoke for themselves. He had been chained to this cemetery of the brutally murdered—

Seeing Gary in action was one thing, but to see Gary in action while he was angry was another. Fury had worked him over as he through blasts of winter over and over again as a storm of snow and ice swirled around him. Those patient ceruleans were replaced in silver and his body was half-carved out in ice, but he did not dare give up against his opponent as he screeched spell after spell while tears left his face—

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Ah. She's coming to."

Luna awoke with relative ease. Her eyes opened and she knew she could move, but mentally, she was still not there.

A muffled cry was what made her mentally awake.

Luna blinked twice and the fog that had covered her vanished. Mutely, she took in her new environment as though still half there and half not. Golds and blacks filled the walls while a sandstone stile graced the floor. Tapestries bothered the wall and they told a story about a man with kind eyes and a tunic and the way he touched the hearts of the many. There was a throne too with a man there. A king, one would name, with his flowing mane of brunette hair and a devil-may-care look about him. But his eyes… His eyes were lifeless. He looked the part of royalty, but in his eyes, he looked like a soulless golem.

"Mmmrph!"

Luna's head turned again.

Nashi was in the throne room. She had been given a lush chair to sit in, but that did not make her a guest. Gagged and tied, she was bound to her chair. Her eyes looked red-rimmed and she looked like she was trying to scream something at Luna.

Luna's eyes kept going.

Luke had joined them as well, it would seem, but he was not conscious nor was he granted the luxury of a chair. He had been put in a tube filled with a clear liquid. Eyes closed, body half-naked, he was suspended in his tube with wires and oxygen attacked to him. But something about him had changed. Markings marred his flesh in angry lines that no one could understand without serious study and a lot of educated guesses.

"It's nice to meet you, my princess."

Luna's eyes caught a man coming out of the shadows. He held himself in high regard, but he had not a touch of arrogance to him. He wore a deep blue suit and tie with a one-shouldered cape. His gray-blue locks were placed in a low side ponytail that flanked down his chest. He wore gloves, the fastidious type that he was, and he pushed up his glasses. His hand went to his pocket to pull out his pocket watch and snap it open.

"And right on schedule."

The pocket watch snapped shut.

"I do enjoy punctuality."

Luna attempted to move her mouth, but it was no use. Cloth gagged her and she took note she, too, had been bound to a chair with no way to move. Her eyes went from her brother to her sister to the lifeless king then back to this man who approached her.

Within seconds, she felt it. She felt such a coldness that it went past her bones and into her soul.

"You look nothing like His Majesty." The man stood before her to kneel, an arm to his shoulder in a sign of respect. "But you are his blood. That, I do not doubt." The man looked at her through eyes that could rival the tundra. "You take after the Heartfilia aesthetic. No matter, my princess. You will serve your purpose well."

The man stood up to approach a terrified Nashi who tried to flinch back when he leaned forward towards her, chest heaving as he caressed her cheek with utmost carefulness. "The Empress," he named. "You look nothing of His Late Majesty. Dying your hair will suffice. No one will question the eye color."

Nashi tried to scream something and fought against her restraints only to scream again. Her eyes darted down, watery, to not the burn marks gathering at her wrists and ankles.

"Once you are calmer, My Empress, you won't need the bindings," the man assured her. "You are in an erratic state at this moment and I don't want you to hurt yourself. The Empress must be at pinnacle health to rule the nation."

He stepped away from Nashi to go to Luke's tube and he touched the glass. "I would have liked to collect all four of you, but the other prince is not needed. He's a spare. But you, my princess…" He palmed the glass. "You will be better than His Late Majesty's END. You will become more. Just as His Late Majesty wanted in your father."

The man stepped back to get a look at the three Dragneel children in his possession. "We have sincerely missed your presence. I apologize for the delay in your arrival. We were unsure if the princess was just a rumor or truth and we are so happy to know she's real and his Late Majesty may sure his legacy with you all." Arm to his shoulder, he bowed low to them. "My prince, my princess, and My Empress—I pledge my fealty to you as I did to His Late Majesty as your royal consul. And I take great honor in welcoming you home"—his eyes gleamed to reflect a storm of ice and snow—"to the Alvarez Empire."

---

Todoke kiseki ja nakute ii

Utsukushikunakute ii

Ikigai tte yatsu ga hikari kagayaku kara

•

Kirenai batterii

Tamashii no kagiri

Shukumei tte yatsu o

Moyashite Abaredasu dake nanda

---

TO BE CONTINUED…

Woah… That was…intense! Who exactly is this guy? Ah, geez, I have even more of a bad feeling about this, you guys! To find out what happens next to our heroes, stay tuned for the next Fairy Adventure!

---

Carlisle had begun to love being Dante's roommate with all the perks he had gotten with it. Granted, now Dante would not let him just eat whatever he wanted, eating Dante's home cooking was enough to make him feel all warm inside. When it had gotten late, the pair of them had turned off the documentary that Carlisle swore they would finish and climbed into bed.

And now, Carlisle was content being in Dante's arms while the Enchanter barely made a sound in his sleep. Carlisle, on the other hand, snored like the devil and drooled a little, but he even made that look adorable.

DING-DONG!

Carlisle snorted and grumbled when he heard the doorbell from downstairs. "Prince…" he purred as he turned in Dante's arms to press his face to the Enchanter's naked throat and throw a leg around Dante's own. "Door…"

DING-DONG!

Dante, however, did not awaken. Instead, his body took Carlisle's shift as an invitation to snuggle Carlisle closer and an absentminded hand to trace the curve of Carlisle's ass.

That woke Carlisle up a little and made him grin. His eyes opened, half-mast, and he nuzzled into Dante's throat. "Even asleep, you're still an evil man," he teased as Dante let out a silent sigh.

DING-DONG!

Annoyance woke Carlisle up fully and he scowled. "Ugh, who the Hell is wanting a booty call at…"—he rolled over to check the time and rolled his eyes—"one in the morning?" He shuddered when Dante unconsciously ground against him and moaned.

DING-DONG!

Growling, Carlisle wriggled away from Dante (and wanted to weep without the comforting warmth encasing him) to get out of the bed and blindly groped the floor for shorts to wear. "I don't even live here," he grunted (more like whined). He pouted over to Dante who looked like he was stirring. "Prince?"

Dante's nose twitched.

Carlisle placed his chin on the bed and grinned. "Oh, Dante…"

Dante's eyes cracked open. "C'mere," he tried to command through his sleep haze. "Need you."

Internally, Carlisle was dead. My heart! He reached out a hand and threaded it with Dante's. "Someone's ringing your fucking doorbell and I'm scared to go by myself," he teased. "Come with me?"

If he thought his cuteness would work, it did not on Dante who released Carlisle's hand and turned onto his other side. "You get it."

TICK!

"I guess chivalry is dead," Carlisle dryly remarked, but Dante ignored him. He found the shorts and struggled to put them on in the darkness. "Fine. I'll answer the door by myself, half-naked, where someone could kidnap me or try to jump my bones—"

DING-DONG!

Dante groaned and went onto his back. He ran a hand down his face. "No one ever wakes me up," he rumbled, tone sleep-laden and thick. "But of course you would wake me up."

"Come on, Prince, you don't need that much beauty sleep," Carlisle teased him only to yelp when a hand shot out and he was forced atop Dante for a gentle kiss. "Mmmm… I like this."

"Yeah?" Dante nuzzled their noses together. "Me too."

Carlisle opened his mouth—

DING-DONG!

"Ugh…!" Carlisle bemoaned. "What do they want?" Through the darkness, he saw Dante trying to fall back asleep and viciously shook him. "No, no, don't fall back asleep on me! You need to come with me!"

Dante grunted and violently shot off the bed that he threw Carlisle off him. "If this is someone from your fan club, I swear to god, I will murder you myself and burn your corpse." He got off the bed to root around for some sweats.

"Well, I've never!" Carlisle crossed his arms and huffed as the doorbell rang again. "Most of my fans are respectful and kind to my boundaries and don't know where I live—!"

"Didn't you say you had trouble with stalkers before?"

Carlisle wilted and swallowed. "Um…"

Dante grunted and pulled on a pair of sweats before he grabbed Carlisle's arm and forced him to stand up and stumble after him. "Come on. Let's get this over with." He opened the bedroom door and pulled the pair of them out of it.

Now Carlisle was all sorts of nervous. If it is a fan, he'll kill me. But if it's that 'little mouse'… He shook his head as the doorbell continued to be pressed. "Maybe I should stay up here—" But the words were lost to him when Dante jerked in down the steps. "Hey! Ow! I could trip and fall, you know! I'm very delicate!"

"Yeah. Delicate enough to beg for me to go harder," Dante groused, though amusement came through his frustration.

Carlisle blushed as they reached the first floor. "Well, I'm delicate in other ways, you evil man."

DING-DONG!

Dante got to the front door to give Carlisle a sour look. "If it's one of your fans…"

"Uh-hum…" Carlisle took a step back. "M-Maybe you shouldn't get that—"

Dante ignored him as he unlatched and unlocked the front door to practically rip it off the hinges when he pulled it open. It did not matter who was on the other side of the door. He gave them a filthy glare. "Can I help you?"

"Yes," came smooth reply. "I'm looking for Carlisle."

Carlisle (who was halfway back to the steps) froze and nervously sweated. Oh, no. It's a fan. He looked over his shoulder to see Dante glaring at him with the intent to kill. "U-Uh… Well, I better go—Ack!" He did not expect Dante to grab him and shove him to face front, but it was too late now. Clearing his throat, Carlisle greeted this person, "You called for…"

His eyes narrowed. "How the Hell did you find me?"

A man stood at the door with turquoise hair flowing past his shoulders and at turquoise eyes calm and refined. He wore a trench coat and, at this feet, a fat white tomcat resided with eyes that almost looked shut. No sign of a Lacrima Car, but there was a reason for that.

The man nodded to Carlisle. "I had some help," he said in vague. "And, right now, I could use some assistance from you."

Carlisle was shaking his head. "Sorry, but I'm not exactly a 'helpful' one like you if you catch my drift," he deadpanned. "Now, if you could just leave—"

"Carlisle." The man seared him with a look of worry. "They took her."

Carlisle felt his stomach drop. "What?" But he could not believe those words. "No… No, they couldn't have. She was in Magnolia—"

"She left Magnolia," the man supplied.

"Dammit!" Carlisle raked his hands through his hair. "Lucy is going to be so pissed at me for letting this happen!"

"Who's Lucy?"

Carlisle froze and realized Dante was still behind him, waiting it out. He turned to Dante with a cross between a grimace and a smile. "My cousin," he explained.

Dante looked between Carlisle and the man. "And what's happening? Who is he?"

The man bowed his head in politeness. "My apologies for the late intrusion. I was going to talk to Carlisle tomorrow now that I was able to get a hold of him, but there's been a family emergency."

Carlisle hummed, still suspicious and full of worry. "Right. Emergency." He gestured to the man as he looked at Dante. "And he's my…cousin too. We're a, uh…big family."

"We're family from my mother's side," the man emphasized. He held out a hand and offered a weak smile. "But please. Call me 'Kyler'."

---

Chibi-Luna is in front of the classroom as the camera records, but there are no students in the classroom today. "Hi, everyone! Are you ready for today's Fairy Lesson?" She goes over to push back the first blackboard to reveal a chalky drawing of a monolithic country with its emblem drawn into the center. "Today, we're going to do a short review on the history of Alverez!"

Chibi-Luna points to the country. "The Alvarez Empire is on the continent on Alakitasia! By boat, it would take ten days to reach Fiore. But by plane, the flight only takes a few hours," she explains. "Way back when, Alvarez didn't exist. Instead, smaller countries were where the Alvarez Empires stands now. But a man named Zeref Dragneel united seven-hundred and thirty guilds together and dozens of nations to establish the Alvarez Empire."

Chibi-Luna rocks on her feet. "I know some students wondered if Zeref forced these nations to surrender, but that wasn't the case. Many of these nations and guilds heard his message and they wanted to join forces. Those people, who would become the first Alvarezites, were the ones to call him the 'Spriggan Emperor."

She gestured to the drawn-out country. "Over time, Alvarez gained more guild and nations and explained its bordered to be the largest country in Alakitasia!" she goes on. "Alvarez was very prosperous, actually, even though Alakitasia is known for its more desert-like environment. Some argued living in those harsh conditions strengthened the people."

She continues: "In X of seven-eighty-one, a large-scale Magic War was waged between Alvarez and Fiore that we call in our history books as the 'Black War'. Many Mages and soldiers lost their lives and all diplomatic ties were destroyed after the war until in X of seven-ninety-three when Queen Hisui began to establish relationships with Alvarez."

Chibi-Luna hops up to pull down a map of Alvarez to show its terrain and various cities. "As years passed, Alvarez did a number of things. The FMA or the Federation of the Mystic Arts was started as a parallel to Ishgar's Magic Bureau to help police and protect magical creatures and wizards alive and separate church, state, and Magic. Machias were grandfathered in as an official race and had the same rights as any human. But, with the death of the Spriggan Emperor, the new King Ajeel took over to try and reform Alvarez."

Chibi-Luna frowns. "A lot of Alvarezites—or so I hear—weren't happy about the reformations. Some say it's because they are supporters of the late Spriggan Emperor and want the true bloodline back on the throne and others are upset King Ajeel escaped the war crimes charges faced against him, but everyone has a different answer and it's been causing a lot of unrest amongst the people."

She sighs. "Some say there's a coup d'état in place to overthrow King Ajeel and restore the throne to the late Emperor's family, but everything is just a rumor or a theory," she supposes. "The First Prince and only heir to the throne is well disliked amongst the people, even those who do support King Ajeel. But I think it's because the prince doesn't have a good reputation when it comes to women and because the prince was the one to be against the Machias being inducted as a race and given human rights."

Chibi-Luna shakes her head. "That's politics for you."

She claps her hands. "Okay. Onto a message from Author-san. As their next semester in university is starting and their full-time job has begun to pick up along with their studies in Japanese, they will be very busy, but they don't want you to think they are abandoning this story! In fact, they have many more episodes lined up for our heroes. Most dark, but she does have a ray of sunshine coming in! Three-arcs worth of the sunshine once this arc is finished, actually! They will be updating as much as they can since they are excited to reveal a bundle of fun and quirky characters in the next three arcs!"

Chibi-Luna coughs into a fist, "Hint-hint: Inter-Guild Training Camp Arc and introduction to some familiar guilds and one not-so-familiar anime-only guild."

Chibi-Luna gives you a conspiratorial grin. "And they do want to remind you that every dialogue line, every memory, every dream, every half-dream—all of it means something or other and, sometimes, it isn't what you think it is. Keep that in mind as you meet certain characters or read about main characters or side characters. Watch what they say. Because, sometimes, Author-san puts in a quick five-word liner or maybe a little side character that triggers an entire arc."

She winks at the camera. "Keep that in mind for our future episodes and past ones. Every object, every sentence, and every character and even what they wear has a purpose, even if they don't always show up in an episode or the dialogue seems innocent enough.

"And that concludes Author-san's announcements! Please forgive them for not editing! And, while they do try to find what voice actors would fit for certain roles by listening to reels on social media, it's been difficult lately since they don't have the time to listen to too many reels, so please be patient with them!" Chibi-Luna bows low. "But! Next time, on Fairy Adventure, A COLD WELCOME!"

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

Nashi Dragneel – Lauren Landa

Býleistr – Josh Tomar

Miles -

Mirajane Dreyar – Monica Rial

Laxus Dreyar – Patrick Seitz

Mary Jane Dreyar – Erica Lindbeck

Katja – Ashley Johnson

Luke Dragneel – Alan Lee

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Olivia Redfox – Laura Bailey

Sycaña – Christen Auten

Silver Fullbuster – Yuri Lowenthal

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Ena Fernandes – Xanthe Huynh

Jasper Langley – Zeno Robinson

Icarus – Christopher Sabot

Therium -

Makarov Dreyar – R. Bruce Elliott

Igneel Dragneel – Bryce Papenbrook

Sub-Zero – James Napier

Deva – Frieda Pinto

Cajun – Alessandro Juliani

Unnamed Woman #1 – Amber Riley

Petra Cromwell – Felicia Day

Checkmate – Jeannie Tirado

Unnamed Woman #2 –

Yuuma "Yuu" Yamaguchi – Rylan Strachan

Kei Rosenberger – Mike Yager

Carlisle Justino – Eric Scott Kimerer

Aphtan Ángel – Adam Gibbs

Lucifer "Bleu" Demiurge – Xander Mobus

Tesla Greer/Hylia Lynk – Galena White

Dante Princeton-O'Neill – Adrian Petriw

Nano Leaf -

Radio Man -

Unnamed Man – Clay Wheeler

Kyler – Ray Chase

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING THEME

⟪ Your Hands Grasping Even Yourself ⟫

Noisycell

Lyrics by

Noisycell⌟

•

⌜ENDING THEME

⟪ Shukumei ⟫

Official HIGE DANdism

Lyrics by & Composed by

Satoshi Fujiwara⌟