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!

100. Adventure 100

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.

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Blood and metal tasted the same when you were on the brink of death.

The destroyed land caked in debris and sullied with holes was the graveyard to bodies so bent and slashed that they did not look human anymore. Their armor had no hope of defending them against a mightier weapon, and now they paid the price with their lives, eyes blank and mouths open.

HAA… HAA… HAA…

Sweat dribbled off her jaw. Some dirt had fettered her skin, but Erza did not mind the grime. The pink of her armor had been dented, scratched, and even pierced. Blood trickled out of her remaining gauntlet and splattered onto her sword. Her other arm was free of her armor, but that did not mean it was unscathed. Even her cape had been shredded. She spat blood and wiped the sweat from her chin, chest burning a little, but her lips quirked and she stood tall like the Queen of the Fairies she was.

CLINK… CLINK…

A blade scraped across the earth and kicked up sparks. "Oh, Mother… Is that the best you can do?" The blade was picked up and in a quick motion, the blood and dirt were flicked off it. "I expected more from the only woman who braves the title 'Kensei'."

Erza flicked her one-handed blades to remove the blood. She did not falter. She would never falter. "You have yet to kill me," she remarked. Not a goad. She would never goad. But the remark was still from a smile and couched with firmness. "Is that the best you can do? Such a shame." Those kobicha browns darkened. "I expected more from my own daughter."

Ena stopped in her tracks. Her armor was nothing like her mother's, but it was still something to be praised for. Made of a foreign metal colored in shiny steel and laced in gold, it suited against her flaming scarlet hair well. Her pauldrons were grandeur, and her breastplate carried the ancient mark of the Fae. Her helmet crowned her head with a rare jewel on top that glowed like a beacon, and Lunagr'an had shifted into a broadsword for the occasion with a regal hilt. But even in all her grandiose attire, she had taken nasty hits and injuries with a trickle of blood running down her brow, her breastplate marred, and scratches and bruises everywhere.

Ena lifted her chin, dismissive of the bodies and destruction. "There's no honor in killing someone half-dead," she simply put. She spouted Magic into Lunagr'an and let it go as it shape-shifted into a staff with a caged glowing crystal at its top.

"There's no honor in dragging out death either," Erza reminded. She re-gripped her blades as she allowed her magical aura to flare and lit up in her eyes. "You're allowing me time. What if I had fled? Or used a Healing Spell? What then? You would be back to square one."

"Perhaps." Magic glowed in Ena's eyes as she twirled her staff. "But I have no intentions of letting you live past today, Mother."

Erza took her stance with her dual blades. "And what do you plan to do once you've killed me?" The air swirled and tumbled as energy quarreled and expanded. "You're a fool if you think killing me will accomplish anything. You'll gain nothing from my death."

"I'll gain everything." Ena's staff started spinning. "But before you die, I will make you tell me."

"Tell you what?"

Ena raised her arms as her Magic tussled her hair. "Where – is – my – father?"

Erza gave little notice as she charged, gripping her swords. The force of her leap into the air shattered the street to leave a humble crater, but Ena was ready as her staff spun to create her sigil and she was lifted into the air. Dark eyes collided as Erza brandished her swords, ready to strike down the sigil.

Ena's lips quirked into a smirk as she whispered her incantation.

Erza was overwhelmed as Ena's sigil blinded her—

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW…!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Itsu datte kimi no sono-te wa

Itsu demo sekai o kae reru yo

Tsudzukete ku koto yamecha dame datte

Kon'na mon janaidaro? Susume!

•

Mukuwarenai sono doryoku wa `kabe' o `tobira' ni kaerukara

Kowagarazu ni sa~a nokku shite

It will be OK

Let's go sonosakihe

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The Fairy Tail Guild was closed for the next few hours to non-members, but no one minded. The entire city was well aware what the meeting was for. Fairy Tail members far and wide had gathered, save for Gildarts and a few other Mages of importance who were out in the field. Conversation waved in the air as everyone had claimed a seat somewhere or another with drinks and food, but they felt the electric excitement give them a buzz.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

A week earlier…

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• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The lights of the hall clacked off while the stage lights flicked on. No warnings for silence needed to be spoken as everyone quieted when Laxus and Erza came upon the stage with their chins high and their eyes always observant.

Laxus took the center with his hands behind his back and spoke into the prepped microphone. "You all know why we're here today, but if you need a reminder, I'll give you one. We're nearing the end of our first quarter this year. Per our audits, our guild has not only profited and expanded in its outreach, but we have re-negotiated stronger contracts and funding, which means I can officially announce that our plans to revamp Tenrou Island to become the official training grounds of Fairy Tail are approved and construction will be started this summer."

Applause and howls broke out with fists pounding on the table. This project had been a hopeful dream turned reality and everyone was proud to see it come true.

Laxus raised his hands for silence and said, "Now for even better news. Because we passed our audits for this quarter, that means the reward you all want will be given to you. As of this week, each and every official Mage of Fairy Tail"—those grayed emeralds flashed with lighting—"will have a chance to battle our Guild Master for our 'Assassination Week'."

More cheers came about. Natsu, Gajeel, and Gray could not hold back their eager grins for this opportunity and while Erza lifted her chin, her lips quirked in amusement.

"You all should know the house rules for Assassination Week," Laxus called, "but I'll repeat them for any newcomers. For the next week, starting tomorrow, each of you will have the opportunity to go against our Guild Master in an all-out battle, day or night, to 'kill' her. In order to prove you slew her, today you'll be given enchanted paintballs Reedus designed for tagging. And you have to tag Master as your killed prey. No tag—no credit—no win." He smirked. "Those arrogant enough to think she'll be easy to shoot—I wouldn't get too cocky. Ever since we started this tradition, there has been only one winner." His eyes glinted. "My wife."

Mira laughed behind a hand while Kinana nudged her from behind the bar and others chuckled.

"But Mira will be helping Wendy and Porlyusica in the sickbay to help attend to you sorry lot who challenges our Guild Master and gets defeated because I can guarantee you'll need first aid after a battle with her," Laxus cautioned. "Our Master won't go down without putting up a strong fight. Paintballs must be used to tag her, but you're allowed to use Magic as well. Now is the chance to impress her with your abilities and challenge her to a rematch, for those of you idiots who challenged her before."

Gajeel drawled, "You were one of those idiots, Sparky!"

Laxus' smirk broadened. "Yeah, I was. But I'll be handling things here while you all run yourselves ragged trying to pin down the Fairy Queen. And if you're the lucky one who 'kills' her, you are granted one wish that she'll fulfill. Money is no object. You've earned it for taking her down. But the reverse works too. Master will have her own gun to shoot you. If you're shot, you're out of Assassination Week and the scoreboard will label you as 'killed'. So I'd choose your strategy wisely. You only get one shot to go up against Master. You don't want to ruin it or your chance at a wish."

Laxus gestured to Erza. "And now, a few words from your target."

Applause rankled out as Erza stepped up to the microphone. "Thank you, Laxus," she appreciated. "That's right. For the next week, I'm your target. While this is a reward to you, this is a chance for me to fine-tune my skills and remind me of the dangers of having this position." Kobichas darkened. "The world is turning into a harmful place for the wizarding community. I'll be using this time to keep my skills sharp against the hostilities we all face. Which means I won't hesitate to give you everything I got if you choose to make me your target. Be it Magic, Curse"—her eyes dropped to Julia—"Anti-Ether or otherwise, I won't lose."

Julia shifted, but she kept her head up high.

Erza lifted her chin. "I'll keep my word upon my 'death'. If you manage to 'kill' me before Assassination Week is over, I will grant you one wish. This wish cannot be given to another member nor used for more wishes, but it can be used for whatever legal purpose you wish it to fulfill. Money and time are no object. That being said"—she smiled as she allowed the guild to feel the weight of her power—"I have no intentions of allowing you to kill me. Just like last quarter, if my guild fails to bring me down, I will get my wish to fulfill. I expect each and every one of you to show me your strength, your smarts, and your strategy to its fullest capacity. When I look at all of you, I see individuals who I would trust in my life come any battle. But now…"

Erza sliced her hands down to show her duel blades that had fought by her side for decades. "You will be my enemies, not my allies." Those browns sparked with Magic. "And for my enemies, I show no mercy. Fight me if you dare. I challenge you all." She lifted her blades. "Show me your sharpest blade! And hold nothing back!"

And the entire guild was in an uproar at her words as Magic and excitement crackled in the air.

Erza's eyes found Ena's in the crowd and she knew that serious look anywhere. You've been biding your time, and you've lost to me every turn. But now—her eyes drifted to Silver, who remained close to Ena even when he chatted happily with Elvin—you aren't alone in your fight with me anymore. You showed me your first blade.

Ena sat forward with clear challenge in her eyes.

Now, I want you to show me your second.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 100

•

Assassination Fairies

A Second Blade

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暗殺の妖精

2枚目の刃を見せて

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And the next day…

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• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Liberty Justine looked put-out as she beheld James the black cat in her hands, who looked so drowsy and content in her arms. She watched on the king-sized bed as Freed was sorting his briefcase. Her father looked dapper in his suit with his hair slicked back.

"Baba, do you really have to go?" Liberty asked, sad. "Can't I come with you?"

Freed stopped in his shuffling to kiss Liberty's forehead. "I'm sorry, Ladybug, but you can't," he informed her. "I know it's not fun, but I'll be back before you know it, I promise."

"But then you have to leave again tomorrow…and the day after that…and the day after that…"

Freed sighed and crouched before her. "I know, Ladybug, but I promise, it's just for this week I'm in meetings, but I'll always be home to tuck you in and for storytime. I promise." He held out his pinky finger to her. "I pinky promise."

Liberty hooked her pinky with his, but she still was not thrilled. "But why can't I go? You're going to be talking about me. I could help. I've been practicing a bunch of my spelling words and I'm really good at talking. I could even give you some luck, Baba." Those honey-golds looked so desperate. "Please? I'll be really good."

"I know you would be, Ladybug, but it's better if you stay here." Freed hugged her close. "I know it's not fair, but I promise this week will go by so fast that you won't even know you missed me." He pulled away and tickled her stomach, smiling when she giggled. "And you'll do all your schoolwork while I'm gone?"

Liberty offered him a tongue-in-cheek look. "Nope!"

"Ladybug." Freed pretended to look indignant. "If you don't do any schoolwork, I guess this means no more tea parties—"

"No, I'll do it!"

Freed broke into a chuckle and kissed her cheek. "That's my Lady Luck."

DING-DONG!

Freed's smile widened, and he teased a confused Liberty, "And since I'll be gone during the day, I thought I could make it up to you and got your favorite babysitter…" He laughed when Liberty gasped and bounced off the bed. James was dropped onto the ground, but he scurried after his mistress, disoriented and needy.

Liberty dashed for the front doors and had to get on her tip-toes to unlock it and swung it open to see— "Luna!"

Luna smiled and laughed when Liberty hugged her. "Hi, Libby!"

Both pulled back and started their clapping handshake as they chanted: "Sunlight, moonlight, one, two, three…! Luna and Liberty serve the best tea! Sunlight, moonlight, four, six, eight…! We'll stay up all night and do a little shake!" They finished with little waggles of their rears before dissolving into a fit of laughter.

BARK-BARK!

Luna stepped aside to show Icarus in his Dog Form and said, "And I brought my best friend with me today!"

"Hi, Icarus!" Liberty petted Icarus' snout and laughed even more when he licked her face! "Ew! Dog germs! James, come here! It's Luna and Icarus!"

James made a show of purring and winding around Luna's legs, receptive to her soothing strokes, before he arched his back and rubbed against Icarus. He was bowled over when Icarus moved his head and started a friendly cuffing game with him.

Freed came out with a smile and his case. "Thank you for watching Liberty while I work, Luna. I appreciate it."

"It's no problem. Anything for my favorite ladybug," Luna chirped. She beamed down at Liberty. "Is it okay if we hang out for the week? We'll have a lot of fun around Magnolia, I promise."

Liberty nodded, but she still snuck a pout at her father. "You promise you'll be home before I go to bed? Cross your heart?"

Freed got on his jacket, but he crouched down to Liberty's height and murmured, "Cross my heart, ladybug. I wouldn't miss story time for the world." He tickled her chin and smiled when she laughed. "Be good for Luna. I'm always a Com-call away, okay?" He chuckled when James put his paws on his knee and rubbed the black cat's head. "Take good care of Ladybug, James."

James offered a meow and a lengthy purr.

Freed got to his feet to look at Luna. "Call me for anything, but I know you'll be fine. I have trust in my favorite babysitter. I left money—"

"I have my own money, Mister Freed," Luna reminded with a smile. "And I'm more than happy to spend it on my favorite ladybug to watch over, so it's not a problem. And I have all sorts of things for us to do this week!"

Freed quirked an eyebrow. "Like her doing her schoolwork?"

"Oh, of course!" Luna and Liberty shared a secret smile.

Freed sighed a laugh. "I'll leave you both to it then." He made his way to the door, but he stopped, pretending to think. "Wait a minute. I think I'm forgetting something." He smiled at his daughter. I think I still need my lucky charm, Ladybug."

Liberty ran up to Freed when he bent over and kissed his cheek. "Now you have my luck! Maybe this means you can come home earlier!"

"I hope so. I love you, Ladybug. See you tonight."

"I love you too, Baba!"

Freed left both girls with a wave and nod as he got on the private elevator and took it down.

Luna could see the sad frown working its way on Liberty's face already and nudged her. "Well, while your papa is away on business, how about we get the yucky school stuff out of the way and we can have our own fun and go to the market so we can get things for lunch?" She held out her hand.

"Okay…" Liberty closed the door and took Luna's hand. Those honey-golds gloomed. "Is Baba going to get in trouble because he adopted me?"

Luna shook her head. "No, Ladybug, he's not in trouble," she soothed. "It's a lot of weird stuff, but he's not in trouble and you're not in trouble either." She helped Liberty onto the high-rise chair on the island.

"But… I know he has to go away because of me." Liberty could not keep back her fear. "Is he doing to give me back?"

"No, he loves you too much to ever let you go," Luna promised her. "And I wouldn't let you go either. You'll never have to leave here, okay?" She gave a scared Liberty a tight hug. "No one is going anywhere, okay? I promise."

Liberty sniffled. "Cross your heart?"

"I do." Luna pulled back and she and Liberty both chanted, "Cross my heart and hope to fly! Stick a cupcake in my eye!" They fell into giggles before Luna said, "Now, how about we do that schoolwork and have a morning snack, okay?"

Liberty asked, "Can we watch Assassination Week too?"

"Sure. Go and get your stuff and I'll set everything up."

"Okay!" And Liberty started off.

Luna pulled out her PAL from her bag while Icarus' claws scraped over to her. He nudged her and had to ask, I understand the pup's fear that she may be forced from her den, but for what reason does her sire have these week-long meetings?

Mama explained to me that Mister Freed meets with representatives for these long negotiations. Luna opened her PAL and signed in before going into her LacriNet. He works with the Guild Attorney sometimes, but Liberty's Luck Magic is the only one of its kind. People from Liberty's home are trying hard to hit him and Fairy Tail with lawsuits, apparently, since Mister Freed adopted her, and she was taken away from home. Mama says the lawsuits won't hold up to much, but Mister Freed still has to meet with the other side.

She sighed. I feel so bad. I can't imagine being threatened like that. But Mama says that I shouldn't worry since the lawsuits get dropped sooner or later.

I can understand the pup's fear of being taken from her den, Icarus sympathized. He looked down at James rubbed against him. Though, her companion is most interesting. I have not met too many like it.

Luna's brow furrowed, confused. What do you mean? You've never been around cats?

No, that's not it. Her companion is not a—

"I have my stuff!" Liberty came skipping back with her schoolwork and all her princess-themed and Miraculous-theme supplies. She wriggled up to the high-rise chair and set everything on the counter. "Did Auntie Erza get defeated?"

"Let's see." Luna clicked into the live stream on the Fairy Tail home page as smoke fueled the camera. It was abruptly cleared to show as Max used his sand against Erza in a torrid battle in the streets. Along with the live stream, it gave live updates with people streaming in from all over to comment. And it showed those who were out of Assassination Week. "Wow… Master already took out a lot of members."

Liberty giggled. "Auntie Erza is the coolest!" Though, she pouted. "I wish I could join in too."

"Really?" That surprised Luna.

"Uh-huh! There's something I really want." Liberty focused on the live stream. "So I really want to win that wish so Auntie Erza can give it to me."

"Is your wish something we could do this week?"

Liberty shook her head. "Mmm-mmm." She sighed, downtrodden. "I really wanted to win that wish…"

"You'll just have to win next year once you can join," Luna enthused.

Liberty tightened her fingers on her dress. "But it has to be this year or…" She pressed her lips together and fidgeted.

Luna blinked. "What is it, Libby?"

Liberty quickly shook her head with that sparkle of determination in her eye. "I'll work really hard so I can win when I'm in Fairy Tail! And then Auntie Erza will have to grant me my wish!" Only…I really wanted my wish to come true this year…

"Oh, look, Gale's going against her now!"

Liberty blinked and watched the stream as Gale had entered the battle armed in gemstones with vines whipping around him. Those honey-golds went from Gale and Erza's battle and up to the fervently watching Luna. She asked innocently, "Do you and Mister Gale still love each other?"

Luna choked with a blush that should have killed her. "I-I-I never said that!"

"But you look at him a lot," Liberty mentioned.

"I-I look at a lot of people!" Luna said in her defense. "And, anyway, we should be focusing on your schoolwork."

"Miss Luna, you're really red," Liberty pointed out. "Justin told me blushing means you're hiding something or you like someone." She leaned forward and copied her older brother's grin as she crooned, "You liiiiiike Mister Gale…!"

"N-No, I don't!" Luna countered, even if her blush intensified. Her eyes darted back to the battle to watch as Gale raised a gemstone shield to shatter the raining arrows, but he had dug himself underground to turn the tables on Erza as vines and gnarled branches sprouted up and she skillfully maneuvered her dodges. "He's just…nice to look at," she supposed, a little entranced. "That's it, really. He's just…nice." She snapped out of her reverie and cleared her throat. "Anyways"—she tickled Liberty's side—"boys are totally overrated."

"But they give you a lot of nice things," Liberty said. "I like them. A lot of the boys at the center bring me food." She swung her feet. "Justin said that I should play nice so I can keep getting free food."

Luna's eye twitched as she imagined a chibi-Justin as he winked and stuck out his tongue. Justin, what are you teaching your innocent sister?

°•°•°•°

GA!

BA-BOOM! BA-BOOM!

Strapped in her Clear Heat Clothing (her chest wrapped in a white sarashi as she wore a red hakama), Erza cut down the gnarled branches and vines trying to cage with her with a magic-charged slice of her trusted blade, Benizakura. But her blade was her shield when a ruby tri-beam pelted for her chest and shoved her back. She forced the beam to turn into another direction and sprinted forward—

CLANG!

Rubies clashed with kobichas as Erza's Demon Blade Benizakura went up against Gale's Rose Quartz Blade.

Erza grinned as she and Gale were at a standstill. "You've improved drastically," she complimented. Her eyes dropped to his chest as though she could tell his amulet was hidden. "I feel like I should've given you a handicap, considering part of you is still a well-kept secret."

Gale grinned back as he fought back against the weight of her sword. "Don't you worry about me." Emeralds glinted in his eyes as scaled amassed on his arms. "But thanks for the concern, Master." His mouth opened in an overwhelming roar.

But Erza was quicker when the Demon Blade charged with pink lighting. It cut through the roar with ease, but Gale hurried to bury himself underground for the advantage. Erza spun around, but there was no sign of Gale anywhere beneath the stone. A lesser Wizard might be annoyed, might breathe too hard—but she did none of those things. With her blade re-gripped, she closed her eyes and waited. The surrounding noise faded as she focused her energy on her bare feet. She felt the stone, but she let her Magic sink lower and lower until—

GRRRRRR!

Erza flipped into the air just before vines spotted up to capture her, but more vines came up like angered snakes wanting a piece of her. She might have cut through some, but more would appear. Touching the ground to gain footing proved a challenge when the ground rumbled and a chasm opened up with bubbling lava waiting for her. She smirked.

He's certainly wizening up. However…

"Requip!" Magic cloaked Erza's body. "Black Wing Armor!" Her Magic cracked off before she could sink into the chasm as her wings expanded and she flapped herself upwards. She lifted her chin when Gale looked angry she was in the sky.

…he still has yet to show me his second blade.

"Bolide Meteor Shower!" Erza chanted. A teal glow fit into her wings until her wings arched and showed down fiery teal balls straight down to Gale.

Gale was quick to draw up a shield, but he had to constantly reinforce it as the meteor shower threatened to break through his defenses. He locked his jaw as he covered his head. Goddammit. I'm like a sitting duck. Livy warned me her Black Wing Armor is no joke. He looked down when his amulet appeared. Sycaña, are you thinking what I'm thinking? Granddad?

Sycaña and Metalicana both snarled.

Gale closed his eyes as the Wild perked, hungry for a challenge—a battle—to prove worth. His skin caked in scales and he could feel his fangs sharpen. The moment he opened his eyes, those rubies gleamed with freckles of emerald. He burst through his defense with a snarl as a torrent of earth pitched into an ever-rising tower. He chanted as he slashed his hands downwards, "Earth Dragon's Leaf Storm!"

Erza had to stop her attack when a flurry of leaves crowded around her and left her no room to see. She grunted when the little cuts across her skin and armor started to add up. I see. His leaves are poisonous. Even a few cuts of this will decrease my Magic Power and slow me as the battle continues. Very good, Gale. She dismissed her sword as she allowed a ball of swirling darkness to conjure in her hands. You're almost ready.

But Gale was not done. "Earth Dragon's Stun Spore!" He blew from his mouth a gaseous burnt yellow into the storm of leaves—

Erza cast forth her darkness and expanded it. "Open! Black Hole!"

Gale was stunned when a powerful vacuum swirled around him that even he could not control his own gravity. A black hole had opened up to swallow his attack, but even as his claws rooted into the earth that had carried him up this far, not he nor the earth could withstand the suction of a black hole. His tower broke apart as he was dragged in the air to follow his attack—

Erza's grin broadened. And now for my second blade. Come, Benizakura. She conjured her Demon Blade as pink lighting charged it. That lightning reflected in her true eye. Time to slay a Dragon.

Gale was barely used to all the gravitational tricks Bluenote had pulled on him, but he choked when a hand caught him and he was slammed down into the ground so rough, he had left a dent into stone. He groaned, but his groan caught itself when a blade was at his throat and made Wild hiss and shrink back.

Erza stood above him with her chin raised and she looked like she was the true Titania from myth. "Try to escape if you can."

Experimentally, Gale lifted his head and tried to touch the blade, but he hissed when the pink lighting hit his scales and it hurt. "A Dragon-Slaying sword used on a Dragon Slayer. Ha." He laid his head back down. "Fan-fucking-tastic. I'm really starting to think we were misnamed."

Erza drew her gun and shot him square in the chest. The paint blossomed to show Erza's crest stained on Gale's clothing. Violet ruins rolled all around them until a Lacrima Screen was formed. Gale's profile picture had been X-ed out with the other fallen Fairy Tail members who had braved the good fight against Titania.

GALE REDFOX (GEO-DRAGON) HAS BEEN KILLED

Erza dismissed her Demon Blade and her Black Wing Armor to fall back into her burgundy pantsuit and helped Gale stagger back to his feet. "You fought well. Being a Dragon agrees with you and you've managed to have a better understanding of your powers. You've combined instinct and intellect. And I look forward to seeing your progress during the Inter-Guild Training Camp."

"I totally would've won if I was allowed to show off what Uncle Natsu and Dad have been teaching me," Gale grumbled.

Erza smiled. "It's frustrating to hide, I know. But the world isn't ready for you yet. Your Earth Magic and especially your Gem Magic serve to be great powers I would happily ally myself with. But one day, I hope to see how my blade tests against your sharpened claws." She let him go. "If you took anything from our battle, take this: expect the unexpected. My armory of spells is something you can find in any Magic Database. My blade being able to go against a Dragon or a Slayer is not a secret. But you will face opponents where you must learn their entire skill set from the first three moves. Your opponent will use every advantage against you. Expect for the worst to receive the best of outcomes."

"Right." Gale scratched his head. "Yes, Master."

Erza smiled and rested a hand on his shoulder. "You're growing in leaps and bounds. Make me proud during the Inter-High." She released him to walk away as the ruins washed over the damage to reset the street back into place. "Perhaps Jura will finally get the opportunity to face his future apprentice at Domus Flau."

Gale's eyes widened. "Wait! Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Erza lifted a hand in farewell and strode down the street. "Make sure you head to the sick bay for a re-charge." And she disappeared.

"Aw, man." Gale huffed as he straightened his jacket. "Now I'm going to be hyped for the rest of the day over this." He took a step and swore when his joints ached and his body protested. Maybe she was onto something about the sickbay.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And at the guildhall…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The sickbay of Fairy Tail was in the back of the first floor with only ever so many beds. A few employees of Fairy Tail who could not join since they were Spiritless had volunteered to help in the sick bay as they bandaged injuries and offered moral support. Max looked positively terrified of the potion Porlyusica was close to shoving down his throat while a younger Mage was smitten as Mira helped him with his wounds.

Juvia finished her water healing on Gale's back and pulled away. "Juvia is finished healing Gale."

"Thanks, Auntie J." Gale gave a long stretch, feeling limber and drowsy, like a content cat. "You didn't want to fight this year?"

Juvia shook her head. "No. Juvia wants to cheer on Juvia's Beloved this year!" She brightened talking about her husband. "Juvia brought out her cheerleading outfit to cheer on Juvia's Beloved Gray!"

Gale grimaced. "That's nice, Auntie J."

"You say that because you've never seen it." Julia stopped at his bed with some first aid supplies in her hand. "You don't know how long it took me to convince Mom that she didn't have to wear her outfit and her pompoms until Dad stepped up to the plate." She rolled her eyes. "We were about to live in a nightmare."

"Juvia is proud to support her Beloved Gray!" Juvia sniffed at her daughter. "Julia should do the same!"

Juvia snorted and muttered as she walked away, "Fuck that."

Juvia scolded, "Julia!" She huffed when her daughter pretended not to hear her. "Juvia doesn't know where Julia gets strong language, but Juvia will make whoever taught Juvia's precious Julia such foul words pay."

"I'm sure you will." Now's not the time to tell her Lady J picked it up from Dad…or from Uncle Gray when he comes over. Gale swung his legs off the bed. "I feel good as new. Thanks a lot, Auntie J."

Juvia beamed. "Of course! Make sure Gale checks with Wendy before leaving!"

"I will! See you later!" Gale and Juvia parted ways for Gale to make his trek over to Wendy. While the volunteers had Porlyusica to aid them in which potions and poultices to use, Wendy was the one to give anyone ready to leave a final check over. Gale stopped at her desk. "Hey, Aunt Wen."

"Gale!" Wendy's smile was as bright as the diamonds on her wedding ring. "Your fight with Erza was brilliant!" She rounded over to perform her routine Magic Scan as her eyes glowed, but she still spoke to him. "I hope you learned something."

Gale snorted. "Yeah. Our Master is a monster." He shook his head. "I can't believe she got the drop on me with that damn sword of hers. Makes me a little afraid Red can do the same thing."

"Ena's blade has many capabilities. Unlike Erza, who uses multiple blades, Ena has one special sword." Wendy stopped on his back and hovered her hands there. "Take deep breaths."

Gale did as asked.

Once Wendy was satisfied, she dropped her Magic. "Well. You're in good health and you'll live to fight another day. But I still want you to come by the house." She leaned down to murmur for their ears only, "I know healing isn't something you're enthusiastic about, but it'll help you more than you think. It's not as exhilarating as battle practice, but you'll never know when you need it."

"I know, I know," Gale mumbled.

Wendy chuckled. "Your powers are as versatile as you want to make them. Take every opportunity to expand your skill set while you can." She softened. "I may not be your mother Dragon, but in this thunder, I'm still your healer and your aunt. I want my nephew to grow as strong as I know you can be."

Gale colored, embarrassed and touched. "Aunt Wen…"

"All right, all right, that's enough from me." Wendy stepped back with an amused twinkle in her eye. "Go on. Take it easy for the rest of the day and mind the other battles. Oh, and tell Gajeel and Natsu if you see them that if they try to hatch an overzealous plan, I'm not healing them all the way. Porlyusica's orders."

Gale snickered. "Will do, Aunt Wen. And thanks. See you later!" With a wave, he left the sick bay and maneuvered through the main hall. I wanted to get my shot in early on. I know the stronger Mages will bide their time until the end. And Dad's probably drumming up something with Uncle Natsu and Uncle Gray—or they'll kill each other before they have a chance at Master.

Gale left the guildhall, but he had no idea which direction to go. What should I do now? Not like I have any homework to do and there's no training this week. Unless I want to fight Uncle Lily… He grimaced at the thought. Yeah, no. So what now? He pulled out his Compact to check the time, but it unlocked seeing his face and he saw his wallpaper. Luna was absolutely in love as she was watching fireworks with her amazed smile and awed eyes. He chewed on his bottom lip.

I could be good, go home, and do some random shit or…

Gale sucked in a breath and took the plunge.

« Wassup, Blondie? Are you…free right now? »

---

New Azalea City was booming with life just like its USM counterpart. It did not matter what time of day it was. The coffee shops had lines and the Sky Train platforms were always hustling people in and out of passenger cars. A Valchestrian violinist protesting the atrocities of the dictator of their home country was playing a popular rap song while a few men danced along. A cluster of New Azalea University students was talking about the end-of-the-year film they had to finish up for re-shoots and editing. The Giltenan Tea Room was hosting a private party of Giltenan elites who lived in Fiore.

Regardless, he was dressed in a nice button-down and pants, Silver felt inadequate as he toured the complex. It had been emptied out, but the calming tones of the stone floors and the eggshell whites of the walls and the washed-out wooden features and shelving made it clear that this office had been treated well.

Whoa… This place is amazing… Silver gravitated to one of the windows and had to gawk. Holy… The view could not be matched. The great greens everyone ranted and raved about were laid out before him. You could see the Grand Ole Hotel across the way and a zeppelin flew by with a few Magic Carpets and broomsticks on their way to wherever. A beautiful dome with asymmetrical architecture lay in the center as a grandiose tree sprouted from it.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« The garden you see is the Azalea Botanical Garden and the dome in the center is called Azalea Hills where many magical and non-magical creatures are cared for. Warrod grew the tree you see inside the dome to keep an eye on the gardens and make sure the park doesn't grow out of control. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Do you like it?"

Silver looked over his shoulder as Ena approached him in her asymmetrical dress with her jacket on her shoulders. Her hair had been pulled back into an intricate bun, but her signature braid hung down the side of her face.

"It's beautiful," Silver admitted to her.

Ena looked at the view with satisfaction in those browns. "It is, isn't it?" She sighed. "I've been putting off finding a big enough complex for the entire team. We've spoken to everyone religiously about how they would feel about an office with the option of working remotely to not ruffle feathers, but thankfully, we came to a healthy compromise and this will also allow me better access to interning programs with NAU students. And the investors are ready to see the options for this quarter's meeting."

"Are you sure we're allowed to be here?" Silver questioned. "The realtor said this complex isn't on the market yet, right?"

"Gigi pulled some strings so we'll be shown properties not listed. I owe him. This is allowing me to have a first say if I want the complex and guaranteeing I can have the keys in my hand." Ena cupped her elbows as she nodded to herself. "I wasn't sure about having a complex in NAU, but it makes the most business sense. But I'm not a fan of the commute."

"Would you have to move?" Silver worried.

"Eventually," Ena supposed. "But that's nothing to think about for a while." She turned around to look at the office space. "I do like the space. I'd want to negotiate with the owner to properly renovate and decorate, but the agent assured me the owner is flexible. The location itself is excellent. I have no complaints. It's in a convenient spot for restaurants and close enough to a Sky Station." She offered a long sigh.

Silver cocked his head, concerned. "You've been sighing a lot since yesterday. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ena supposed. "I've been thinking about Assassination Week. Every quarter since I was ten, I've tried so hard in defeating Mother. She's beaten me at every turn. I know she's more powerful than me, but…" She clenched her hands.

Silver came closer and adjusted her braid. "'But'…?"

"But I need to know," Ena confided. "I never ask her out of my respect for her. But if I could just beat her, I could ask her…" She shook her head. "Forget it. You wouldn't understand—"

"No, Ena, please." Silver begged her with his eyes. "What is it?"

Ena let out a loud breath before she looked up at him. "I want to ask her where my father is and the mission he's on," she revealed. "I know it's foolish and disrespectful to ask of her, but I just want to know…!" She closed her eyes with a steady exhale. "I just want to understand his choices for leaving. I want to understand…why I wasn't important enough." She turned away with a sniffle. "I'm sorry—"

"Don't be." Silver tugged out the handkerchief in his breast pocket and gently turned her head back to him to dab beneath her eyes. "You don't have to be sorry for wondering why your dad abandoned you. You never have to be sorry about that." Those mayan blues looked into dark toffees. "But you are important," he murmured. He stopped her when she tried to pull away and stressed, "You are, Ena. You can't see it, but so many people see you like that—"

"Then why does it feel like—?" Ena stopped herself. "Thank you, Silver, for trying to cheer me up. I appreciate it, but you don't quite understand—"

"You cried in New Rosemary because you missed someone you never met," Silver spoke. "I understood that. And I understand it now. Maybe I don't understand everything, but…I understand it doesn't matter what's around you because what good is any of it unless the person you care about most is the one who is with you."

Ena's eyes clouded as she whispered, "You understand that?"

"Yeah," Silver breathed. "I do." He swallowed. "And if you want that wish, then…I'll do whatever you need me to do to help you get your question answered if it means you won't cry anymore."

Ena searched his eyes. "You would do that?"

"I-I do anything for you b-because…" Silver's cheeks tinted. "Well, because…you're important to me too, y'know? And I want you happy. And if getting that wish makes you happy, then I'll help you."

Ena smiled, laughing a little. "You're very loyal. I remember months ago, you would never conceive of helping me." She splayed her hands on his cheeks. "I hope I can return the favors you do for me one day." She brought him in for a hug he did not expect. "Thank you," she whispered.

"I-I-It's no problem." With care, Silver hugged her back. He was rigid at first, admittedly. It felt silly. You fantasized about the days you could hold your crush's hand and hug them, but when the day came, the awkwardcy and discomfort and shyness popped up. It took him a few moments to relax and truly embrace her back with his nose nuzzled into the juncture of her shoulder. I'll make sure you never have to cry over anyone ever again. I won't abandon you. That sweet smell lured him again, tangy and floral and her—

"Are you…smelling me?"

Silver froze. "Uh… He quickly retreated with an awkward laugh and scrounged up a lie. "N-No, I was just, um… Just a stuffy nose. Allergy season, you know?" He tugged at his collar. "Hay fever. Sometimes, I get sniffly."

Ena narrowed her eyes.

Silver gulped, sweating, and tried to hold still.

"It is allergy season," Ena supposed as she took the burning intensity away from her eyes. She strode away from him. "I should hope you have nasal spray for your allergies, Silver. I will not have a stuffy-nosed assistant."

"R-Right! Of course, mistress!" Silver let out a quiet sigh of relief. She bought it. Thank goodness. If she found out I was this big of a pervert, Gary would be the only son and Julia would totally use my room for all her clothes.

"Brace yourself. We have much to prepare for."

Silver frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Mother might be powerful, but she always taught me strategy can beat strength," Ena said. "And if I'm to get my wish, I'll need a strategy that can best even her." For years, I've lost to her alone. But I have an ally now, Mother. And if I can play this right—dark toffee gleamed—you'll tell me the reason my father left.

---

"Ghihihihi…"

It looked like they were in a séance or telling ghost stories as Gray, Natsu, and Gajeel crowded in a dark room with a flashlight as their only light source. Devious grins stained their faces, and a shared maniacal satisfaction was in their eyes.

"We've got it all planned out," Gray said. "Erza doesn't stand a chance."

"Once her get the drop on her, it'll be game-over for Titania," Gajeel cackled.

Natsu crackled his knuckles. "Right. Once I land the first punch, she won't know what's coming to her."

Gray scowled. "You're not throwing the first punch, jackass. I'm the one making the first move and then you and Gajeel come in, remember?"

"I think your brain is freezing, Fullbuster, because I'm the one supposed to pull the first punch on Titania," Gajeel growled. "You and Salamander are back-up for me."

Natsu cut in, "You're both wrong! I'm the one who gets to take on Erza first!"

"How does the make any sense, dumbass?" Gray chastised. "We're doing an ambush and you're as subtle as an earthquake. We need long-range attacks and that's my specialty."

"The fuck are you on, Stripper?" Gajeel bit. "I'm the one doing the first long-range attack and you follow after me!"

Natsu growled. "No way in Hell! You're both my backup! I called dibs on fighting Erza first!" His fist burst into flames in threat. "You two got a problem with that, we can fight to see who gets to go first."

"Fine!"

Lucy turned on the light to the dining room, unamused as she saw Gajeel, Gray, and Natsu fighting like cats and dogs. Luckily, they were conscious enough not to use Magic in the house, but she knew that would change soon enough. "Levy, how did we get kids so smart but husbands so dumb?"

"I don't know, Lu. Maybe intelligence skips a generation," Levy said, tone dry.

Happy popped up with his wings and teased, "I guess it skipped your generation too, Lucy, if you were stupid enough to marry Natsu—Ah!" He flew away with a furious Lucy gunning to get his tail and dragging him back.

"Get back here, you stupid cat!" Lucy growled.

"Natsu, help me! A crazy old lady with wrinkles is trying to make me as ugly as her!"

"Who the Hell are you calling 'old and wrinkly', you stupid cat!"

Levy sweatdropped as she smiled seeing Lucy seethe and try to capture Happy to strangle him. "Well… That's my Lu for you. So smart but still so easy to rile up."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And that Friday…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Constantine wore an ironic nurse hat as he helped shuffle a levitating stretcher with the last Mage from Erza's office. "Will that be all, Master?"

"Yes, that will be all, Constantine. Thank you." Erza looked every bit of regal the title of Titania called for in her blouse and high-rise sailor pants, not a hair out of place. Her office was in a whirlwind from the ambush she had endured and the sword wounds in the wall would have to be magicked out, but with a quick spell, her office repaired itself. She settled behind her desk. "That was refreshing. I was getting a little stiff."

Number Five came in with a tray. "Master, I've brought your afternoon refreshments."

"Ah. Thank you, Miss Five."

Number Five set down the tray and was elegant in pouring the tea. "You took your time, Master." It almost sounded like she was chiding Erza.

Erza chuckled. "Forgive me, Miss Five. I was enjoying myself. I seldom get back to my battling days. Events like this make me feel young again." She shook her head when Number Five offered honey for the tea. "I'll be deep in first-quarter evaluations for my fairies. Thankfully, we're cleared from any audits during the next quarter until the end-of-quarter audit. I'll have more time to watch their progression."

"You've taken a keen interest in this generation's Mages, Master." Number Five offered Erza a fine Zhōnguánese teacup and saucer. "You've been even more careful to pace yourself while testing their limits."

Erza sipped her tea. "This generation has boded an interesting power set," she reasoned. "I want to monitor their growth and make them see their weaknesses and their strengths. They have the potential to be the best of us. And it's up to me to guide them." Another sip. "Nightshade? But you've paired it with a potion…"

Number Five bowed her head. "Yes, Master. The potion induces internal body restriction. It would slowly start to restrict your organs until you could no longer function. It creates a special sweet taste to hide its intentions."

"Quite clever." Erza took a longer sip of her tea.

Number Five studied her. "Master, is it truly necessary to feed you poison?"

"Yes, Miss Five." Those kobichas darkened. "Every hour, every minute—this very second, perhaps—there are forces that are trying and succeeding in killing Wizard-kind. However, those forces can't afford to go after executive Wizards without putting down the straw the broke the camel's back. Still, that does not mean they will not try. And I must be ready for any means of assassination. As do my children."

Number Five agreed with that. "Poisoning feels cowardly."

"I share the same sentiment, but when Makarov appointed me Guild Master, he stressed I needed to acclimate my body to all sorts of poisons and potions to prevent an assassination attempt. He was constantly worried about the way the world would go." She set down her cup on the saucer and placed it on her desk. His mind may not be how it used to be, but his paranoia and outbursts had merit. The world is breaking itself more. And I cannot be idle. I need to make sure I can stay alive for this guild—for my home.

Her eyes caught the small tremor in her tea.

"Miss Five," Erza called, "please adjust all my appointments by thirty minutes." She watched for another softer tremor, and her hand twitched for one of her swords to appear in her grasp. "I'm going to be busy."

It happened quickly enough that Erza defended herself, but she crashed through the window still. She had to grin. "You certainly took your time"—kobichas stared up at determined hickories—"Nashi."

Nashi narrowed her eyes and chanted, "Divine Soul!"

"Requip!"

Nashi expanded her white wings with her Divine Soul Armor on her person and traded her sword for her bow and pulled back the invisible string. "Freedom Arrow!" The arrow of divine energy tried to hit Erza before her spell completed—

CRACK!

The Freedom Arrow was batted back into the sky and exploded.

A wide grin. "A good start. I'm impressed."

Nashi locked her jaw as Erza took the sky with her. While Nashi's armor offered purity and light and divinity, the armor Erza had put on exuded a hellish darkness strapped in blacks and blues to counter Nashi's whites and pinks. Unlike most of Erza's armor, her face was hidden behind a closed helmet that etched in an upside-down cross with two short horns and outer two lengthy horns protruding from it. A swath of darkness drenched down her shoulders to form a wraith-like cape. A blackened cross shield that had red outlines was on her right hand, but her left hand had a peculiar hilt, but there was no blade.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This armor is called Black Sinner Armor. Its official title was Dark Soul Armor. This armor is incredibly rare as the armor needs to marinate in Black Magic for several decades to absorb it. Some call this armor "Death's Armor". The shield in Erza's hand is called "Bilé" and the sword in her hand is called "Shiva". »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi questioned, "What gave me away?"

"My tea," Erza told her. "But you hid your Magic Power perfectly. Excellent technique. Had it not been for the tea moving, I wouldn't have suspected a surprise attack from my own niece."

Nashi summoned her Sword of Truth to her sides. The blade buzzed with divine energy in the presence of such darkness. "I'm not holding anything back. And I expect you not to either, Master. I've been waiting to show you what I can do."

"Believe me, Nashi…" Erza swung her hilt and darkness burst from it. The shadows got underground to pitch a broad sword that clacked darkness. "I want to test your every limit." She searched for—

CLANG!

The Sword of Truth protected Nashi against Shiva, but Shiva the Blade of the Sinner surprised when the shadows whirled into a chainsaw and tried to cut the dual blades down. Nashi lost a little ground, but a glow came from her helmet, and Erza was forced to expand Bilé, the Shield of the Sinner, to defend herself when a violet beam jetted from Nashi's helmet where her eyes would be. Erza was shoved back and went on the run with Nashi giving chase.

"Guardian's Javelin!" Nashi chanted and let her intertwined energy attack set onto Erza.

Erza managed to dodge the first three javelins, but a fireball had burned into her side. She looked down to catch Býleistr leaping into his portal and disappearing. Good. She and her Star Spirit are working as a unit and giving good offense. She whirled around. But it's time for my offense. Darkness enshrouded her as she chanted: "Sekhmet Solar Spears!"

Nashi had to stop mid-flight and her wings curled in on her as she protected herself in a Holy Bubble when missiles of the black sun gunned for her. But even she saw a flaw when more and more missiles had stockpiled on her. Her shield was not like Justin's. With his, the more energy his shields absorbed, the stronger it got. But hers still could shatter. She shot herself within her Holy Bubble upwards before letting it pop to take off. The missiles followed her, locked onto her, but she had no time to be shot.

Nashi waved her hand over the gemstone on her chest and let Cael's energy surge with her own. "Beacon…"—she dove—"of Hope!" A monumental energy blast spurted from the gemstone to cut through the missiles and explode them where they flew. But one missile had bypassed her, ready for impact, but a lion's roar and a Stargate opened next to Nashi to capture the missile and have it disappear.

Erza quickly followed her attack with another. "Mictlāntēcutli Parade!" She circled Shiva above her head to conjure a portal of darkness. Pouring out of the portal were demonic bats and owls that flooded down in a shrieking parade to attack Nashi. But as she conjured a Holy Bubble to sustain herself, Erza offered her third attack as her hilt glossed into shadows. "Nija's Spear!"

A spear of shadows forged in Erza's hand and she threw it at Nashi's shield—

"Praecipua's Flaming Shadow!"

Erza raised her Shield of the Sinner when a flaming lion darted up to attack her. The shield, however, struggled to fight back when the flames exploded and crawled onto Erza's armor like leeches on a body. No matter how much she extended her Magic, the flames refused to be extinguished. I see. He has airtight control over his flames. He's forcing me to Requip. A very good strategy.

"Requip!"

Magic consumed Erza's body—

"Spandarmad Wave!" Nashi's hands became the nexus for two hurricanes of divinity and she slashed them down towards Erza as she was mid-Requip before she let her own Magic cover her. "Soul Ascension!"

Erza was driven back, but two axes forged as the rest of her armor set in place. Her Magic burst off to reveal a lighter piece of armor. A cloak had covered her hair with a skull mask on the upper half of her face. She looked like a rogue assassin, but out from her gauntlets blew Ghost Fire in its iridescent blues. When the last piece of her armor set in place, she stopped holding back the attack to allow it to phase straight through her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Phantom Armor which came from the Ghost Realm, according to the original owner, for a high trade. Phantom Armor grants the wearer the same abilities of Reapers and Ghost Kings with intangibility and having monitor Ghost Taming of creatures from the Ghost Realm such as Ghouls. However, Phantom Armor can only be worn for a limited amount of time or else the wearer will start becoming permanently intangible and eventually wander into the Ghost Realm. Her axes are called "Mormolyce" and "Mormolyca". »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Seven Stars!"

Erza bobbed in mid-air as she allowed the heated crystal to bypass her. She raised one of her axes in Nashi's direction to take in her Seraph Armor with her flaming wings and chanted: "Phantom Brigade!"

Nashi tensed when five heavy-bodied suits of armor surrounded her with their obvious broadswords, cleaves, and axes with the ghost fire fueling their bodies. Urim and Thummim put up a good fight, but five against one proved difficult and drove her closer to the ground. Aerial battles were iffy as a melee, but an ambush could not be fought in the air.

Nashi bided her time until she crashed into solid mass to chant: "Light Flare!" Light swirled around her and flashed, forcing back the five ghostly warriors and banishing them back to which they came.

Erza landed on the ground as she twirled her dual axes as the wind blustered her cloak and ruffled through Nashi's hair. "I'm impressed," she called to Nashi over the distance between them. "You forced my hand to Requip. But you won't be allowed that again."

A lion's roar and a Stargate appeared for Býleistr to leap through in his lion form to be at Erza's back. Those sunset oranges were glowing as Celestial Fire burned off his paws and his mane. He snarled deep and low with his claws out.

Nashi could hear Urim and Thummim sing within her hands. "I know I won't get the chance again." She smirked. "I don't need it. Because you'll change all on your own. You can't afford to stay in that armor for long. It's almost suspicious you put yourself at a disadvantage. Taking it easy on me, Master?"

"Or perhaps I'm giving you a time limit," Erza challenged. "You have until I can't wear this armor anymore to make a new strategy before I use a different armor. And then what will you do?"

Nashi gritted her teeth. She's not wrong. She has over two hundred full suits of armor and three hundred weapons in her personal armory. It's impossible to study every single thing she has in her arsenal, but I narrowed down my studying to her armor that could precisely counter or overpower my own. Thankfully, that list is short. However, if she Requips into that…I'll have already lost before I can fire my first attack.

"I'll still give you my all," Nashi declared. "It doesn't matter. I challenged you. And I'm doing to see it through." She broke into a steady prowl, and Býleistr did the same.

Erza stayed still as she thumbed her axes. "That's what I like to hear. Show me your first blade."

Nashi flapped her wings as Býleistr roared a Stargate and both of them flashed forward to attack Erza.

Erza's eyes glowed. "And follow through with your second." She confronted Býleistr first as she used the butt of her ax to get his throat, but she rounded her other ax to ward off Nashi. That did not stave either off for too long and they went for their second attempt.

When it came to Wizard Battles, Spiritless had it wrong. Yes, of course, the spells in a Wizard's arsenal were imperative. But people often forgot about the physical aspect. Wizards could use only so much Magic to get them far. But unless they had an airtight defense, they could not afford to slack off with physical conditioning and martial arts and weapons training. Raw Magic Power fizzled in the air and cracked the earth as Erza battled Býleistr as he shifted between his Lion Form and Natural Form with blazing fists and breaths of fire while she took on Nashi's swords. Two on one might be unfair, but this was what Wizards trained for. They trained for the unfair.

And Erza reminded Nashi what "unfair" meant.

When in the heat of the battle, you often forgot to work your mind in three places. You focused on yourself and your spatial awareness. Then you focused on the person you were fighting and awareness of their next attack. But you left a percentage of your thoughts to catalog patterns and attacks to better your chance of a win. And Erza saw the pattern in slow motion. As she defended herself from Nashi's blow while she kicked at Býleistr, her eyes narrowed on his shift and she counted the seconds between his shift and next blow and Nashi's own before she had it.

There.

Everything slowed.

Býleistr leaped back from an ax to the throat to shift—

SHINK!

His eyes widened. He looked down to see a long sword had speared through his chest and leaked stardust. But that sword was not any sword, and he knew it as he left it. The blade was caked in an ethereal, cloudy magenta and he could feel his energy plummet.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This long-sword is Erza's Starburst Sword, gifted to her by The Forge herself. While the Starburst Sword cannot banish a Celestial Spirit like a Banishment Key, it can deplete a significant portion of their energy. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Shock and worry registered on Nashi's face. "Býleistr—!" She flapped backward before Erza could hit her with her axes.

"Don't let your emotions be the reason you lose to me, Nashi," Erza warned her. "You may lose for other reasons but not because your emotions get the best of you. The quicker you defeat me, the quicker you can save your comrade. And if you even think about trying to evade me to get to him"—she threw her axes up and caught them without a flaw—"you'll understand how I give Dash a run for his money."

Nashi clenched her jaw as her eyes drifted to see Býleistr kneeling on the ground. Býleistr, can you take the sword out?

Not if I want to keep my hands, Býleistr replied, pained. But don't you worry about me. Do what you have to do to win this.

No, I— Nashi stepped back when Erza stepped forward.

"Focus on me," Erza commanded. "In that second you broke your concentration, I could have easily taken you down. Show me your strength, Nashi. Show me all that you're capable of. Don't make the mistake of throwing our battle for foolish errors like that."

Nashi gripped her blades. She's right. I have to focus. This is my time to show her what I can do. I can't waste it. A deep inhale, then exhale. Cael? Seraphim? Are you with me? She could feel their crests glow on her armor.

We are here, Little One, Cael promised. We can do what you wish.

You will have a minute, Seraphim cautioned. Then, you must change back. We cannot continue any longer out of that lest there be damage to your body and soul.

Understood. Nashi disbanded her swords as wind, fire, and light kicked up dust and dirt around her in lazy spirals. "Soul Ascension! Seraph Evolution!" Magic pressured onto her as it claimed her armor and her body for itself. The words of old wrapped around her as her Seraph Soul Magic Circle blossomed beneath her. The sigil lifted up as peeled back the Magic until Nashi was left in her scaley golden armor with her draconic helmet and tail. "Seraph Soul: Ikisat Mode!"

Erza's eyes gleamed. Yes. Show me your hidden second blade.

"Staff of the Ikisat!" Nashi grabbed hold of her draconic staff of gold with her Seraph Gem swirling. "Sorry, Master. Making a mistake like that isn't acceptable in a battle giving your all." She gripped her staff. "I'm not a child. And I'm not an 'Angel Princess' either. I came here today for you to recognize me. And to take you down."

Erza readied her axes. "Then show me who you are, Nashi Dragneel!" She taunted, "Lest you remain in the shadow of your parents until you do so!"

"I am the Agent of Life who invokes justice!" Nashi decreed in her spell. "Seek out now! Testament…of Divine Hope!" The Dragon on her staff snarled before it opened its mouth to blurt a roar of gold filled with the overwhelming divinity of a Seraph Agent. But Nashi was not done as she wielded her Seraph Gem. "Hallowed Beam!" She grunted when she felt an outdoor of hallowed light flush free from her gemstone to intertwine with the roar of golden power.

Erza let the attack phase through her for a few moments, but that was when she understood the attack when she saw her arm flicker in and out of existence. Of course. She may not be an Exorcist, but her power thinks I'm a wayward soul in need of judgment. Well done. Magic glowed in Erza's eyes. You've forced my hand. With a war cry, she got rid of her axes. Let's see how far I can push you. She chanted, "Titania's Nexus!"

A whistling beam of raw magical energy burst from Erza's hands.

Nashi was forced back a few inches under the strain of fighting raw power. Fighting a spell was different from being under the weight of someone's raw power, and Nashi felt that as she cowered beneath the severity of Erza's power. She felt the iron-wall strength that had earned her the title "Iron Maiden" in her youth, but she understood how easily Erza could have been labeled a "queen". It felt like Nashi was against an army without a scrap of armor to defend herself. Her skin felt hot and her chest burned as she yelled and scrounged as much power and milked her connection with Cael and Seraphim until her head hurt.

Little Wing, you can't sustain this attack for much longer, Cael fretted.

He's right, Seraphim told her. You must let us go. Your body is enduring a strain.

No. Nashi used her staff to help keep herself on both feet. No. I can do this! A trickle of blood left her mouth, and she staggered to a knee. Her attack shrunk back as Erza's power tried to overwhelm her. No… I can…do this… A pained grunt left her when her head throbbed and she felt like a rash diseased her skin with a fiery itch. Not yet… I haven't shown her…who I am…

Winter's touch.

That fire that blazed inside her was met with a protective flurry of winter. She could see frost in front of her as a cold she fell in love with fueled her. Her pain subsided when she felt him wrap himself around her. She felt his strength give her strength and forced herself back to her feet, even if she hunched over. She refused to acknowledge the blood drop that dribbled from her jaw and poured everything she had into fueling her attack. I'm not just Natsu and Lucy's daughter. I…am an Agent of Life!

Nashi's power pushed back against Erza's in a surge. The ground cracked under pressure as both attacks grappled with each other for dominance and eventual victory.

Yes. You have shown me who you are, Nashi. Erza's eyes darkened. But you have still made a crucial error I can't ignore. And that is why this battle is over and done. A grunt left her lips as she easily gave heaps of her power into driving her attack.

Nashi did not stand a chance.

The attack overwhelmed Nashi into such a state of shock that she had descended back into her civilian clothes and was splayed in a heap on the ground. A minor ache tore through her, but she could feel winter take the brunt of her pain for her and coddle her.

STEP… STEP… STEP…

Nashi cracked her eyes open to see Erza hovering before her.

"Requip!"

Erza descended back into her civilian attire. Without hesitation, she brought out her gun and shot Nashi to see her crest blossom. Ruins scattered up to create a Lacrima Screen that showed a red X over Nashi's picture.

NASHI DRAGNEEL (ANGEL PRINCESS) HAS BEEN KILLED

Erza raised a hand and chanted, "Return!"

Býleistr did not expect the sword to yank him clear across the ground, but he had no choice but to allow it. He groaned when the sword ripped from his chest, and he keeled over, nauseous and exhausted.

Erza showed Nashi the blade before dismissing it back into her armory. "You fought well today," she complimented. "But you made a fatal flaw—you exceeded a limit you couldn't even set for yourself." She crossed her arms beneath her chest. "We all have limits we want to advance ourselves past. But we recognize those limitations. As we grow, we can set those boundaries further back. But you attempted to run when you couldn't walk. In a battle to the death, it's excusable to subject your body to medieval methods to win." She lifted her chin. "But what good is wishing for me to choose you for S-Class if you're far too broken to even think that far ahead?"

Nashi swallowed. Býleistr came to her side, a little recovered, and picked her up in a bridal carry. She was too weak to walk. "I'm sorry, Master," she murmured.

Erza sighed. "I understand your desire to win and be recognized as you, away from your parents. And I never want you to lose that motivation." She cradled Nashi's jaw. "But you are to never put yourself through that again until you have grown enough to recognize where that power lies from your limitations. The instinct to win is not enough. You need the intellect behind it. Your emotions will only carry you so far."

She spared Nashi a soft look. "But that was very good technique. You are turning into a fine Angel. You exercised careful strategy and critical thinking. And I know you'll continue to exceed my expectations. I certainly am proud to have you as one of my fairies—and my niece."

"Thank you, Master," Nashi said.

Erza hummed and stepped back. "Off to the sickbay, both of you. Býleistr, make sure she doesn't try to self-heal. She's not in the right state to know how to properly heal herself. Have Wendy directly look at her."

"Yes, ma'am," Býleistr rumbled. He turned away—

"And Býleistr?"

He paused and sent her a curious look.

Erza smiled. "I believe I'm also lucky to call your mistress an ally I would trust with my life. And I dare say the same about you."

Býleistr studied her for a moment. "You're pretty all right for a mortal." He turned away. "You certainly give the first Titania a run for her money. She'd be proud a mortal like you took her title…Guild Master."

Erza's smile widened. Oh, yes. Believe me, Býleistr. I'm well-aware of Titania's thoughts about me—a touch of gold and emerald energy swirled around her hand—and my daughter.

---

The Justine condo was full of life today. Luna had to smile as she finished setting up a plate's-worth of snacks when she heard giggles and murmurs traded like secrets and brought out the plate to the living room to see Gale and Liberty working on some more school work on the coffee table.

"I told you it wasn't so hard," Gale bragged. He grinned at Luna. "Blondie just ain't a good teacher."

Luna set down the plate before Liberty with a mock-gasp. "How dare you!"

"Baba says 'ain't' isn't a real word, Mister Gale," Liberty chastised.

"Well, it is a word. It's just not a pretty word," Gale rationalized. He tried to take a snack when Luna smacked his hand away. "Hey! A man's gotta eat too, y'know! Those who work deserve to eat and I did my share!"

Luna sniffed. "Whatever. Fine." She shook her head, vaguely amused, as Gale greedily took one of the snacks and inhaled it. "I can't believe you've been hijacking my time with Liberty this entire week." She nudged Liberty. "I can't believe you let him, Ladybug."

"Baba said it's okay as long as there's no kissing," Liberty said with innocence in those honey-golds.

Luna flushed while Gale coughed into a fist. Luna cleared her throat and assured, "We're here for you, Ladybug, not for…that." She smiled. "And we've had a lot of fun this week, haven't we? We got to go to the zoo and the science center and the art museum."

Liberty beamed. "And Justin took me to BC Towers!"

"I remember." Luna's eye twitched when she remembered Justin pulling Liberty away with his teasing grin as he wiggled his fingers at her and Gale. "He was too excited about that…"

"Have fun, you two…! Well, not too much fun. But I was once your ages and, well… Try not to get too carried away! Don't do anything I would do! And certainly don't do anything I wouldn't! Bye, kiddies!" And Justin, in her memories, left them with an evil cackle.

What does Justin think Gale and I do when we're alone? But her cheeks heated when she remembered her and Gale's shared mistake. She glanced at Gale, who offered her an amusedly knowing look, before blushing even more—

"You're blushing again, Luna, because you like Mister Gale," Liberty teased in song. "You guys totally kissed while we were gone! That's what Justin said!"

"No, we didn't!" Luna sputtered. She looked at Gale for help. "Gale, tell her!"

Gale cocked his head with a wide grin and merely lifted an eyebrow. But when Luna sent him an imploring look, he drawled, "We didn't kiss, Libby. We're friends. Friends don't kiss. Not intentionally, anyway." He looked at Liberty. "But I think you're right that Blondie has a crush on me." He caught Luna's flustered yet indignant look and his grin broadened. "I mean, I am awesome. It makes sense she'd fall in love with me, right?"

"Right!" Liberty agreed.

"Wrong!" Luna cut in. "I don't like him, okay?"

"Okay." But Liberty and Gale shared a conspiratorial grin.

Luna huffed and got up. "I was going to put on our favorite song to dance to, Ladybug, but I guess I shouldn't anymore since someone keeps making fun of me—"

"No, no!" Liberty got up and hugged Luna's mid-section. "I'm sorry! I won't tease anymore! I want to dance with you!"

Luna broke into a smile. "All right. Then, we need to clean up and we can dance to your favorite song, okay?"

"Yay! Okay!"

Gale helped clean up the table, though puzzled and entertained. "You guys dance. That's so cute I might vomit."

"We do dance together, and since Mister Freed is letting you hang out with us, it means you get to dance too," Luna chirped, smug the tables had turned. "Everyone in this house is required to do it. Even James will dance with us with his cute rolling over and spins."

Gale snickered. "Sorry, Blondie, but I don't dance."

"Unless you're hiding under a mask, right?"

Gale paused as Luna sent him a knowing look before she helped Liberty file her school work back into her folder. "All right. That was fair," he supposed. "I guess I can dance with you too. How hard is dancing to a Magia song anyway?"

"Oh, no." Luna's smile broadened. "Libby and I dance to a different sort of song."

Now Gale had a reason to be wary. "What sort of song?"

"I have all my stuff put away!" Liberty announced.

"Good. Gale, can you move the coffee table back?" Luna got up. "I'm going to put on the music video. We always dance to the music video."

"It's so cool!" Liberty raved to Gale. "You're going to love it!"

Gale was not so sure. "Ah… Sure I will." He dragged back the coffee table against the back couch while Luna fiddled with the LV and the remote. He eyed Liberty as she started stretching. "Is the dance really that intense?"

"It's a lot of fun!" Liberty cheered. "You should stretch too, Mister Gale."

Gale snorted. "I'm okay. I think I can handle a little shaking and moving around." He groaned, however, when he saw the title of the song splash up on YouView on the LV. "Oh, god. This is a Queen B song?"

"Queen B is amazing!" Liberty scolded him. "I love her songs!"

Gale held up his hands in surrender. "Sorry, Libby, but she just doesn't do it for me."

Luna rolled her eyes as she took her position on the other side of Liberty. "Don't bother with him, Libby, he's one of the Wasps and not part of the B-Hive. We'll just have to show him how cool her songs are." She grinned at Gale as she poised the remote. "Are you ready? If you think you can handle it…"

"Ha!" Gale barked a laugh. "I faced off against Master. I think I can handle a silly Queen B song."

Luna hummed her laughter. "If you say so…" She hit « Play » and pushed aside the remote as the music video started with a high school cafeteria scene with the students talking and milling about. Luna took the time to stretch out herself alongside Liberty while Gale did not see the point.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Whoo!

Clap your hands now!

Clap your hands now!

Clap your hands now!

Clap your hands now!

•

Jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna and Liberty were well-versed with the dance, but Gale adapted with ease as he clapped along with them, but he did not look as enthusiastic as Liberty and he was suspicious of Luna's haughty look.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Mission one, let me see you run

Put your knees up in the sky 'cause we just begun

Hey! Hey!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Queen B had come into the mix as she and the two students with her in the theme of a white shirt and blue jeans did high knees to the beat. Easy enough. Gale shot Luna a smirk over Liberty's head, but Luna rolled her eyes.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Mission two, this is how we do

Shuffle, shuffle to right, to the left, let's move!

Hey! Hey!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The shuffles were flashy enough, though Luna was unimpressed, and Liberty was giggling when Gale spun her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Mission three, can you dougie with me?

Throw your own little swag on this Swizzy beat

Hey! Hey!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna snorted when Gale showed off with his dougie.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Mission four, if ya ready for more

Jump rope, jump rope, get your feet off the floor

Hey! Hey!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The jump rope move threw Gale for a loop for a moment, but he followed along. This dance was not so hard as both girls had insinuated.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

I ain't worried, doing me tonight

A little sweat ain't never hurt nobody

Don't just stand there on the wall!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna, Liberty, and Gale followed along with the students and Queen B's moves, but Luna and Liberty broke into laughter when everyone stopped and posed for a move and he was still moving.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Everybody, just move your body

Move your body

Move your body

Move your body

Move your body

•

Everybody, won't you move your body?

Everybody, won't you move your body?

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The cat daddy was a move was when Gale was partially familiar with from parties he had been to. He tossed Luna a smirk, but Luna held up a finger as if to tell him to wait for it.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Hey!

Can you get me bodied? I wanna be myself tonight

Can you get me bodied? I wanna be myself tonight

Wanna move my body, I wanna let it out tonight

Wanna party, wanna dance

Wanna be myself tonight!

Hey!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The second Queen B and the students started their quick two-step, Gale was comically lost. But Liberty helped him learn the moves with ease to keep up with the beat before he fell too far behind.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Mission five, come here, let's go

Time to move your little hips, vámonos, vámonos

Hey! Hey!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

If Tesla had taught Gale anything, it was salsa dancing (though against his will). He spun Liberty around and mimicked being Luna's salsa partner, much to her exasperated amusement at his antics.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Mission six, bring it back real quick

Do the Running Man and then turn around like this

Hey! (Do the Running Man, oh! Do the Running Man!)

Hey! (Do the Running Man, oh! Do the Running Man!)

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna had to cover her mouth when she chortled when Gale showed off his Running Man with extra moves.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Mission seven, time to break it down

Step and touch to the dance-hall sound

Hey! Hey!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The body rolls were essential for the dancehall move, but Gale was certainly starting to understand why Liberty and Luna had put in a few quick stretches. Queen B song or not—this anthem was to get your body moving all around.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Mission eight, feel that heartbeat race

Snap your fingers, tap your feet, just keep up with this pace

Hey! (Let me see you move, let me see you move)

Hey! (Let me see you move, let me see you move)

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Time to slow it down with a bounce and snap. There was nothing much to this move outside of moving your head back to the beat as you snapped, but you could feel the heartbeat beat to the beat of the song. Your body took a moment to process all the moves you had done.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

I ain't worried, doing me tonight

A little sweat ain't never hurt nobody

Don't just stand there on the wall!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

After they bounced and stepped, Liberty broke into laughter when Gale chose to lift her up high for his pose once the music stopped and queen B and her students froze.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Everybody, just move your body

Move your body

Move your body

Move your body

Move your body

•

Everybody, won't you move your body?

Everybody, won't you move your body?

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gale carried Liberty for this portion of the quickstep and the cat daddy and while Luna fumbled in her steps as she could not help her mirth.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Hey!

Can you get me bodied? I wanna be myself tonight

Can you get me bodied? I wanna be myself tonight

Wanna move my body, I wanna let it out tonight

Wanna party, wanna dance

Wanna be myself tonight!

Hey!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

More confident and breathing hard, Gale put Liberty down for them to follow with the quickstep to the left and then the right. But he surprised Luna when he did the cross-step with her with a large grin when she laughed.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Fellas on the floor, all my ladies on the floor

Everybody get ready to move your body!

•

Baby, all I want is to let it go

Ain't no worries, no

We can dance all night

Move your body

That means come closer to me

While we dance to the beat

Move your body!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

This had Gale's eyes widen the moment the intensity upped into the hot floor step (a forward-step with the right foot, then left, and then back with the opposite hand pumping out), but he was not a quitter. He put effort into it while Luna and Liberty looked flawless following along.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Now run to the left, to the left, to the left

Now run to the left, to the left

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gale's soul left his body, and he fell when he went to the right, only for Luna and Liberty to grab his hands and force him to stagger over to the left.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Now run to the right, to the right, to the right

Run back to the right, to the right

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gale had them both shriek with laughter when he caught them off-guard picking them both up and spinning them to the right.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Now run to the left, to the left, to the left

Now run to the left, to the left

•

Now run to the right, to the right, to the right

Run back to the right, to the right

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Both girls had wriggled away to the left with Gale chasing after them doing a liberal version of the running man before Liberty and Luna chased him to the right and launched onto him. He toppled over, and the three of them landed in a heap onto the living room floor.

Gale had both Liberty and Luna strung across his chest as they laughed, but it was dawning on him that he had a thin layer of sweat on his skin and his heart was pounding something fierce. "What the heck sort of song is that?"

"I told you you should've stretched," Liberty chastised, wagging a finger.

Gale grinned. "Ya got me. I should've listened to Lady Luck," he teased. He released Luna so she could get up on her feet and stop the music video. "But seriously. What is that song and why is that not labeled for a Zumba class?"

"Queen B was part of this Let's Move campaign in the USM, so she revamped one of her old songs into a really cool workout song," Luna explained. "Libby and I love to dance to it since it gets us to exercise." She smiled when Liberty tumbled onto her stomach to breathe while her black cat meowed and looked concerned. "And gets us both in the mood to sit down and watch a movie to rest."

Gale snorted. "Makes you feel less guilty pigging out is more like it."

"We only eat healthy snacks," Luna tried to defend. She simpered when Gale groaned as he got up. "And I'm pretty sure you got your butt kicked from a 'silly' Queen B song and will be more than willing to bum with us on the couch while we put on a princess movie."

Gale groaned for another reason. "Not that. Anything but that." He helped Liberty to her feet. "What do you say, Ladybug? Why don't watch an actual good movie? Like…anything outside of Magia?"

"Okay! We'll watch My Pretty Pony!" Liberty decided with a beam. "I want to rewatch the wedding episodes!" She peeked over at Luna, pleading. "Can we watch it?"

"Of course we can, Ladybug." Luna shrugged when Gale looked defeated. "You're the one who didn't want to watch Magia. What you get is what you get."

Gale tossed her a sour look and mimicked her under his breath.

Luna snickered. "Ladybug, why don't you go put on some clean comfy clothes and I'll have everything set up so we can watch My Pretty Pony, okay?"

"Okay! Come on, James!" And Liberty dashed away with James hurrying to follow her footsteps as though afraid she would abandon him.

Gale shook his finger at Luna. "You're a cruel woman, Blondie. First, you subject me to a Queen B song that was clearly out to kill me and now you're making me watch My Pretty Pony. Gotta say, you do wonders for my 'man card', Blondie-girl."

"I'm so sorry you pointlessly gender things, but My Pretty Pony is for everyone," Luna quipped as she went for the coffee table. Gale nudged her aside to drag it back in place on her behalf. She picked at her bracelet and said, "Hey, um… Thanks for coming with us to all those places. We would've been fine in Magnolia, but…thank you."

"No problema." Gale brought up his shirt to wipe his brow. "It's whatever." He stood toe to toe with her, but he bent his head towards her and brushed back a stray lock behind her ear. "I told you I wanted to make you feel safe again," he rumbled, low. "And I mean that shit, Blondie. If you want to go somewhere, I'll go with you."

Luna let out a puff. "I'm sorry—"

"Don't be," Gale soothed. "I don't mind being with you." He took a step back as though aware he had been too close and what he was saying was far too familiar. "It's what I'm here for," he said, a bit gruffly. "Igneel would have my ass if I let his little sister wander off somewhere if Luke doesn't get to me first."

"Right," Luna pathetically laughed. "Looking out for me since you're my brothers' friend. I got it." She looked away. "I should—" She froze when Gale turned her head back to him for wide chocolates to clash with intense rubies.

"You know that's not what I meant, principessa," Gale reminded her. "I thought I've done a good job telling you otherwise and a damn good job showing you it's not like that. You're my friend too." His eyes flicked to her lips, and he tore himself away with a heavy breath. "I just…need to get used to it."

Luna rubbed her arm. "It's weird for both of us." She hesitated, but she tried to offer, "Maybe we should…"

"If you're going to say we go no-contact, I'm doing to give you a hard 'no'," Gale growled. "I know we can't kick it like we used to. I get that. But I'm going to see you whenever I get the chance to, even if it's just kiki-ing with our friends."

Luna laughed. "Seriously? 'Kiki-ing'?"

"Blame Tesla. She says all this shit around me and I start saying it too." His lips twitched when Luna hid her laugh behind a hand. "We'll figure out this new friendship as we go, but it has to be because we both want to."

"I want to, I just…" Luna sighed. "I don't want to make another mistake."

"Then, we don't."

Luna offered him an exasperated look. "Thanks for the advice."

"It's sound advice," Gale defended good-naturedly. He took her hands into his own. "All you have to do is stop looking fucking adorable and keep your hands to yourself and we've got this."

Luna raised an amused eyebrow as she showed their hands. "Shouldn't I be saying the reverse to you?"

"I'll never stop looking adorable. Look at this face. I'm a dreamboat." Gale snickered when Luna rolled her eyes. "And for the record, you can always take back your hands."

Luna knew that, but they both knew she would not. "You're already breaking a rule that you set," she told him. "Maybe you should keep your hands to yourself sometimes."

"I could." Gale dipped his head down to search her eyes and murmured, "But I'd miss that cute pink on your cheeks if I did."

On cue, Luna blushed.

Gale offered a fangy grin, pleased. "There it is." He thumbed her cheek. "So damn cute."

Before Luna could object or make a noise or say something, Liberty asked rather loudly, "Are you guys going to kiss?"

"No!" Luna shoved Gale back, frazzled, and ignored Gale's quiet chuckles. "No, Ladybug, we're not. We're friends. Friends don't kiss and friends also don't make each other blush." She spat those words at Gale, who under no circumstances would look ashamed. She rolled her eyes and turned a fresh smile onto Liberty. "Come on. Let's watch some My Pretty Pony, okay?"

Gale groaned for this fresh Hell he was about to endure while Liberty was all sunshine and sparkles. "Can't we watch a real show? Like anything else outside of My Pretty Pony?"

"My Pretty Pony is a real show!" Liberty argued as she crashed onto the touch and James quickly made his new nest in her lap. "It's so good and Luna and I know all the songs! Baba and Justin sing the songs with me too!"

"Well, I don't sing," Gale told her as he took up Liberty's right side with his arm across the couch. "So you two sing your pretty little hearts out and I'll take a nap."

"But I heard you sing at the Festival of Gratitude," Liberty countered. "You do sing."

Gale opened his mouth for a rebuttal, but it was hard to argue with sound logic. "Okay, so, yes, I do sing. But I sing…real songs, not songs like these."

"These are real songs!" Liberty argued.

Gale retorted, "Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not—!"

Luna plopped down and silenced them. "Enough! Gale, stop it, music is music. Liberty, Gale is allowed to have his opinions about his tastes in music. All right?"

Liberty and Gale huffed. "Fine."

"Good." Luna snuggled Liberty into her side while Icarus curled up by the couch. James climbed down from Liberty to knead Icarus' side before stretching out beside him. "How about we watch the two-parter wedding episode and then we can put on a movie we all want to watch so we all can have fun, okay?"

Gale and Liberty grumbled, "Fine."

Luna tittered as she brought up ⟪ Webflix ⟫. He's such a kid sometimes. She scanned through for My Pretty Pony—

"Will Baba always have to be tired because of me?"

Gale and Luna looked down when a somber Liberty had asked the question.

"He's been so tired this week," Liberty murmured into Luna's shirt. "I know it's because of me. Baba told me bad people want me back. What if they hurt him because of me?" She nuzzled into Luna's side for comfort. "I don't want him hurt. He's my Baba."

Gale and Luna shared a significant look.

"Hey." Gale tapped Liberty for her to peek up at him with sadness into those honey-golds to connect with soft rubies. "No one will come after you or your dad, Liberty. Fairy Tail won't let that happen. He might be a little tired, but it's because he's making sure those bad guys will never have you. And I know him seeing your smile when he comes home makes all his exhaustion just melt away."

Liberty sniffled. "Really?"

"Really," Gale promised. "Your dad loves you so much, Libby, and so does Justin and all of Fairy Tail. No bad guys are ever going to take you away from us. And we're way too selfish and greedy to let our beautiful Lady Luck just leave like that."

Liberty giggled. "Really?"

"For sure. Do you know who you're talking to? I'm one of the fierce Dragons who hoards my treasures," Gale mock-growled. "And you're one of those treasures, Liberty. And Dragons don't let go of their hoard without a fight." He met Luna's eyes. "We hold on to our treasure forever."

Luna thickly swallowed and broke their gaze.

Liberty heaved her chest as she exhaled. "I really wish I was in Fairy Tail," she murmured. "I really wanted Auntie Erza to grant my wish." She bunched up against Luna.

"What's your wish?" Gale asked.

Liberty shied her gaze away. "It's a secret."

Gale respected that. "Well, how about the second you're in Fairy Tail, you team up with us and we'll beat Master for your wish, yeah?"

"But…"—those honey-golds saddened—"it has to be now because…" She turned into Luna's side.

Luna rubbed Liberty's side and soothed, "Let's watch some My Pretty Pony, okay, Libby?"

Liberty mumbled, "Mm-kay."

Luna start the episode, but she and Gale both shared a concerned look. Libby's really worried about being sent back home. Her heart went out to Liberty. I know Mister Freed is trying to calm her, but this is really bothering her. Maybe I should ask Justin what to do to help keep her calm? I wish I knew what the wish she wanted to ask Master was. She jerked, but then she relaxed when she felt Gale's arm wrap around her.

Gale drawled to Liberty, "See, an actual horse wouldn't be colored like that. Fake. Already a bad show."

Liberty would come out for her sadness to defend one of her favorite shows. "Nuh-uh! Elvie can turn into a purple pony just like Twilight!"

"But that's clearly Magic," Gale argued. "This show is pushing some weird horse-unnatural-fur color agenda on you, obviously! It's a bad show! And who names a horse 'Twilight'?"

Luna silently thanked Gale for the banter that brought back the life in Liberty's eyes and smiled a little when he snuck a wink at her. He always knows what to say. Her hand reached up to touch his gloved fingers in a loose hold. I just wish I knew what to say to cheer Liberty up.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Erza stood tall in her Heaven's Wheel Armor with her one-handed blades gripped soundly in her hands, breathing hard. She had worked up a sweat from her constant battling and watched as Constantine employed levitating stretchers to carry away fallen Mages. A Lacrima Screen had been updated to show all those who had been "killed" within Fairy Tail and she could feel Genius' Lacrima Camera Drones zooming around to capture the action live. She swiped her forehead.

The first day and the last day of Assassination Week are always the busiest. I always pre-plan for a light day those days to make sure my work is uninterrupted. She looked around the desolate mountain space that had been demolished in the heat of her fighting. I was right to choose the nearby mountains. I have faith in Gale to restore it to its natural ecosystem. Perhaps offer some incentive. She smiled. I'm sure my tease of Jura's interest in him will do. Now that Gale has unlocked his true power, I cannot hold back Jura should he approach Gale for an apprenticeship. He's been waiting patiently for the day I stood aside.

"Master." Number Five came out with a tray of light snacks and a beverage. "I've brought your refreshments. Please take this moment to rest."

Erza dismissed her one-handed swords with a smile. "Thank you, Miss Five." She took the beverage and sipped it for a few moments. After confirming the flavor, she asked, "I suspect…the Confundus Potion? The Doscadon blood gave it away."

Number Five bowed her head. "Yes, Master."

Erza hummed and took a few more swallows as she felt that incoming spring breeze embrace her. There are few left to challenge me. I know which will not. I haven't seen Silver, but Juvia tells me he's been working. And conveniently, Ena has been absent from my sight as well. She stared into the horizon. What will you do, my little fairy? Will you face me alone and risk defeat? Or will you accept Silver's loyalty to you…so you may ask me your question?

She closed her eyes with a sigh. I know what your wish is, Ena. I know what you keep trying to hide from me. She gripped her cup. And I'm sorry you have to go to such extremes for a glimpse of the truth. This is not what I wanted for you. And this isn't what Jellal wanted for you either.

She finished her drink and opened her eyes. "Miss Five, please take my cup and gather in a safe place." She set the cup back on the tray to wield her one-handed blades. "I'm expecting company."

Number Five bowed. "As you wish, Master. I'll make sure your refreshments stay fresh."

"Thank you, Miss Five."

Erza took a deep breath of that mountain air as Number Five strode away. I offered for Miss Five to challenge me, but she declined under the reason I bested her once and she has no reason to fight me again. I should encourage her to take a vacation. She's been faithful to me since I found her. After all—she flicked her blades—it's not every day I come face to face with my own assassin.

STEP… STEP…

A fanged grin.

STEP… STEP….

Metal glinted from the burning sun.

STEP… STEP…

Frost expelled into the air.

STEP… STEP…

Erza rolled a shoulder as her blades hummed. Well then. It's time to stop drifting into the past. I can't afford to lose focus. Kobichas flashed. Not when I have such interesting guests to entertain.

She lifted her chin, amused. "Three against one. You show such lack of confidence for such an unfair line-up."

A crude smirk. "Heh-heh… Don't make us laugh, Titania." Gajeel stood with his hands shifted into his metal claws as his scales climbed up his skin. "The only thing unfair is we don't get to fight you while you're huffing and puffing. But we'll give you a handicap."

Erza hmphed as her amusement grew. "Thank you, Gajeel. I might need it. After all, I have been fighting for a majority of my week with little rest."

"And we all know you're stronger than ever." Gray crossed his arms with his right side blackened with his Ice Devil Slayer Magic with his right eye the same icy-blue as his son's. "You could be fighting for a month straight and still be ready to take on the world."

"You flatter me, Gray," Erza tittered. "I'm not that much of a monster. Even I have my limits too." She hummed. "I'm surprised you've been so quiet. You have nothing to say to me"—her eyes flashed over to the waiting king with his left eye of a Dragon and his right eye of a Demon with scales mounting his body—"Natsu?"

Natsu's grin broadened. "I don't have that much to say when you knew this was coming. But I want to make one thing clear." His grin dropped as scales covered his cheeks and emerald and scarlet gleamed in a declaration of challenge. "You're the master of my guild, and I still respect that. But right now, you're my enemy. And I'll make sure to burn you down like every enemy that came before you!"

"I look forward to it." Erza tipped her chin down as she raised one sword in Natsu's direction. "Because you are my enemy as well. And my blades will cut down whoever stands in my way."

Natsu let his hands burst into flames. "Then show me everything you've got and nothing less!" he snarled. "I'll take you down right here and now! All by myself!"

"You idiot!"

Natsu yelped and grabbed his hand when a chunk of rock had nearly bowled him over. He groaned his pain and shucked a petulant glare at Gajeel. "What the Hell was that you, ya jerk!"

"If anyone gets to fight one-on-one with Titania, it's gonna be me!" Gajeel shouted at him. "Stick to the plan, you fire-breathing jackass! We literally just went over it fifteen minutes ago!"

Natsu huffed and childishly mumbled under his breath, "You two are just going to hold me back anyway."

"I can hear ya, ya damn prick!"

"I knew teaming up with you two was a shit idea!" Gray angrily groaned. "Fuck it! I get to fight Erza first and you two dumb asses can sit on the bench and watch!"

Natsu and Gajeel snarled, "No way in Hell!"

Gajeel stormed over to Gray. "Listen here, Stripper, I'm the strongest one here! If anyone gets the first punch, it's gonna be me while you fucking find your clothes!"

"I know where my clothes are!" Gray countered. "Juvia has them!"

In the distance, Juvia waved, happy as can be, with Gray's fallen clothes (save for his boxers) in her hand. "Go, go, Juvia's Beloved Gray!"

"You two talk too much!" Natsu let his flames blaze hotter. "You can go argue all you want on the sidelines! I'm fighting Erza first—"

CRACK!

Natsu comically rolled on the ground as he held his swollen cheek from the iron rod that hit him. "Gajeel, you fricken psycho!" he howled. "Wendy warned us she wasn't healing all our injuries and you have to go and punch me!"

"You are not calling dibs on this fight, jackass!" Gajeel snapped. "Stay down and watch me win!"

"You wouldn't last five minutes!" Gray retorted. "I'm going first!"

Natsu shot up, fuming. "No! I'm going first!"

Erza gripped her blades as shadows covered her eyes while Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel descended into madness with their arguing and fighting. Her cheek twinged as a tick mark bombarded her temple the louder their arguing became. The straw that broke the camel's back was when Natsu threw a flaming punch the same time Gajeel was trying to get Gray to eat steel. She barked with a resounding echo, "That's enough!" She swiped her sword and cast: "Stängel Volley!"

All three men stopped their fighting when they realized scores of heavenly swords had been conjured and aimed for them. Wide-eyed, they flailed and panicked—

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

Erza was quick to go into the air and crossed her in front of her and chanted: "Kelchblatt Spear!" A glowing circle appeared where the swords crossed only for a Magic Circle to populate. Particles of Ethernano were absorbed only for a piercing energy to beam out and cross through the rock.

"Ice-Make-Shield!" Ice rose up, but the beam fought valiantly to break it down—

"Iron Dragon's Lance: Demon Logs!"

"Fire Dragon's Rooooooooooar!"

Erza maneuvered through the steel spears couched in flames, though one of the flaming spears cut through her armor.

"Ice Devil's Zeroth Destruction Bow!"

Erza reacted fast as she slashed her swords before her. "Stempel Slicer!"

Both aggressive attacks met in the middle, shoved each other back and forth, until the energy was to great and amassed into a smoke-heavy explosion that clouded the entire area and shroomed into the sky. It covered Erza, but before she could billow away the smoke, steel spears shot through and forced her back to the ground. An intense heat approached her, and Erza got back to dodge Natsu's flaming fist, but she pivoted with her swords up and crossed as she was shoved back when an icy buzz-saw disk clashed with her.

BONG!

Erza gritted her teeth and had to spare a sword to keep back Gajeel when he tried to pounce on her with his arm turned into a steel club. They might fight amongst themselves and act foolish from time to time. But—her lips curled into a grin—they have no idea how much power they bring as a unit. She pushed out a grunt to shove both attacks back for a few moments for her to duck and Gajeel took the Ice-Make: Saucer on her behalf. But that did not mean the fight was over.

It was far from over.

Heave's Wheel Armor was one of Erza's most well-known armors in a battle, but did you know why? This armor was not a favorite of hers because of the design. It was because this armor was made for her to combat several opponents at a time. While she had a few other suits of armor capable, not many brought with the easy artillery of her one-handed swords. And she used that to her advantage as Gajeel, Gray, and Natsu took their turns attacking her.

Natsu and Gajeel had the drawback that they had to work up-close for most of their fighting while Gray was versatile. Erza could work with that. She used her blades to combat Gajeel when his hands turned into chainsaws before Natsu struck her with his body on fire as he tried to burn her with his flames. Gray bided his time for an opening, and Erza was hit when his Ice-Make: Super Freeze Arrow struck her mid-section. Winter and blood mixed together in her throat and she sent herself high into the sky before she summoned one hundred swords to rain down the earth.

B-B-B-BOOM! B-BOOM!

Erza dodged a fiery roar and another one of steel shards and narrowly escaped another destruction bow, but in a flash of flames, she was against Natsu with his scales and wings. He shoved back against her swords, but Erza refused to cave. Flames against swords. Who would lose first?

Natsu smirked.

Erza's eyes widened, and she turned too late when the destruction bow pierced her middle. Natsu was protected with his flames, but the ice crystaled Erza's middle and she fell to the ground. Her teeth gritted as she fell and she chanted: "Requip!"

Gajeel sprung as her Magic cloaked her and chanted, "Iron Dragon's Kunai Hurricane!" He summoned dozens of kunai blades that all aimed for Erza.

Erza dodged as many as she could as her armor settled until the Magic crackled off. Within her Adamantine Armor, she combined her two shields—two halves of a whole—and her aqua Magic Seal saved her from more attacks. She jerked and broke her shield to cover her other side. While not as large and a percentage weak, she was able to enable her Magic Barrier to stave off the hundreds of icy arrows aiming for her. She conjured another shield to cover above just before Natsu rained fire down on her. But that stopped none of the three. They pressed harder against her barriers with their merciless attacks.

Erza offered soft pants from beneath the protection of her multiple barriers. Combined, they aren't as strong as a Jupiter Cannon, but they're close. My barriers won't wait for them to get tired. And if Natsu chooses to show me his full demonic presence—

Her thoughts stopped when she felt a vibration. What? Underground? Not many things surprised her, but when the ground tore up, that certainly stunned her. The earth swirled around her and she plummeted downwards. She was dragged underground until she reemerged, dangling in the air. This couldn't be Gale. Then—

Kobichas caught pale rubies.

Galileo was in the distance, in the middle of his Magic Circle with his artificial arm on the center.

So that's it. Erza's eyes narrowed. Remote Alchemy. And if he's here, then—

"Star Shot!"

Erza summoned her shields to build her Adamantine Barrier, but Galileo flung her and she could see now. She saw Luke in the distance with Sagittarius' bow in hand. I didn't even sense them. Gajeel, Gray, and Natsu overwhelmed my senses with their powers that they overshadowed Galileo and Luke. Her lips turned into a grin. They never fail to keep me on my toes. I haven't had this much fun in some time. "Requip!"

Natsu growled. "Don't let her finish! Luke! Galileo!"

Both chorused, "Right!"

Galileo chanted, "Rhodium Chains!"

As gold wrapped around Erza, she was trapped in the transition of mid-Requip when Galileo's chains kept her on a bended knee. Even with her all her strength, she could not fight the power of Rhodonite.

Luke skidded to a stop to take a deep breath. His hands moved through mudras before he chanted, "Tanhā Breaker!" His Magic Circle blossomed beneath him as he blasted gold energy from his hands.

Erza grunted when the blast hit her head, but she kept her eyes open. I see. He's trying to break down my mental barriers and break into my subconscious. Mystogan had forewarned me Luke was always too shy about using his mental prowess. But now he's gaining confidence in himself. Very good. She yanked on her chains. But it's not good enough. She let out a cry as she let raw magical energy consume her and combust.

Luke's spell had rebounded and throttled him backward, but Natsu was quick to catch him while Galileo shook his arms on his rebounded Alchemy as though it burned him. Natsu helped Luke back to his feet. "You okay?"

"Y-Yeah." Luke adjusted his glasses. "I'm fine, Dad."

Galileo reset his arm with a quick adjustment and whirled it around as his father stood by him. "Sorry, Dad."

"Don't worry about it, kid." Gajeel gripped Galileo's shoulders, but he watched Erza's transformation with a burning intent. "It's not over."

Erza stood tall as the spell shattered off her. Her Ataraxia Armor clung to her with its revealing gown, its obi-inspired belt, and bladed wings. Her bladed wings flexed to show they were not simple, docile wings, but they would protect and fight back. She eyed Gajeel and Galileo, then Natsu and Luke before she settled on Gray. "It's a shame Gary can't be here. He would have matched the set."

Gray grinned. "Don't worry. We'll do without him for now." His grin broadened. "And besides… I have three kids."

CRASH!

Julia faced against one of Erza's blades just inches away from her with her own blade, an unusual two-handed blade. She grinned as she battled for dominance. "Come on, Master. You didn't think I would miss out on the fun, did you?" She jumped back to join her father's right side.

Erza tittered. "I would expect nothing less." Her blade fell back with the others as her gaze scanned those around her. She might not have had a Dragon Slayer's hearing nor their children's hearing, but that did not stop her other senses. They're surrounding me.

She eyed Julia. She won't use her Anti-Ether weapons. That's one secret I'll continue to keep until she's ready to explain it. But she's highly trained in weapons. And her sword—it's not one I recognize. Its properties could be troublesome. She looked at Gray. His Ice Devil powers are still limited for time. I could wade it out. If Gary were here, I'd have a problem. I have no armor to counter a natural Devil. But I can use Ice Devil's Chill on Gray.

She turned her head slightly to catch Luke. And the extent of his demonic powers is unknown. But the fact that even Natsu is uncertain makes me wary. If I push him, he might lose control. We'd end the battle right there and then. No fight is worth losing a child. Still, I want to test his abilities since Oberon is absent.

Her eyes fell to Galileo. His Alchemy will be a burden. It's still difficult to catalog attacks of an Alchemist, but he's special since he can utilize Magic as well as Alchemy. And I have no counter to his Rhodium. Not until The Forge can craft an armor. Even so, his attacks long-range can be deflected. Those browns went to Gajeel. If I'm in a pinch, I can use Benizakura. It won't stop him in his tracks like Gale, but it will drain him.

Her hands clenched. Which means my biggest threat…—she angled herself for those browns to clash with jade-scarlet—is Natsu. If he were another Dragon Slayer, this would be different. But he is a controlled Demon King. My Black Sinner Armor doesn't stand a chance against him. We've tested it before. Her eyes narrowed. So what will you do, Natsu? Will you stay a Dragon and lead them…or will the Fairy Queen battle the Demon King?

A growl tore from Natsu's throat at Erza's blatant challenge. He put a clawed hand on his son's shoulder and murmured for his ears only, "Do you remember what to do?"

Luke swallowed and nodded.

"Good." Natsu squeezed Luke's shoulder. "You'll do great." He snuck an assuring smile down at him. "But regardless of the results, I'm proud of you. Don't forget that. Just do your best and that's enough for me, all right?"

Luke nodded. "Yeah, Dad, I know."

"All right then." Flames teemed at Natsu's mouth. "Let's go…!"

Five against one was never fair.

BOOM!

But then again… When was the life of a Wizard fair?

Erza took them on in shifts, but the pattern was random. At least, a Spiritless and an inexperienced Wizard would use the oxymoron "random pattern" and think themselves in the right for an observation. Randomness was generated for an individual object such as a number or a toy or a cat from a shelter from a set of objects. But the word "random pattern" could only stay relevant if its perceived and sophisticated algorithm remained undetected. But getting to that level took time and training most did not want to dedicate themselves. Wizards might work in guilds and they had their teams, but they attacked alone. Unison Raids were sparse to come by without proper resonance, which meant Wizards did not see a purpose to train as a unit.

Fairy Tail was the exception.

Erza battled her way through a series of attacks that never mimicked the last. Her blades fanned out to help her with double attacks, but she still had to worry about Natsu's fire should he choose to roar at her from a close distance.

She clashed swords with Julia and appraised the attack. She's more trained in guns and knives—daggers. It's easy to see she's not accustomed to such a long or heavy weapon. She's used to traveling light. That'll make it easy for me to disarm her. She avoided Gajeel's drill leg taking her down, but she was forced to exchange that for one of Galileo's blasts. Gray took the chance to try and freeze her, but her swords batted him away.

It's easier to see when they switch. Natsu acts as the "tank". He knows he's the biggest threat to me. Once he gets my attention, the other four continuously switch out, but the second I fall into battle, Natsu pulls back my attention. They're trying to limit my offense. But it's just the four of them. Luke hasn't joined. If I recall his Zen Magic, he can act similar to a Healer and provide a steady energy transfer. But he could be lining up the final shot. To my knowledge, he doesn't have any finishing blows—nothing strong enough to finish me off.

Natsu flapped his wings and called, "Get ready!" He let out a snarl as his flames burst from his scales. "Fire Dragon's Roasting Bath!"

Erza saw no one else outside the roar of those flames spiral around her. The heat unbearable and the flames snappish, Erza burst into the air to get away before the flames consumed her—

"Ice Devil's Zeroth Destruction Bow!"

"Iron Dragon's Kunai Hurricane!"

"Explosió Cinéticanos!"

Erza dodged the bow, but a few kunai had managed to nick her and while her swords had tried to shield her from Galileo's blast, he burst right threw to hit her. She was thrown off kilter, her arm in pain, when she saw Julia, and time moved in slow motion. What the…?

Julia held an unusual gun in an elaborate transformation as particles of Ethernano absorbed into its maw. It spun a ball of blackened energy from its jaws and the ball grew and grew sizably.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the Magical Convergent Gun: Jupiter from the Jupiter Cannon. The entire gun is made from the same type of Lacrima that powers Fairy Tail's Jupiter Canon which allows it to absorb Ethernano around it and fire a compressed sphere. It can only figure a Jupiter Sphere three times, however, before the Lacrima breaks and must recharge fifteen minutes between shots, the same as the Cannon. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Lips pulled into a smile. I see. Genius… You truly are a genius.

Julia pulled the trigger.

BOOM!

Erza's shields crowded around her, but the Jupiter Sphere still blasted her back until she crashed brutally into the mountainside. Rocks, displaced, tumbled down, but she had thankfully not started an avalanche in the wake of her devastation. Pained all over, she pulled herself free from the rock with heavy pants.

Her work with the sword was a distraction. She wanted me to perceive her as easy to read to hide such a weapon. This is thrilling. Kobichas burned. I've never felt more alive. She flew back into the sky with her bladed wings.

"You've all done well," she praised. "But that's not enough to—"

Her eyes widened. That energy.

Natsu rumbled with delight and murmured, "That might not be enough. But he is."

Erza whirled around. It can't be…

Luke had removed himself from the battle to be out of her immediate senses, but he was on the battlefield with his roots shaded black and his eyes a bleeding red. His clawed hands were lifted in the air as he poured more darkness into the Accursed Sphere he had created filled with sin and despair. He panted hard and strained himself as he topped off such power. "Demon's…"—with all his might, he threw the giant sphere forward—"Cataclysmic Bomb!"

Erza clenched her hands. I was wrong. Natsu might be a big threat. But you've become a threat all on your own…Prince of Demons.

You have never felt pain until the entire apocalypse was pressured around your body.

The bomb had enshrouded Erza in massive amounts of darkness that viciously ripped her apart. Her swords could do nothing to defend her when her body was electrified with every dark thought, every despaired memory, every tear, every death, every drop of blood from her past. She screamed from the never-ending lashes and stings she endured. This was not pain—this was suffering. This was a fraction of the power of the Prince of Demons.

This was his darkness.

Erza throated back her scream as her muscles coiled. I've had enough. Voice hoarse, she croaked, "Requip!" With great struggle, gold energy covered her body.

What happened felt cinematic. Gold light slowly pierced through the bomb before it could detonate until the Demon's Cataclysmic Bomb imploded on itself, faltering underneath such alarming power. And Erza remained with her teeth gritted in her Nakagami Armor as she wielded her unique halberd. "This battle is over!" she decreed as she placed her halberd in front of her. "Nakagami Sunburst!"

The only way to describe what the six saw was like falling into the bright light upon death. So blinding and overpowering and in your face that you could not ignore it if you tried. Your energy depleted as your body gave up so your soul could move on to the afterlife. That was what they saw, and that was what it felt like.

By the time that white light was over and done, no one could stand. The battlefield had been decimated.

GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA!

The crest of Titania was tagged onto their fallen bodies. Even Luke had been tagged. But he was not momentarily blacked out like the others. Exhaustion and laboring pain set into his bones as the black in his hair receded to pink and his eyes returned to a honeyed amber. He looked down at the crest and his hands scrapped against the earth as shame and guilt rankled him.

No… I… He gritted his teeth. I…couldn't do it. I failed. I wasn't…strong enough like Dad.

"Luke."

Luke looked up to see Erza land before him. He squinted when gold powered her, but it was for a moment. She had descended back into her blouse and pants before him and even with her scrapes, she would never lose the regality that came with the title "Titania".

"Weeks ago, you were unsure and unconfident in yourself and your abilities," Erza started. "You doubted yourself. You doubted your ability to be yourself. You felt insecure and unsafe in your own body. And you lacked the ambition to take the power you were born with and turn it into your own." She stepped forward. "But I look at you now and I think to myself"—those browns softened—"how proud Oberon would be if he had seen you."

Luke blinked up at her, hopeful and tired. "Really?"

"Really," Erza affirmed. "No one expects you to move a mountain in a day. It will take time. But your attack is one I admittedly wouldn't want to face again. You forced my hand to use one of my strongest armors to break free. You're making a fine Wizard." She extended a hand to him. "And you're making a fine 'Prince'." She bowed her head to him. "Your Highness."

Luke colored, but he took her hand and got to his feet, a bit woozy. "You're the Fairy Queen, Master," he tried to remind.

"And a Queen still recognizes and respects fellow royalty," Erza told him. "You will do great things no matter what powers you use. I'm proud to have you as a nephew and one of my fairies." She added gently, "And your grandfather and brother—both mighty Igneel's—would be so proud of you too."

Luke blinked when his eyes clouded.

"Come," Erza said. "You've earned the right to some rest."

By the time Luke and Erza had returned, the others had come back to consciousness and were helping each other stand. Gajeel smacked dirt out of his ear while Gray helped Julia back to her feet. Natsu—back in his human body—perked seeing his son. "Luke!"

Luke stood as his father came to him. Embarrassed and still ashamed, he looked out the ground and shuffled his feet. "Sorry, Dad." He winced when a hand dropped onto his head and looked up, adjusting his glasses, to see his father giving him one of those cheerful grins.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. There's always a next time," Natsu soothed. "After all, we're all in this together, right?"

Luke smiled, relieved. "Right."

Gray groaned as he let his Ice Devil powers slither back beneath his skin. "Damn. What a workout." He rolled a shoulder and drawled, "Hey, Flame Brain! Drinks are on you!"

"What!" Natsu fumed. "Why me? I'm not the stripper here!"

Gray ignored the fact that he was naked (and Julia roamed to her uncle and wondered why isn't my dad in jail) and crossed his arms. "Because you're the one who came up with this plan which means when it fails, you have to buy the drinks."

"I'm not buying no drinks for a stupid Ice Princess like you!" Natsu sneered. "Buy your own stupid drinks!" He wrapped an arm around Luke's shoulders. "I'm only buying my kid drinks, so you can fuck off!"

"What!" Luke waved his hands, floored. He whispered urgently, "Dad, no! I told you, I-I just wanted to go home after going to the sickbay—Ah!" Eyes swirling, when Natsu tightened his arm on Luke, it choked him and he could not get out the words.

And Natsu was oblivious as he grinned. "Nah, ya gotta celebrate fighting Master! Don't worry! I'll get you the good stuff your mom would never let me sick on you!"

That's what concerns me! Luke cried.

"We'll have you drinkin' like a champ!" Gajeel crowed, rubbing his hands together in dark delight. "And you're in luck because I know a great bar to go to!"

Why does everyone around me want me to drink? Luke wanted to sob. I want to go home to my room where all my games are, not go to a bar! Sensei, please save me!

"Before you go, I have some final words."

Everyone turned their eyes to Erza.

"You all fought me brilliantly," Erza complimented. "Win or lose, that was my toughest battle yet. You worked as a unit to take me down. That alone is impressive. You controlled the chessboard and followed through with every move you made. I wouldn't want to have any of you as my enemy." She looked at Julia. "Your Jupiter Gun will come in handy. Your aim was precise and steady for a falling target. Well done." She looked at Luke. "And you may have much to learn, but your mental power was enough to break several of my own barriers. Work on your confidence and you will have no problem breaking your opponents."

Erza scanned the S-Class Mages. "To my S-Class Mages, my feelings on your prowess were made known to when I named you 'S-Class'. That has not changed. I did not have complaints then and I certainly don't now. You are the future of this guild. Pass your knowledge well to those who look up to you." She turned to Natsu and smiled as decades' worth of friendship and familial affection passed between them. "You never cease to amaze me with your plans, Natsu. As your enemy, your plan infuriated me and exhausted me into making mistakes. But as I reflect back, as your friend, a plan such as that would have defeated me."

Natsu flashed her pleased fang. "Would've been nice to win," he supposed. "But even though we didn't, I don't regret a thing and I wouldn't do anything different. We did our best. And besides"—onyx glittered—"it was fun, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Natsu." Erza softened. "It was fun." She nodded to everyone. "Go get healed and get some rest. All of you. And I will see you all at the celebration tonight."

"Yes, Master."

Another argument started between Natsu and Gray and Gajeel about the bar they wanted to choose while Luke was desperate to get away from his father's clutches and Juvia popped up to cloth Gray as he walked (and Julia wanted to die of horrified embarrassment). Erza watched them as they disappeared from the battlefield.

They all fought valiantly. If a war is coming, I know they'll be ready.

Erza coughed and sputters of blood went onto her hand. Ah… The delayed reaction.

"Master." Number Five appeared with a bow. "I've arranged your resting area. Shall I escort you?"

"No need, Miss Five, but thank you." Erza pivoted and strode away to the chair Number Five had brought her, lush and plush, with a tall side table with water, tea, and light snacks. She sat down and relaxed in the chair with a deep sigh.

Number Five attended to her. "Shall I call Miss Wendy for you, Master?"

"No need, Miss Five," Erza dismissed. "I only require a bit of rest. Please make sure I'm undisturbed. I doubt I'll receive any more fighters until I've rested, but please hold all my calls."

Number Five bowed. "As you wish, Master."

Erza closed her eyes and sighed again. Had I tried to sustain another moment within Luke's attack, I surely would have succumbed. She was right about this next generation. They will be the best of us. She grabbed her honeyed tea and could smell the potion mixed in as she took a long sip. A rejuvenation potion with herbs to counter the drowsy effect. You always look out for me, Miss Five.

She relaxed. I just need some rest while I wait. The day isn't over. For once she comes—browns cracked open—that's when the real battle begins.

---

Freed came through the front door to hear giggles and laughter and had to smile. After taking off his jacket and his shoes, he headed further into his home, and the sight in the living room had him chuckle. Gale, Luna, and Liberty were playing an intense game of Twister. Luna and Liberty were limber and flexible enough to pull off more outrageous twists, but it was clear Gale was struggling. Icarus and James took turns booping their noses and paws respectively onto Luna's Compact to spin the dial.

"Right foot, blue," called Nicky-nyan from the app.

Luna and Liberty were able to fold and bend to get their right foot to a blue square, but Gale waddled and ended up collapsing and taking both girls with him. They fell into heaps of laughter as Icarus circled them before he wriggled in and James settled in a cat loaf near Liberty and nuzzled her head.

Freed smiled and drawled humorously, "Well, I guess my Ladybug has turned into a pretzel."

Liberty visibly brightened when she saw her father. "Baba, you're back!" She wormed and wriggled to break free and ran straight for her father, giggling when he picked her up. "And you're back early today! My lucky charm worked!"

"It always works, Ladybug." Freed kissed her cheek and set her down as James came to wind between his legs, tail vibrating with happiness. "And hello to you too, James." He bent down to stroke James' head. "Did you take care of Ladybug?"

James offered a meow that sounded similar to singing re.

Freed laughed and looked to see Gale and Luna detangle from each other. Icarus' abrupt movement had knocked Luna into Gale's chest and Freed suppressed his amusement when Luna flushed and leaped to her feet like Gale had burned her while Gale took his time getting back to his feet. "Good evening, Luna, Gale."

"Hi, Mister Freed," Luna (embarrassed) and Gale (grinning) chorused.

"Baba, we got to dance to my favorite song!" Liberty told him merrily. She loudly whispered, "And Mister Gale couldn't keep up with us!"

Gale feigned offense. "Well, I've never. After I help you with your schoolwork and introduce you to actual LV and you still do me dirty like that?"

Liberty stuck out her tongue at him.

"I see Ladybug introduced you to that Move Your Body song," Freed chortled. "Justin used to rope me into doing it and Liberty fell in love with the song. We would do it together."

"Even if you got tired in the middle of it," Liberty teased.

"I don't have the same energy you and your brother do," Freed supposed in good humor. "Why don't you get ready? Since I'm back home early, I thought we could meet up with a few of your friends at your favorite places in the world—"

Liberty gasped. "We're going to Build-A-Beast and Toy Land?"

Freed nodded. "I wanted to surprise you. Luna said she would've taken you if I wasn't back home yet, but since I'm home, why don't we together?" His eyes twinkled in mischief. "Unless you don't want to—"

"No, I want to go, I want to go!" Liberty blurted. She shoved a pitiful pout at her black cat. "Sorry, James, but you have to stay here."

James did not look all that happy with that, but he rubbed his head against her leg as though forgiving her.

Freed ruffled her hair. "Go and pick out something to wear, okay? I think all your friends are wearing purple."

"Okay, Baba! Come on, James!" Liberty scooped up James and scampered away.

Freed stood up with a sigh and shot Luna a grateful smile. "Thank you for watching Liberty this entire week." His stare drifted to Gale. "Both of you. And thanks for all the pictures."

"It's no problem, Mister Freed!" Luna cheerfully assured. "I love watching Liberty! You can call on me anytime!"

Freed smiled. "I'll hold you to that. You're her favorite sitter. Though"—he simpered towards Gale—"I think she's making room for a second favorite sitter too."

"She was fun to watch," Gale supposed as he crossed his arms.

Luna gave him a dry look. "Yeah, and you two kept arguing over what we should watch and music to listen to in the car and which animal is the best—"

"How does she think cats beat axolotls and honey badgers!" Gale protested. "Do you how friggen badass a honey badger is? They will straight-up mess up a lion if it comes to close to their home! A lion, Blondie! It would destroy a cat!"

Luna playfully rolled her eyes. "I've been dealing with arguments like this for the entire week," she told Freed. "I think Liberty likes him since, mentally, they're the same age." She and Freed shared a laugh while Gale huffed and muttered something unintelligible under his breath.

"Luna, I know I paid you in advance, but Gale—"

Gale waved a hand. "Nah, it's okay. I don't need it."

"I insist." Freed took out his wallet to bring out a small wad of jewel and offered it to Gale. "It's my thank you for watching my daughter." He added at Gale's hesitance, "The plan tonight was Luna accompanying Liberty to Toy Land and a dinner with her friends and other parents, but since I'm here, I think both of you are free from any dinner plans."

Luna's cheeks flamed while Gale caught on. "You're right," Gale said. "We are."

"Then please take this for a nice celebration for your efforts," Freed insisted.

Luna tried to deny, "Oh, no, it's not—"

"Thank you, sir." Gale took the jewel. "We'll definitely celebrate"—he raked Luna with amused rubies—"won't we, Blondie?"

Luna was at a loss for words and clearly outnumbered. "I'm ordering two appetizers, three entrees, and dessert," she muttered. She looked over her shoulder while both men chuckled before her expression turned somber and she stepped closer to Freed. "Mister Freed? There is something I wanted to discuss with you before I leave, if that's okay? It's about Liberty and, um…" She and Gale exchanged a look.

Freed frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Well…" Luna lowered her voice. "It seems like she's been very worried about your meetings. She's afraid…you might be sending her back. And she's very worried she's getting you in trouble and that you might be hurt."

"Ah." Freed looked down the hall and could hear Liberty's giggles as she figured out what she wanted to wear. I know she's been concerned, but… Oh, my Ladybug.

"We let her know that we're way too selfish to let her go," Gale informed. "But I know she's probably still worried about it."

Freed sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. It always worries her when I have to work with the attorney. But I'm not letting her go." He sighed again. "I'll have a talk with her later to hopefully ease her mind. Justin went through something similar when he was younger. I'm sure he can help calm her down too." Those sea blues softened. "But thank you for comforting her. She looks up to you. Luna, you're the reason she got into dance and gymnastics."

Luna smiled. "It's not a problem, Mister Freed. Anything for my favorite Ladybug." She blushed when Gale touched her back. "But we'll leave you two to it. Please enjoy tonight! Let me know whenever if you need me to watch her again!"

"I will, Luna. Thank you again. And thank you, Gale."

Gale nodded. "No problem, sir."

After Icarus poofed back into the Celestial Spirit Realm, Freed escorted both to the door and had to smile a little watching their song and dance with Luna's shyness against Gale's brashness before he closed the door with a heavy heart. Justin mentioned the same thing about Liberty's worries. I know she doesn't like to see me leave, but the lawsuits are relentless. Enough blood was spilled over her. And I refuse to let her see another drop of it.

He whirled away from the door, determined. Whether those bastards like it or not, Liberty is my daughter. And I'll do anything I can to keep her safe and free.

°•°•°•°

Gale and Luna exited the building, armed in light jackets, and went in the direction of the nearest trolley station. Luna worked her mouth until she haltingly told Gale, "H-Hey, um… We don't…have to do dinner or anything, y'know? It's okay if you had other plans or something—"

"Nope. No other plans," Gale breezily told her.

Luna pulled back some hair that clung to her cheek. "Well, I mean, it's just…weird, right? I get it if it's weird—"

"It's not weird. All things considered, it's a pretty damn good blessing." Gale's eyes twinkled in mirth as he looked down at her with her skittish gaze. "Any other excuses you want to hit me with before you give in or are you done?"

Luna made an unfathomable noise before she huffed. "Well, when you put it that way, you make me want to say, 'no'."

"I mean, sure, go on." Gale and Luna stopped at the trolley station as he smirked. "I could do this all day but keep being rebellious and whiney. It's cute."

Luna laughed in disbelief. "I am not 'whiney'!"

"Well, a whiner would keep making up all these petty excuses to a simple dinner with me." He shook his head. "Damn. It's hard to get you to do anything."

Luna sniffed. "Sorry I'm not a fangirl of the great Geo-Dragon and throw myself every time you say, 'hello'."

"They don't do that." Gale's grin broadened. "They throw themselves at me just when I walk in the room." He winked at her.

Luna rolled her eyes in disgust.

The trolley came and onboard they went. Gale paid for both of their fair, ignoring Luna's glare, and corralled them both onto their own bench. He got comfortable with his arm across the back of the bench before he leaned to her and murmured, "It's just dinner, Blondie, between friends. Promise. Boy Scout's honor I won't bite."

Luna subtly scooted away from him and grumbled, "You weren't even a Boy Scout." She laughed to herself. "Igneel was a Boy Scout for three days."

Gale snorted. "Yeah, I know. I heard about his massive vandalism and arson that got him immediately kicked out. Dude's lucky he never went to fucking juvie. It pays to have friends in high places. Kept his ass out of jail."

"Oh, come on, he wasn't that bad."

Gale raised an eyebrow as he took out his Compact and tended to a few messages. "Do I need to remind you how he blew up a Guard car when they tried to detain him and that he stole millions of merchandise and jewel like he was Lupin the Third?"

"Yeah, well…" Luna cleared his throat. "Anyway, he changed."

Gale snorted again. "Yeah. Sure." He typed on his Compact.

Luna tried not to let her curiosity get to her and deliberately look out the window, but she could not help it and casually said, "Since E and Silver are busy…maybe we could go to Level Up?"

"Yeah?" Gale kept typing. "Sounds good to me. I can use one of the cars tonight since Dad and Mom are going on a bender to celebrate and Leo is DD." He sent something and put away his Compact to catch Luna quickly looking away. He wryly grinned and drawled, "Well, ain't this a sorry sight? Curious who I was texting, Blondie?" He further teased, "Jealous if it was a girl?"

"No," Luna huffed, crossed her arms. "We're friends. Friends don't stop their friends from doing other things, remember?" She wanted to snap something else when Gale laughed at her expense, her ears awfully warm, but she was disarmed when she felt him run a finger down her hair.

"Level Up sounds great, Blondie," Gale rumbled. "You sure you're okay with leaving Magnolia for dinner though? There will be a lot of people there. It's a Friday night which means a lot of groups and a lot of date nights going down."

Luna tried not to let her crippling nerves get the best of her when the thought of all those people crowding her made her heart race and that old, scarred fear of being stolen rehashed itself. She felt Icarus soothe her and silently thanked him for his support. "I was okay this week." She looked at him for soft chocolates to connect with rubies. "I was okay…because you were there. I'll be okay."

Gale searched her eyes for a shred of deception. "Okay. We'll do. If it gets too much, just let me know. And don't go out of my sight, you got that?" He dropped his head back. "Igneel would fucking murder me if you vanish and I find you with some guy. Fridays and Saturdays are always the night guys are on the prowl."

"I'm not that interested," Luna said when a discomfort built between her legs and a fantom pain haunted her. She shrugged it off to jest, "But shouldn't I worry about you? How do I know you won't run off with some girl…again?"

Gale groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Goddamn. How long is this going to be over my head for?"

"A while."

"You like to play some games, Blondie. Better be careful there." Gale's rubies glinted. "I might just get you back for it. And I'm not above playing dirty to win."

Luna quirked an eyebrow. "Yeah? And what exactly is your prize if you win?"

Gale shrugged. "Dunno yet." He shot her a onceover and darkly chuckled when she flushed. "I'll let you know when I think of something, but I've got a couple ideas."

---

The sky was burning. Oranges and violets mixed together in mass as the burning sun drifted closer to the western horizon. Today had been a warm day, but the night would prove cooler. Evening agreed with Magnolia as floods of people came out to drink and be merry. After all, spring was nearing, the weather was warmer, and everyone was antsy to get out and stretch their legs.

Erza stayed in her chair on the broken mountain range with Number Five waiting patiently behind her, content. The winds felt welcome to Erza as she rested and waited and reminisced. I never thought Jellal and I would have another child after Aine. We had wanted a big family, but other things were getting in the way. And a few pregnancies ended in terrible miscarriages. I didn't think I could have another child. But then…Wendy had told me the news.

She smiled. I'll never forget how shocked Jellal looked. The miscarriages had made us both so nervous about our rainbow baby and so worried. We didn't announce anything until my second trimester. She simpered. Aine and Oberon were overjoyed. Both of them were eager to have another sibling. All of us were thrilled. I have to laugh at Jellal having to manage my cravings and strong mood swings. Porlyusica told me it was a sign our child would be strong. And then…

Her hand settled on her stomach as a hint of sadness entered her eyes. None of us could have suspected what would happen. I couldn't even process it. Jellal, Mira, Lucy, Natsu, and Gray were with me whenever they could. I never wanted Oberon and Aine to see it, but they did. I've never seen them so distraught. Her eyes closed. And then…

She stopped herself.

I remember how chaotic Ena's birth was. She was a premature baby, and it made us all worry even more. No one was ready. But she came into the world and all our worries melted when we heard her crying and healthy. Jellal didn't cry often, but he cried holding her for the first time. He had chosen the name "Ena" for her. In many languages, her name meant graceful, spitfire, and 'gift from God'. And she was a gift.

She sighed. I know it broke Jellal's heart that he had such limited time for her. Neither of us wanted him to go, but the choice was out of his hands. And with Aine in the hospital, Oberon took over to care for her. I wouldn't be here without my guild supporting me. I knew Oberon would never forgive his father, but I was hopeful Ena wouldn't resent him.

I was split so many ways. Raising her while tending to Aine and running the guild and all the politics—it got easier with time, but it wasn't when it mattered. I know Ena felt lost. She had pictures from when she was a baby of her father holding her, but she couldn't remember a thing. Oberon's outspoken hatred didn't help. And even with family around us, I know she felt so alone and hurt her siblings had memories of Jellal, but she didn't have one. She loved a ghost.

Erza closed her eyes. I never thought Oberon's hatred would go so far. Jellal had written letters in case he wasn't home for special events, and Oberon tried to throw them out. I was furious, and Aine was devastated. But Ena's reaction… She told me she didn't know if she should be upset since she never knew him. It broke my heart. And it still breaks my heart when I know she's been hiding how much she's struggling.

A breeze tussled her scarlet hair. Oh, Jellal… There are some days I wish you would walk through the door so Ena could see for herself how much you love her and have been silently supporting her. And how Oberon could understand you never abandoned us. But I know that can't be the case yet. Even so, Ena's been searching for an answer only I can give her. As of now, I can't. But she's as determined as you to find answers. She reminds me of you so much.

Number Five shifted forward. "Master—"

"I know, Miss Five." Erza opened her eyes. "She doesn't want a battle. She wants a war." She rose from her chair and chanted, "Requip!" She was left in her Armadura fairy Armor. Her violet cape billowed in the wind as she grasped her one-handed swords. "Miss Five, please go somewhere safe. An alert Wendy I will need her available in the guildhall by sunset."

Number Five bowed. "Yes, Master. As you wish."

Erza looked into the distance as Number Five waved her hands to dismiss the chair and table and, silent like the wind, she disappeared without her ankle chains rattling. Ena. You have inherited abilities you're not ready to understand. You were blessed in a time I thought I'd lose you. You have always been my special fairy. And you have always been the Enchantress—a burden to bear that you wear with pride. I couldn't be prouder that you took after me. You have matched blows with me since you were little and your growth has been exponential. Even now, watching you change right before my eyes has been a gift.

RUMBLE… RUMBLE…

However—Erza's blaze gleamed in the burning solar light—the answers you seek are ones I cannot give you. But I welcome the challenge. You have the right to cross swords with me and treat me as your enemy. I will take all the pain you bear with my head high because I'm your Guild Master right now, and you are my subordinate. But more than that…

RUMBLE… RUMBLE…

Scores of soldiers trekked onto the battlefield with glinting armor and hardened faces. Their weapons were easy-to-handle swords and halberds and spears and bows. Warhorses had pulled along catapults. But their leader rode in a chariot with her horses in a steady march with her head held high and her eyes resolved as her faithful servant stood by her side.

…I am Titania, Queen of the Fairies…and I cannot afford to lose to you…

Ena stood in her regal chariot with armor that did not look like it came from this world. Such intricate inscriptions were etched into the metal of her armor with her helmet befitting her like a crown and the jewel that topped it swirling with energy. Her cape had stained the same crest on her breastplate, the ancient mark of Fae. Lunagr'an gleamed in her left hand.

…Enchantress.

Ena raised her sword, and her calvary stopped in its charge. Silver had been dressed in his own armor of rich blues and looked every bit of the faithful head knight who served his Queen with his life, and he left the chariot to stand beside it.

Erza stood her ground.

A tense silence birthed between them.

"You bring an army to kill me?" Erza called in the distance between them. "You're insulting me in thinking it takes this many men to take me down, Enchantress."

Ena coolly replied, "I thought you could use a proper warm-up prior to me showing my blade, Titania."

"You offer your own mother such a courtesy. How kind of my daughter." Erza shifted her stance. "Your soldiers will serve their purpose in adding excitement. But make no mistake." She pointed her blade at Ena. "You will understand why I'm named Titania."

Ena narrowed her eyes. "And you'll understand why I'm named 'Enchantress', Mother." She poised Lunagr'an in the air before she let out a battle cry. Her soldiers roared with her, ready to fight and die for her, and when she pointed her blade at Erza, her soldiers charged forth.

You've grown smarter. Before, you were eager to fight me first. But you've created an army to slow me and wear me down. I can tell they're golems with low-level Magic. You wouldn't risk pouring too much Magic into them when you wish to fight me at full capacity. And who am I to deny you that honor? Erza broke into a steady walk. You extend such a courtesy to me, Ena. Her walk turned into a jog. Allowing me to heighten my emotions for our duel. Her jog turned into a sprint. Only my own daughter could make me feel this much excitement.

With a war cry, Erza leaped into the air and her landing decimated a small meteor into the earth with the golems having no choice but to die. Both dozens more armed themselves with their swords and arrows flew. Erza's blades reflected her smirk.

Jellal. I'll dedicate my victory to you.

And she attacked.

Silver watched from beside the chariot with a fraction of Ena's enchanted soldiers left behind for reserves and reinforcement. I never thought Ena's powers were capable of this. She's amazing. I was able to clear her schedule and rearrange some meetings so she could spend the entire week hiding and creating her army.

He watched as Erza conjured dozens of swords at her command. She'd only eat and drink when I brought her food. She was so dedicated. But I know how much these questions mean to her. And I'll do anything I have to so she doesn't feel unimportant.

He clenched his hands. If getting these answers will make her stop crying…then I'll make sure she gets her answers.

"Silver?"

He tilted his head up to look at Ena. "Yes, mistress?"

Ena produced a toy horse before she blew Magic on it and let it go. It grew into a synthetic war horse similar to her own with a saddle and reins. "Mother will take her time and enjoy yourself. But while she does, I want you to get into position."

"Isn't it too early?" Silver worried.

"Do as I say," Ena instructed with her eyes focused on the massacre. "I wanted her aware of your existence. She's assuming your fight will be beside me. We're setting a false prediction. The quicker you're in position, the quicker I can set the plan in motion."

"Okay." Silver climbed onto the horse (and thanked Ena for terrifying him the entire week of how to ride a horse) and took hold of the reigns. He steered the horse so he could be close to Ena. "Will you be okay here?"

"I have bountiful entertainment to bide my time. I'll be fine." Ena looked up at him. "But you be careful to shield yourself. My mother will sense you straying at a hint of Magic Power. And you're vital to my plan. I'm counting on you, Silver."

Silver softened. "You can trust me. I won't let you down."

"I know. Now go." Ena turned back to the battle. "I can't let Mother get too excited."

Silver gentled the horse when it shifted, impatient. "Right." He murmured softly to her, "Do your best, mistress." He whipped the reigns and kicked the sides of the horse for it to break into a sprint through the reinforcements.

Ena let out a deep breath. His control of his Magic is more than I expected. He proved to me he can conceal himself. I'm impressed. I know he'll serve me well tonight. She took head of the orange sky and flaming sun. I have until the sun is over the horizon. After that, my chance will be over. I planned every moment of this. She can't deny me anymore.

She brought out a small figure of a man. Titania… She whipped her reins.

RUMBLE… RUMBLE…

Ena led a slow charge as her soldiers marched into battle behind her with Erza slaughtering all in her path.

…where is your true Oberon?

°•°•°•°

"Ha!"

SHING!

Many called Erza a monster, and it had merit. She did not flinch as dozens of soldiers tried to impede upon her victory. She welcomed the challenge to defeat them all with her swords and her powers. But she was impressed at the level of skill a few had possessed with their ability to adapt and wound her. She had sustained a few injuries and scuffles, but she could not help but let her heart swell with pride.

I understand. I was wrong. Ena snuck in higher-level golems that could reasonably survive my attacks and maim me. Jellal would be so proud of her. I'll have to tell her she gets her strategic thinking from him. She leaped away when a catapulted boulder tried to crush her. As she floated in mid-air, she saw Ena's determined charge. She's advancing with the rest of her army. Silver isn't beside her, but I sense his presence is within. He must be hiding within the ranks for a surprise attack. I'll grant her the courtesy of wiping out her army before we fight.

Erza dove back down with her blades gleaming.

The slaughter was well-paced and well-timed. With human beings, massacre recounted bloodshed and broken bodies. But the golems were easy to slice through. But Ena's strategy did not rely in hoping a few would wear her down. Her strategy relied on the amounts. She could have crafted larger, durable golems and enchanted Magic into them to make fearsome warriors, but she exchanged that for countless soldiers that popped up like weeds and a few mid-level golems who would strike her with Elemental Magic, the easiest Magic to enchant into a being.

For Titania of Fairy Tail, she had a smile on her face, despite her circumstances. Nothing exhilarated her more than a battle. Her blood pumped and her chest burned, and she reveled in the thrill and sweat of it all—

A sudden breath left her.

CLANG!

The earth broke again and killed countless golems in the process.

SHING!

Metal against metal shifted unwanted sparks, but Erza welcomed it. "You're impatient. I thought you were waiting."

"I can't let you have all the fun"—Ena pressed back against Erza's dual swords with Lunagr'an—"Mother."

Upon a mutual decision, they pushed away from each other with immense Magic Power cracking the earth and heating the air where you could see sparks of electricity and heatwaves ripple. But mother and daughter stood tall with their trusted blades in hand and their eyes appraising the other.

"I've been waiting a long time for this," Ena warned her mother. "When this is over, you'll tell me what I want to know, Titania."

"You have to win against me first, Enchantress," Erza taunted. "It's a shame you've turned down my offer of S-Class. You'd be privy to a lot more than you know now."

Ena growled. "You know why I did."

"And I respect your decision as your master and your mother. But as your enemy"—the weight of Erza's Magic cracked the air—"it would've made you a worthier opponent."

Ena held her ground. She would not be baited. Not when she came so far. "Don't use those cheap tactics against me. You raised me better than that. There's no honor in such weak talk, remember? If that is a lesson you have forgotten"—Magic sanng through Ena's blade—"I will happily teach it to you again…once you tell me what I need to know!" Feet off the ground, she charged forward with her blade only for Erza to shoot up into the air. Snarling, she was quick to follow.

Erza was aware. Silver's long-distance range is severely limited while Ena can go high altitudes without even flinching. Let's see what happens when I separate master and servant. Will he falter or will he rise to the challenge? I can't wait—she looped and dove with her blades at the ready—to find out!

BOOM!

There was a show called Gundam. Have you ever heard of it?

BOOM!

And within that show, mecha frames battled like Gods—Demons, some would call them. With tons of pounds of metal to their names, they clashed with the best of them and a few fighters were true monsters to wield them at full capacity, yet they glowed like Angels in the sky when they fought.

BOOM!

These two were no Gods, no, oh no. Nor were they Demons.

BOOM!

But they were not humans.

BOOM!

They were something even more.

BOOM!

It was true that aerial battles were difficult. Fighting mid-air was never ideal. It should be used for advantage, not an attack ground. But these two Inhumans glowed like sparks in the sky as they circled each other and clashed swords. The force of each blow was enough to topple a mountainside, and even the explosions in the air made glasses of water shake and power fluctuate from the surge of energy.

BOOM!

Maybe you found it cruel for an S-Class Guild Master to display so much power against her own teenaged daughter. Spiritless would call it horrifying. Anti-Magic apologists would call it child abuse.

But Wizards… They were a different breed.

BOOM!

Nothing stood in their way in the sky as they clashed with their hearts pounding and blood and Magic running through their veins. The bonds of motherhood and daughterhood were shredded between two enemies. A score was in desperate need of settling, and both would fight with their lives to have the right to do it.

BOOM!

Erza had shoved Ena down as fast as a meteor falling back to earth, but Ena broke free and high-tailed it back into the skies. Erza gave chase as she conjured swords and throttled them at Ena. Ena had to maneuver when the swords exploded into green energy, and she knew better than to let that touch her. Lunagr'an glowed, and she sliced down for energy to swipe for Erza.

BOOM!

The chase was on as they tried to best each other with their attacks. Neither had an impenetrable offense, but if you went into battle thinking you would return unscathed, you were never prepared for battle in the first place.

BOOM!

A battle for dominance struck for a quick moment and they shoved against each other, but Erza got the drop on Ena when one of her swords managed to pierce her armor. Ena fell with Erza giving chase, but an injury would not stop Ena's path to victory. Lunagr'an shifted into a composite bow, and Ena was quick for her energy arrows to be plucked. Erza evaded the arrows and batted some away.

Ena smirked, and her mouth pulled into two words.

Erza did not understand when a surge of Magic came from behind her and she saw five large Magic Seal charged with power. Those arrows. They were a decoy?

PYUUUUUUU!

Scores of arrows decimated the battlefield to the point where dirt and smoke had clouded the area. Ena lost herself in it and Erza was blinded as she was struck multiple times with arrows until she crashed into the ground. She exchanged her swords for a large shield to take the brunt of the attacks. It felt like an hour had passed until the attack stopped and all that was left was dust and smoke and dirt. An unsettling silence cleared the air as she disbanded her shield and got to her feet. A wave of her sword cleared the smoke to reveal the hundreds of deceased golem soldiers and the demolished battlefield.

You rained fire on your soldiers to gain the upper hand. Erza panted with her armor a wreck and blood splattered onto her sword. She spat blood and wiped the sweat from her chin. Well done, Enchantress.

CLINK… CLINK…

A blade scraped across the earth and kicked up sparks. "Oh, Mother… Is that the best you can do?" The blade was picked up and in a quick motion, the blood and dirt were flicked off it. "I expected more from the only woman who braves the title 'Kensei'."

Erza flicked her one-handed blades to remove the blood. "You have yet to kill me," she remarked. "Is that the best you can do? Such a shame." Those kobicha browns darkened. "I expected more from my own daughter."

Ena stopped in her tracks as though reigning in her fury and lifted her chin in defiance. "There's no honor in killing someone half-dead," she simply put. She spouted Magic into Lunagr'an and let it go as it shape-shifted into a staff with a caged glowing crystal at its top.

"There's no honor in dragging out death either," Erza reminded. She re-gripped her blades as she allowed her magical aura to flare and lit up in her eyes. "You're allowing me time. What if I had fled? Or used a Healing Spell? What then? You would be back to square one."

"Perhaps." Magic glowed in Ena's eyes as she twirled her staff. "But I have no intentions of letting you live past today, Mother."

Erza took her stance with her dual blades. "And what do you plan to do once you've killed me?" The air swirled and tumbled as energy quarreled and expanded. "You're a fool if you think killing me will accomplish anything. You'll gain nothing from my death."

"I'll gain everything." Ena's staff started spinning. "But before you die, I will make you tell me."

"Tell you what?"

Ena raised her arms as her Magic tussled her hair. "Where – is – my – father?"

Erza gave little notice as she charged, gripping her swords. The force of her leap into the air shattered the street to leave a humble crater, but Ena was ready as her staff spun to create her sigil and she was lifted into the air. Dark eyes collided as Erza brandished her swords, ready to strike down the sigil.

Ena's lips quirked into a smirk as she whispered her incantation. "Into a Dragon."

Erza was taken back. What? And Ena's sigil blinded her when—

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW…!

Erza cried out when something large had smacked her yards away to the point where she skipped the ground like a stone into an aggressive tumble until she slowed to a stop. She spat blood and wiped it from her mouth. I see. So that's what he was doing. She coughed and inhaled a lungful of burning blood and dirtied air before getting to her feet. I underestimated you, Silver. No, that's not right. I underestimated you…

THUD!

Erza stood tall with her blades as she saw Ena floating in mid-air with his staff. But the creature behind her would kill for her in a heartbeat, and no one would dare to say otherwise. His body was long with scales that glinted all the glittering blues of the ocean with a mane of translucent fins that shimmered in the burning sunset. Those two prominent whiskers sizzled with the same paralysis an eel or a jellyfish could give you, and his horns befitted him like a crown. Dangerous teeth showed as he crouched beside his mistress with the whites of his eyes black while his irises were those same mayan blues.

…Prince of the Sea.

Silver roared in his new form with his claws extended, and he charged.

"Requip!" Erza chanted.

Silver roared a steaming jet of water at her, but it was too late once Erza had gotten into her Sea Empress armor and her crystal sword cut through the roar with ease. Angered, Silver flapped his wings, but like a newborn bird, he could not get off the ground.

I see. That's why I didn't see this coming. This is the first time Ena's used this enchantment on him. He can only follow his instincts, Erza observed. For her to transform him into a Dragon—

Silver reared and conjured spheres of water that blasted beams of water like cannons. Erza deflected what she could until she launched her own counterattack of a typhoon. The damage was simply agitation on Silver's part, and he launched for her to whip his tail down at her. She avoided the blow before she sent a fierce Water Whip on his spine. He roared his pain before he conjured a whirlpool and threw it at her.

If he's this brand new, I could change into my Lightning Empress Armor for a tactical advantage. However, his attacks bore the same strength as Gale and Igneel. My Flame Empress armor isn't as powerful as Igneel's flames, but it reduces his power in half. My Sea Empress armor is my only counter for now. Benizakura could work for a slight advantage since he's relying on instincts.

Erza narrowed her eyes as she and Silver went in their dance of his overpowering Magic and her avoiding his tail and claws and teeth. But what exactly was the goal? Ena knows that instinct alone can't win a battle. Why would she subject Silver to flailing around in a form this big where he has no control. Why would she—?

It clicked at the same time Silver captured her in his teeth and flung her across the battlefield. Erza tumbled, but she slid back on a bended knee and dug her crystal sword into the earth. She let out a hard pant. I see. He's a decoy for her plot. She dismissed her crystal sword and stood tall.

Silver had coiled with a snarl and crunched his claws within the earth.

Jellal… Your daughter is quite clever. She has found unyielding loyalty in an unlikely ally. How you would love to see this. Erza summoned her Sea Empress Sword as water forged the blade. I can't sense much outside of Silver's overwhelming aura. It's smothering the entire battlefield. So where could she—? It hit her and she looked up. There.

BYU….

"Fairy Light Cannon at seventy percent…"

She looked like something clear from a lacrimagame.

"Seventy-two percent… Seventy-five percent…"

A cyberpunk armor had captured her entire body rich in materials that looked like they were fashioned from a black howl. Her obsidian helmet covered her entire face with metallic wings formed on her armored calves and thighs. The dragonfly-esque wings on her back were forged of a glowing orange energy with metal radical bars to back them and keep them attached to her while an almost metallic halo veined in orange energy curbed on her back and towered a few inches above her. But her arms were the most interesting part of her armor. They were synthesized with bulky twin cannons that locked in place and sapped in Ethernano as she aimed for her mother on the ground.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Ena's Cyber Fairy Armor, one of its kind. It takes immense Magic Power to wield it. Ena personally designed the armor herself while Genius added the technical aspects to it. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Eighty-one percent… Eighty-three percent…" an automated feminine voice called to her. "Eighty-five percent…"

Erza was about to Requip, but Silver attacked her before she could. His water was scalding to be close to dangerous levels, and he knew it as he unleashed his attacks upon her. Erza had no choice but to retaliate against him to get him out of her way, but Silver was stubborn as a mule and he refused to part from her as though he knew what she was trying to do.

I need to put him down, but he's doing everything in his power to cage me here, Erza thought. His instincts are guiding him well. But not well enough. When she was able to get far enough away, she chanted, "Requip!"

Silver hurled another watery roar at Erza to boil her, but it proved in vain when lightning speared through his attack.

"Eighty-seven percent… Eighty-nine percent… Ninety percent…"

Silver could not get out of the way fast enough when Erza charged at him with her Lightning Empress Armor and charged her Spear of Lightning with a wild storm of lightning at him. Silver cowered under the pain of those ropes of lightning as they burned him, but his whiskers vibrated to buzz with cyan lightning. He snarled as he let his own cyan lightning bite back against Erza's sky blue-white lightning.

"Ninety-two percent… Ninety-four percent… Ninety-six percent…"

I have you now, Mother, Ena thought as she felt the strain and weight of the power she acclimated. I can't fail again.

"Ninety-eight percent… Ninety-nine percent… Fairy Light Cannon is at one-hundred full power," her system told her. "Target has been locked. Please execute caution and you may fire when ready."

Ena focused as she got a lock on her mother through her battle with Silver. Now you will tell me—twin balls of energy charged within her cannons with excited energy—everything!

Erza's gaze darted up. No! She took back control of her spear and shot a beam of lightning up in the air seconds before Silver overwhelmed her with his attack.

Ena pulled the trigger—

BANG!

BOOM!

You could feel Ena's shock. No… Smoke billowed from her cannon's mouths. Her armor had stayed on her. But that was not what her shock was about. It was her shot. Erza's beam of lightning had knocked her course by three degrees and the cannon had fired…and it missed. The energy cannon had put a sizeable divot in the earth, yards away from its designated target.

No… Ena could not believe it. No, I—… No… Pain wracked her body as she was forced out of her armor and back into her tattered civilian self. The drop she faced was kilometers from the ground and she could feel each and every centimeter pressure her body. The horizon was drinking the burning sun that had no choice in the matter. It could barely keep its head above water.

And Ena fell.

Her eyes were lifeless.

I tried…so hard… I just…wanted to know… I wanted answers, but…

DRIP.

DROP.

Tears burned into the sky as they leaked from her dead eyes.

The tangerine sky could not hold out for much longer. The violets and blues poured in as the stars blinked open their eyes for a full night of people-watching and the moon lifted her veil. The hedonistic sun tried hard to fight for the last seconds of daylight to catch a glimpse of his beauteous moon, but he was drowning. And the moon did not care.

And Ena fell.

DRIP.

DROP.

I wanted to know…why I wasn't enough, Ena whispered. I just wanted to know… Is it my fate? To never know? To never be enough? Her vision blurred as her body numbed. Her Magic clawed to save her, but her body was shutting down and nothing could stop it. The fatigue was too much and the damage to her emotions was the final straw.

I lost… I lost…Father…

Black spots crept into her vision. Father… Dad… I'm sorry…I wasn't enough…

The tears would not stop.

I'm sorry…

The sun drowned, the day broken and down, and the moon ruled with her cold darkness and her army of stars. But she took pity on Ena and bathed her in her the comfort of moonlight.

I'm…sorry…

A mouth moved. "ENA!"

KOPO-KOPO-KOPO-KOPO!

Ena's body fell into delicate arms. Her tears would not stop even if her eyes were faded and unresponsive and her body felt frail. What…? For a moment, all she saw was a masculine shadow. Dad…? Mystogan…?

"I told you. I'm not going anywhere." Gentle mayan blues. "I've got you, even when you cry." Silver controlled the cyclone carrying him high into the air with ease with his civilian clothes on rather than his armor, but his only concern was that fragile Ena he held against him. "Don't worry." He offered a soft smile. "We'll win next time."

Ena stared at him with no light in her eyes. Silver… Silver… The fog in her mind parted slightly as life filtered back into her blank stare while tears filmed over her eyes. She rasped, "Silver…" Now the tears burned. "Silver… I…lost… I…" She sniffed. "I…"

"It's okay now," Silver hushed in soothe. "I'm right here. I won't let you cry alone." Those mayan blues twinkled with starlight and affection. "I'm to remain at your side, mistress. So please don't worry. I can hold you for forever if you want."

Ena's brow quivered before her head fell into his shoulder with her trembling hand clutching his shirt. Even when she kept quiet, both of them knew her silent cries were for them to not acknowledge. Silver kept her close as he willed the cyclone to lower him back to the ground. There was no hurry to get down to the ground. Silver could tell Ena wanted the extra time. Once he landed, his water dispersed back into Ethernano, but he kept her in his arms.

STEP… STEP… STEP…

"Oh, my little fairy."

Ena turned her head for watery dark chocolates to meet glossy kobichas.

Erza had returned to her civilian clothing with Number Five standing a way's away to give them the illusion of privacy. Erza took Ena's hand into her own. "I know you want to know," she said, "and I'm so sorry you've been trying to hold in this pain for so long. But I never want you to hide your tears for me."

"I'm sorry," Ena whispered. "I just…wanted to know." She gripped her mother's hand, ashamed and exhausted. "I know I have you. I love you, Mom. I just…want to love him too. I want what Aine and Mystogan have too."

Erza sucked in a breath and blinked back tears. "In so many ways, you're like him," she told her daughter. "You're compassionate and strong, but he, too, kept his sadder thoughts to himself. He felt it was his burden to bear alone. But it never is. Your feelings are never a burden. You aren't a burden. Your father loves you so very much." She cupped Ena's chin and thumbed away a tear. "And one day, he'll tell that to you in person. Because he will come home because we're here and you're here. And he's missed you for so long."

Ena sniffed and leaned into her mother's touch. "Has he really?"

"Yes. Every day," Erza promised her. "I know it isn't fair for me to keep this from you. But the mission he's on is one no one outside of a few of us can know. But he will come home, my little fairy, because he loves you. And he's so proud of you. As am I." She let Ena's chin do and kissed her hand before placing it delicately onto her lap. She turned her gaze to Silver. "And you, Silver, fought valiantly. You were always so shy and hesitant. I know that's because you felt inadequate in comparison to your family"—she softened when he ducked his head—"but you have no reason to feel that way. You fought me as a Dragon." Her eyes sparkled. "How peculiar it such a form agreed with you."

Silver swallowed, a tad uncomfortable. "I wouldn't have if it wasn't for Ena," he reasoned. "That's all."

"I disagree," Erza murmured. "Ena's Enchantment is rare and has earned her the title 'Enchantress', even she has limitations. To turn you into a Dragon is one thing. But I'm sure she didn't expect you to be able to use Magic as a Dragon."

"It wasn't in the plan." Ena's voice had grown weak.

Silver averted his eyes from Erza and weakly reasoned, "Maybe it was just a fluke, or maybe Ena's leveled up that much." He adjusted Ena in his hold as he watched her eyes droop. "But we better get to the sickbay."

"Wendy will be waiting for you both," Erza assured. "I'm proud to call you both guildmates and allies. You are not to be underestimated. You are to be feared." She cleared her throat to catch Silver's attention. "I'm sure the paths you choose will help you understand your abilities even more…should you be ready for it."

Silver mumbled, "Thank you, Master. We'll see you at the guild." He whirled his cyclone around him to power down the field with a barely conscious Ena in his grasp.

Erza closed her hands together behind her back as she took a deep inhale, then exhale. "What a battle indeed." It's hard to know the boundaries of Enchantment. I refused to send Ena away to those Enchanter Covenants and the database still has red-tape as they are a religious organization Guild Masters aren't privy to. However—she tightened her grasp—I can't deny Irene's prowess was inherited to Ena. Which means…while Silver's latent powers are partially responsible for him to fight as a Dragon, Ena played a part of it as well. Her concern and dread mixed with her anger. As much as I hate to admit…Elefseria was right.

"Master." Number Five stepped forward. "Shall we depart for the guildhall?"

"Of course, Miss Five." The moon bended her light across Erza's scarlet locks. "It's a nice night. The walk will do me good." She started walking with Number Five trailing behind her with her shackles on her ankles to let her know she was there, even when she could have crept as quiet as a mouse. I'm sure Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy will have questions. They would have felt it. She tipped her head up to look at the stars. Oh, Jellal… I fear a day we never wanted…is coming sooner by the minutes.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

saikin sukoshi yowaki ni natte iru kamo

kesa mo kimi no henji wakitenai

denwa shitara meiwaku kakechau yo na

gaman shite mo homete mo kurenai

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Tail was celebrating the end of an eventful Assassination Week as they bragged about their attacks and their strategy or straight-up drained kegs with flushes on their face. The music was loud and rambunctious, but the food was always good. A drunken Luke with swirls in his eyes had his head on the table while Lucy comically chewed out Natsu for getting her poor baby drunk. Levy was pounded away at Gajeel's back when he swooped in and took his tipsy wife away from the bar before anything happened. Nashi crept to sit by Galileo and they shared smiles and a toast. Laxus angrily waved off a bartender from giving Mary Jane a strong whiskey while Mary Jane sulked how close she was with getting away with it.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

kono mama ja itsuka kitto

honto ni ienakunaru yo

ima ikanakucha

riaru na kimi no koe mo wasuresou da

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Level Up was packed tonight, but Luna did not mind with Gale there to protect her from the crowd. She beat him at a dancing game and was over the moon about all the tickets she had racked up while Gale was grumpy he had only gotten a total of ten tickets for his efforts in a stupid, rigged game. And his dark mood furthered when he noticed a few other teen boys leering at an oblivious Luna and whispering amongst themselves. He had half a mind to tell them to screw off, but Luna yanked his hand for the next game, and his dark mood dissipated at her radiant smile.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

sugu ni aitai noni aenai

kyori ga zutto futari o jama shiteru no

surechigatta mama de baibai

sonna no iya da yo

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Freed was half-listening to one of the other parents at the restaurant as they discussed politics, but fondness gleamed in his eyes when he saw Liberty and her gaggle of friends make each other laugh with their Build-A-Beasts sitting on their laps and their bags from Toy Land close at hand. He smiled when his daughter proudly said something that had her friends ooh and aah before he returned to the conversation.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

aitai noni aenai

hibi mo zutto kimi no tame ni waratta no

"erai ne" tte atama o nadete

nakasete yo baby

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The sick bay was virtually empty. Ena resided inside. Even with Wendy's healing, it hastened the recovery, but Ena had a little while to go until she was back to full capacity. And Silver did not mind missing the festivities to tend to her and sit at her bedside. A single candle burned in the sickbay, but it was not because of a lack of lamps. The candle's scent was to aid in Ena's recovery and Silver's as well (even though he felt good as new). He watched over her as she slept with her hair fanned out and her breaths quiet.

She's so strong and confident, That's what the world sees her as. That's what she wants everyone to see her as. But she lets me see the parts of her that aren't as perfect. She lets me see her sadness and her pain and her struggle. Those blues softened. Even the strong can't always be strong. But my mom always told me showing your emotions and your true self to others… That takes strength. Her tears aren't a weakness. They're a strength. And I feel honored she shares that strength with me.

A variant wind pushed into the room.

Silver got up to tend to the cracked open window next to Ena's sickbed. But as he peered outside, he could see the moon's reflection on Lake Sciliora. And the water looked so inviting and enchanting and…home…

Come, came urgent whisper. Come, my Prince. Come home.

Silver felt his mind blank—

A mumble yanked him from his trance.

Silver shut the window and settled back in his chair to witness Ena's face pinch. She's having a nightmare. He slipped his hands around hers and cloaked them with his water that swirled to rock her chi and pulse her with coolness. After a few moments, the anguish on Ena's face died for peace, and he released his spell, but he kept his hands cupped around hers.

My Prince, it is time. The wisps of that paternal rumble fed into his mind. You must come home.

Shut up, Silver snapped back, and the whisper was gone from his mind. I'm just imagining things. I'm tired and stressed. My dreams are just…stupid dreams. A Dragon God doesn't actually exist. It's just a stupid dream. It doesn't matter…how weirdly nice it felt to be a…a…

He shook it off. It doesn't matter. I'm just…dreaming. None of it is real. Ena is real. The blues focused on her with such gentle adoration. She needs me, not my dreams. I promised I'd stay by her side and I meant it.

A deep inhale through his nose. A calm exhale through his mouth. That sweet lure scent charmed him enough to relax the tension from his body like a drug he could not get enough of.

I am home. I choose this. This is what I want. To be here with her. Even if she'll never love me…I'd rather stay by her side as a friend than lose her.

Silver sighed and murmured to the asleep Ena, "I'm not going anywhere. I promise, Ena. I won't leave you." But perhaps if he focused more, he would be aware of how his nose registered a vivid version of Ena's sweet scent. And if he had run his tongue over his teeth, he would have noticed four of them had gotten a little…sharper.

---

Freed had not minded when Liberty needed to be carried inside. She was pooped out from an adventurous night, and he took pity on her when she kept yawning and dragging her feet. James was thrilled his mistress was home and when Freed convinced an exhausted Liberty to get on her pajamas and curl into bed, James enthusiastically got into bed with her and settled down for his nightly routine of grooming her hairline before he could sleep.

Freed turned on Liberty's nightlight before he tucked her in and sat on the edge of her bed. He smiled when her droopy honey-golds tried to gaze at him and kissed her forehead. "Good night, Ladybug," he murmured. "I love you to the end of the rainbow."

Liberty mumbled, "I love you to the end of the rainbow times infinity."

Freed hummed his amusement. "See you in the morning, Libby." He got up—

"Baba?"

Freed paused and sat back down when he saw worry in Liberty's eyes. "What's wrong, Ladybug?"

Liberty curled beneath her comforter as she peeked up at her father. "I really wanted to win a wish from Master," she told him. "I wish I could join Fairy Tail now. Then I could've won it."

He offered a puzzled smile. "What did you want to wish for, Ladybug?"

For a moment, Liberty fidgeted. But she managed to say, "I wanted my wish to be…if I could adopt you as my Baba." She curled into an even tighter ball and pulled her comforter over her head.

That surprised me. "You wanted…to adopt me?"

Liberty peeked to nod. James purred and nuzzled her cheek, and she gained the courage to confess, "I know bad people want to take me away, so I thought…if I could adopt you back, then they couldn't take me anymore because you're my Baba. And then you wouldn't be in trouble and tired a lot because of me and…" She sniffled as her eyes welled up with tears.

"Oh, Ladybug…" Freed scooted and opened his arms. "Come here." He smiled when Liberty launched herself into his middle for a hug. "I promise I'm not in trouble because of you. And I'm not tired because of you. Those bad people are exhausting with their stupidity in even thinking I'd ever let you go."

"But you go away for so long," Liberty sniffled into his shirt.

"I know. I don't like having to leave for so long either. And I promise it'll be over soon and I won't have to go away all the time," Freed vowed to her. "And all those hours I have to deal with the bad people, you know what gets me through it?"

Liberty sniffed and peeped upwards for her clouded honey-golds to connect with his soft blues. "No. What?"

"That I get to see my favorite lucky charm at the end of the day."

"And Justin?"

"And Justin," Freed laughed.

James meowed and outstretched a paw like he wanted attention.

Freed rubbed the black cat's head. "And you too, James." He stroked Liberty's back. "There's nothing to worry about, Ladybug. I promise. Your place is here. And I won't let anyone say otherwise, okay?"

Liberty mumbled, "Okay." She climbed back into bed. "Does this mean I can adopt you back?"

Freed chuckled. "It doesn't quite work that way, Ladybug…" But he sighed when Liberty looked so downtrodden. "I'd be honored if you'd adopt me back as your Baba."

Liberty beamed. "We have to have a tea party to celebrate—!" But she broke into a wide yawn.

"Tomorrow," Freed promised. "But tonight, ladybugs have to sleep and dream good dreams." He kissed her forehead before he got up. "Good night, Ladybug."

Liberty yawned again and cuddled with one of her new stuffed animals. "Night-night, Baba. Sweet dreams."

Freed quietly crept out of the room before he shut the door with a crack left. He knew James would nudge his way out for some water and go right back to curling up at Liberty's side. He headed for the kitchen and decided to drink a glass of the bourbon Bixslow had left him on the rocks. He knocked back a few swallows to savor the strong mixture of caramel and vanilla with that stinging oak aftertaste.

I never thought I'd be a father when I was younger. And now I couldn't imagine my life without my kids. Another swallow before Freed rolled around the last of his drink. I was surprised when I got the call about Liberty, but the second I held her, I loved her. And Justin was overjoyed to have a sister he could teach. Ever since James came into our home, Liberty's been able to keep her Luck controlled.

His blues darkened. However, those people I'm fighting are well aware her Luck unleashed would defy all senses of logic and reality. If they manipulated her, they could use her Luck to change the world. I've been in a fragile relationship with her hometown in Andüsa, but it was almost a blessing we couldn't go last year. Threats are pouring in. Blackmail. Whatever they can do to get Liberty in their possession and unleash her Luck.

He knocked back the rest of his drink before washing out his glass in the sink. I can't let that happen. She's my daughter. And she deserves a life without fear and bloodshed. And I'll protect her from such things.

He put the glass in the sink. Don't worry, Liberty. Baba won't let the bad people take you away.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

kaomisete baby

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

---

The bedroom was the pinnacle of regality. The views of the blue deaths were outside the wide windows to show a blossoming city and its aquatic citizens. Blues and teals and turquoise meshed well to the theme with gold and red accents. Murals had been painted of the sea with the epic woes of His Majesty's tale as a god and a hero to his people. But the hero of this kingdom lay in his bed with some dried blood on the corner of his lips and his fussy assistant made sure to dab his mouth dry.

He sighed. "I'm not that old that I can't do it myself."

"You need to rest," she grumbled as she washed the cloth in the bowl at his bedside table. "I warned you against doing court audiences. You should have been resting."

"I need to hear the concerns of my people," he told her tiredly. "That it is first and foremost my duty."

She huffed and muttered, "It wouldn't just be your responsibility if we brought him down here—"

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

She snapped her head at the doors and bellowed, "His Majesty required undisturbed rest."

"Easy," he chided her. He called weakly, "You may enter."

The doors opened with two knights in their human form with their swords present. But the man who stepped in looked inhuman, but it was nothing because of his looks. In fact, for all intents and purposes, he looked human with his olive skin, his strong physique, and strong cheekbones and salt-and-pepper hair and beard, but what made him different was his vibrant sea-green eyes that looked reptilian and the tunic he wore that glistened like the ocean himself. As the doors closed, he bowed and rumbled, Your Majesty."

"Shenlong." A strong greeting filled with friendliness. "How fares the tides, old friends?"

"The tides are gentle and the sea is steady." Shenlong approached the bed and greeted the upset woman with a low rumble. "Karameel." When she glared at him, his jaw ticked. "Watch your eyes, little one, before you ask for something you cannot back up."

Karameel sneered, but she backed down. "Make it quick. His Majesty needs rest."

"I apologize for the intrusion, but this was of utmost urgency and Elefseria could not attend," Shenlong said. He ignored Karameel's grumble of the name and turned to His Majesty. "Would it suffice to say your connection to the tides is wanning, old friend? For I know you would have felt it too."

Karameel opened her mouth, affronted—

"Peace, Karameel," His Majesty soothed. He coughed, but he replied to Shenlong, "What news have you brought?"

"His Highness transitioned for a few minutes, Your Majesty, into his natural form," Shenlong alerted.

That got Karameel's abrupt attention. "What?" She turned back to His Majesty, beseeching. "He's ready. I'll send a few knights to bring him below—"

"You will do no such thing—" His Majesty broke into a bloodied cough, and Karameel was quick to grab the cloth and clean his mouth. "Shenlong. Are you sure this is what you felt?"

"Affirmative. I would recognize His Highness. As did his protector," Shenlong confessed. "However, his shift was not…natural. A great source of power had forced his shift. Elefseria has said this is the work of the Great Sage."

His Majesty tensed. "And he's positive?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

His Majesty sighed. "So it's true," he rasped. "The Grand Law Dragon and I were right." He quietly snorted. "Ignia will be displeased, but he must accept it sooner or later that the Great Sage has returned." He rubbed his chin. "It's most strange. If he shifted, I don't understand why he didn't come here. The Call to his home would be too strong to ignore unless…"

"Unless he has found a greater anchor to the surface rather than his home," Shenlong filled in. "He could ignore the Call with ease if he had found something to keep him rooted to land."

"Or someone," His Majesty slowly said. "The reports we receive say he has attached himself to her—the Great Sage. I had my suspicions of his connection, but I erred on the side of doubt he was capable of such a thing. But then again, Igneel's grand-drake was nothing more than a hatchling when it transpired. It is possible…"

Karameel did not like this one bit. "My Lord, please reconsider," she begged of him. "It's not too late to bring him down to his home where he belongs. I'm sure that 'Enchantress' is a human crush and nothing more."

The doors opened without a formal announcement. "I'd beg to differ, Karameel."

His Majesty sat up. "Protector." He coughed into a fist. "Why are you—?"

"My ward is safe." The woman stepped forward and her hand waved to fashion a vase made of ice with a single icy rose. "I've come bearing a consolation gift to Your Majesty in your time of ill health. And I have come to bring with an offering."

Karameel sniffed. "Why should we listen to a Water Woman who can't even surface? You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for My Lord's grace and generosity towards lost souls like you."

A smile. "You're right. Because of His Majesty, I could watch the young boys I trained turn into refined men and the have happiness and love I always wished for them. And His Majesty's grace allowed me to care for His Highness. But His Highness is my ward." Her eyes swept to His Majesty. "Your Majesty, I offer a gentle compromise. I have tried Calling to His Highness, but he is anchored to the surface. Dragging him home will provide distress and you of all people are aware of a terror that your kind can cause when separated too young."

His Majesty did not deny that. "What do you recommend?"

"I have brought with me a long-time friend and citizen of your kingdom who is willing to watch His Highness on land and track his progress."

Karameel was not impressed. "We already have our own spies—"

"Spies who are too familiar with the sea to understand land," came smooth interruption. "They understand manner and nuances of the sea. But they have little understanding of His Highness' human heritage and cannot give accurate reports. And as such, your spies can't leave the sea for much longer than a day or so. My friend can stay on land for as long as she needs to, considering she has two children with a human." She aimed at His Majesty. "She can provide accurate reports and curb His Highness' instincts."

His Majesty considered it. "And she can be trusted?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. She has her own share of secrets she wishes to keep and has known about His Highness since my interference. She can be trusted and discrete."

His Majesty turned to Shenlong. "My friend, what are your thoughts?"

"The Water Woman has shown immense loyalty to the crown and His Highness, Your Majesty." Shenlong bowed. "She speaks only with truth and honesty. She will not fail you or the crown."

His Majesty took a long moment of deliberation before he said, "I would like to meet this 'friend' of yours and speak to her myself."

The smile widened. "You're in luck, Your Majesty. I just happened to bring her with me."

The doors opened and slow steps strode into the imperial room as though trying to sense any danger. But those steps firmly stopped next to the mysterious woman.

His Majesty prompted, "Friend of the protector… What be your name?"

"I go by many names at this age, Your Majesty. However, you may call me"—a middle-aged woman with deep blue hair in traditional braids bowed once before she opened her eyes and showed her burnt yellows, strong and wise—"'Euboea'."

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And now it's time for a special interview!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

---

Gary and Jaxton sat together, looking casual. Gary decided to go with a nice striped blue and white button-down that rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, while Jaxton was a vision in gray. A backdrop of bright blue was behind them as Jaxton held a jug labeled THIRST TWITS.

As Gary reached for his water, a crewmember asked both men, "Out of both of you, which one of you gets hit on more?"

Jaxton pointed at Gary, and Gary pointed at himself.

Gary sipped his water and then explained, "People always think I'm the approachable one since Jaxton never smiles and looks like a cold, cold person with no soul."

"That's true. I am a cold person unless you're my girlfriend." Jaxton pointed at the camera. "In that case, baby girl, ignore what I'm saying. I'm constantly hot for you and you'll feel that when I get home." And even with his ever-serious expression, he winked.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

The Buzz presents

THIRST TWITS

~ with ~

Gary Fullbuster and Jaxton Yang

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Jaxton held out the jug to Gary for him to fumble around and pick out a sheet of paper. Gary read it silently only to grin and read aloud, "Flower-child-underscore-nine-three-three-five wants you to know"—he gripped Jaxton's shoulder—"that 'OMFL that Jaxton blinks and every thong in the vicinity would just vanish I want him to eat me alive'."

"Give me that." Jaxton took the piece of paper to read it. "That's nice. I have a girlfriend, but"—he nodded at the camera with the twit—"thank you, very kind." He dipped his hand into the jug and pulled out a twit to read. "Larsofthestars says, 'You could cut glass on Gary Fullbuster's nipples oh my god panting emoji like daddy let me touch your man boobs'." He offered an amused Gary a look. "Do you have nice boobs?"

"I feel like I do." Gary lightly touched his pectorals. "Do you want to feel?"

"Sure."

Gary closed his eyes and was visibly holding back his laughter while Jaxton groped his chest and gave a nod of approval. "You have nice breasts."

"Thanks, Jaxton." Gary touched his heart and leaned his head on Jaxton's shoulders, batting his eyelashes. "It means so much coming from you, darling."

Jaxton snorted and shoved him away. "Don't give people any more fanfiction to write about us, please."

Someone called from behind the camera, "Do you guys remember when you did Crocus Comic Con and someone asked you that fanfiction question? Because I was there and it looked really awkward."

Jaxton blanked while Gary had an ah-ah! look on his face as he patted Jaxton's arm. "Yeah, yeah, remember that? You…" He shook his finger at Jaxton as he tried to remember. "I think she was talking about, like, we had a ship name or something. But then you started talking about the dangers of the LacriNet and we totally got off-topic."

"Yeah, because I'm not about to comment on people writing weird smut about us." Jaxton made a face when Gary chortled into a hand. "What? I'm not about to react to smut about me and this asshole."

"'Asshole'?" Gary feigned offense. "You touched my boob. We had a moment."

"Moment's over." Jaxton held out the jug. "Pick out a twit."

Gary whispered as he fumbled around the jug, "He's so nice and loving when we're in bed together." He laughed when Jaxton punched him in the shoulder and took out a folded paper. "Okay, um… TetrixB says…" He snorted. "They say, 'Gary Fullbuster has the type of eyes that lets you know he'll chase you down to ends of the earth and make you his and his smile OMG its so perfect. He's turning my bedroom into an ocean'."

"False," Jaxton claimed. "His smile is annoying as Hell and nowhere near perfect. It's a problem. He's a problem."

Gary grinned. "What about my eyes?" He patted his eyelashes and pretended to curl his hair. "Tell me about my eyes, Big Daddy."

Jaxton stared at him for a solid five seconds before he said, "Those blue eyes let you know where home is."

"Aw…" Gary nudged him. "See? You can be sweet to me." He snickered as Jaxton rumbled around for another twit. "I can imagine the fanfic writers are going crazy as I said that. Our careers are over."

Jaxton stopped from reading the twit to ask, "Remember when we did that con and someone told you your career was over?"

"Oh…" Gary did recall that. "Oh, yeah, I remember that. He kept saying my career was over because Ice Magic is a dying art." He shrugged and offered a hissing breath. "I don't know, but I'm pretty damn rich right now and I'm making money just by you watching this interview, so I must be doing something right."

Jaxton opened the paper and read, "FayeJenBen wants to say, 'Why didn't anyone warm me'—" He stopped. "Is she saying 'warm' or 'warn'?"

Gary read the twit. "I think she's saying 'warn'. I think she got hit with autocorrect."

"That's why I don't rely on autocorrect. I know how to spell." Jaxton tapped his temple. "Learn how to spell. It will do you wonders." He went back to the paper and reiterated, "'Why didn't anyone warn me that Jaxton's abs were made for licking, panting emoji, panting emoji, sweating emoji, TBH if he told me to lick him from head to toe, I'd take an hour for each ab'." He raised an eyebrow. "An hour for each ab? That's insane." He looked at the camera as he lifted the paper. "No need to waste your time. You can take five minutes per ab and then have more time to pay attention to one particular area. But thank you, very kind."

Gary did a funny little laugh as he tapped Jaxton. "Are you saying that the Z-D needs hours of attention? Really?" He shook his head. "I feel so bad for Tesla having to worship the Z-D for hours. Her jaw must hurt."

"Don't call my"—BEEP!—"that," Jaxton muttered. "Stop calling it that."

"But it's so catchy!" Gary laughed. "And it makes so much sense! Because you're from Zhōnguá and then—" BEEP! "You know?" He clapped his hands in hilarity when Jaxton pinched the bridge of his nose and wished for death.

"See, this is why I never do interviews with you," Jaxton scolded over Gary's wheezing laugh. "This is why! You always make it weird! Stop making it weird!"

Gary guffawed. "Come on. At least you get that. What am I supposed to call mine? The…"

"The snowflake," Jaxton offered.

"I thought about the 'Ice Piercer'," Gary said. As Jaxton took the time to think about it, Gary added, "You know? Like…" He cackled. "'The Ice Piercer is about to come into your station'?"

"No." Jaxton shook his head. "Just no. You ruined it and cannot ever pull that line off to anyone, especially Nashi. Your"—BEEP!—"is called the snowflake now."

Gary shot Jaxton a look. "You're so cruel to me. That's not what the fans want." He shook his head in mocking disappointment as he grabbed another folded paper and read, "Daisyneedsaraise says…" He broke into a snort-laugh and tried again. "So she says… 'Fair warning ladies Gary Fullbuster would have that dark side that would chain you to the bed, spank you, and make you call him daddy and all I'd ask him afterward is "So does tomorrow work for you?"'."

"You don't like 'daddy', right?" Jaxton checked.

Gary's lips twitched. "No. That's not my thing. That's your thing." He pointed at the camera as he reached down and scratched his ankle. "So, um, no, I would not make you call me 'Daddy', ladies, since I have happily not sired a child, but I would definitely have you call me 'Master' and I'm into spanking. If you can do that and are into that, let's make it happen." He looked beyond the camera and asked, "Are we down to our last thirst twits?"

"Yeah. One more each."

Jaxton went for his and read, "Okay. Bandanananana says…" His eyebrows shot up. "Wow. They used all caps for this."

"That means you have to yell," Gary informed in a whisper behind a hand. "All caps signals virtual yelling."

"Really?" Jaxton cleared his throat and turned to shout in Gary's ear, "'Gary Fullbuster I love you and your blue eyes and I just want to take care of you but baby I need you to destroy my body you are like a work of art move in with me'!"

Gary curled over as he silently laughed while Jaxton threw the twit away and commented, "I didn't think it was going to get thirsty up until that last part."

"Yeah, I—" Gary burst into another set of chortles. "I mean… Thank you for wanting to take care of me, but I actively try not to harm people and destroying your body would be the opposite of that. And while I'm sure you're a fantastic roommate, I need my space. But, um…" He nodded and offered two thumbs up. "Thank you for your vigor. And I received your message loud and clear. Very loudly, actually." He rubbed his ear and murmured to Jaxton, "I think you might've made me deaf."

Jaxton muttered, "Shut up. I'm deaf from all the screaming you already do."

The staff had tried and failed to hide their laughter while Gary closed his eyes and his face screwed up in held-back mirth. Jaxton went for his water and said before his swig, "We're going to have a good time on the LacriNet tonight."

Gary cackled. "Oh my god, my career is over." He sniffed and rubbed his nose. "All right, this is the last thirst twit." He stopped and told Jaxton, "I feel like you're not getting the thirstiest twits. Because I get worse comments when my art is posted on my Insta than things like this."

"Tesla is thirstier than this if this even qualifies as thirst. In fact…" Jaxton brought out his Compact and unlocked it. "I bet she sent me a thirst text while we're doing this segment. Let me look."

Gary groaned. "Jang-ta, please, no, I don't want to see—"

"Here." Jaxton showed his Compact to Gary. "This is what she sent me three minutes ago."

Gary quickly read it before he covered his face for a moment of silence. He murmured through his hands, "Oh my god. I miss the thirty seconds ago when I didn't have that in my brain."

"That's thirst. That's actual thirst." Jaxton looked at the text with an amused smile before he put away his Compact—

"How often do you and your girlfriend dirty text?" a crew member questioned Jaxton.

Jaxton replied honestly, "All the time. Seventy-five percent of our conversations are dirtier than any of this and the other twenty-five is for normal things like what time I'll be at her place or any date plans if we aren't together."

"And they're rarely not together and if they are, it's always something dirty." Gary pointed in Jaxton in accusation as he told the crew, "Eight out of ten times I'm on the Com with him, it ends with me hearing something I didn't want to hear. They're disgusting. And it doesn't stop over the Com. If I'm with them, I have to physically get between them because they'll jump each other if I don't."

"Have either one of you ever had sex in a public space?"

Gary hit Jaxton's chest and said, "He has. Multiple times."

Jaxton did not look ashamed. "I can't help it. I'm obsessed with her."

"What's the key to having sex in public successfully?"

"Timing," Jaxton said. "It's about timing and placement. We've never done it in too public of a space like at a restaurant or anything like that. But where we have, it's all about timing, placement, and volume." He ruffled Gary's hair. "He's too much of a pussy to do it."

Gary slapped his hand away. "Do you know how much time it took me to get my hair this nice? Why do you have to ruin this for me?"

"Because I can." Jaxton held out the jug. "All right. Last thirst twit Read it, Fullbuster."

Gary reached in for a paper and pulled it out. He read, "'Jesus Christ Jaxton gives off 'daddy' energy. Ninety percent of that man is big dick energy and ten percent is a man who would call me baby girl and make me feel okay'." He threw the paper Jaxton's way. "And the verdict?"

"They aren't wrong," Jaxton admitted as he thought about it. "But I feel like I have more of a caring side."

"Well, people don't see it underneath all that stoic exterior," Gary reasoned with a wave over Jaxton's face. "You're like an onion. You have all those layers underneath."

Jaxton stared at him. "Don't start—"

"Shrek is a good movie," Gary defended while Jaxton groaned. "Stop judging it because you hate the songs. It's a good movie. It's a classic. It's like one of those movies that gets better every time you watch it because you pick up on more and more of the innuendos."

Jaxton pushed back his hair with a hand. "You're delusional. Stop trying to get me to watch it again. I hated it the first time and I'll hate it again." He gripped the jug with both hands and addressed the camera. "Well, we have read your thirst twits. Thank you for your thirst. We appreciate it. But I've read dirtier things than that, so I hope the next thirst twits I read are filthier."

"You're a sex addict," Gary laughed. "What is supposed to be filthy enough to surprise you?" The moment Jaxton opened his mouth, Gary realized his mistake and loudly said, "All right, well, that was us reading our thirst twits. Thank you for your time. Please always hesitate to tell us this in person."

Jaxton nodded. "Yes. Please don't ask us for Com recordings of us saying filthy things."

"What do you guys get asked to record?" a crew member asked.

While Gary blew out a breath and recounted his memories, Jaxton confessed, "Any time we do autograph sessions, I'm normally asked if I can record 'baby girl' since people heard I call my girlfriend that. But I think my favorite voice recording was for a proposal."

"I've done that before. It's so weird to think we're part of someone's proposal and that depth of a relationship," Gary remarked as he scratched his back. "Did you ever get invites to weddings? Because I have."

Jaxton held up a finger. "Once, I did."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I couldn't attend because, well, you know, but I got a nice wedding gift for them."

Gary looked at Jaxton in a whole new light. "That's actually really nice of you. What did you get them?"

Jaxton heaved an exhale and had to chuckle, "I have no idea. Honestly, Tesla picked it out."

Gary laughed. "I'm sure the happy couple is watching this and feels so bad now."

"Oh." Jaxton gave a serious wave at the camera. "To the couple who sent me a wedding invite, I hope you're doing well. If you're not together anymore, don't worry. It gets better."

Gary cracked up. "I love how you had to include in the event of a divorce." He put a hand on his chest and sighed out his amusement. "What were we talking about?"

"You were going to tell us voice recordings you've done," a crew member reminded him.

Gary said, "Oh, right. Thank you. I think the weirdest recording I was asked is if I could do dialogue from this drama I had guest-starred in."

A crew member questioned, "Are you talking about Please Don't Love Me that came out on Webflix a few months ago?"

Gary smiled. "Yeah. It was a fun experience. The cast and crew were fantastic people and so nice and so generous. The entire premise is basically about a high schooler teacher getting chased down by this CEO who is pretty locked onto his target." He pointed at the camera. "And if you haven't seen it, you should definitely check it out because it has fantastic writing and I loved the whole series—"

"Wasn't that a J-Drama?" Jaxton asked.

Gary nodded and picked up his water for a few gulps. "Yeah, it was," he answered. "But they were shooting close by where I was, so I couldn't say, 'no'. And I wanted to impress Angel." He held out a hand and said, "Just for the record, I don't know as much Josean as Angel, but I know enough that if you dropped me there, I could make my way to an embassy."

Gary hit Jaxton's chest. "Don't even think about it." He grinned when Jaxton snorted. "Anyway, I was doing, like, a one-to-two-episode guest appearance where the main actress—the absolute stunning Seo Ye-ji, who is just…such an amazing person to be around and she was kind enough to autograph some stuff for Angel for her birthday—" He winced and sheepishly put his finger to his lips. "Whoops. I let the ball drop about that."

Jaxton shifted with a breath. "It's all right. You're a horrible secret keeper when it comes to presents."

"Shut up. You're right but shut up. Anyway—"

Jaxton let out a short laugh. "This story is taking so long. We're trying to wrap up the segment here."

"It's fine!" a crew member assured. "Keep talking! This will make it in the video! And honestly, I don't think any of us mind hearing you talk."

Gary was about to continue when the words registered and he smiled, pleased. "Thank you. I'm so self-conscious about my voice, so that makes me feel so much better. Thank you. Um, anyway, so as I was saying about the guest appearance." He took a moment to swallow. "Um, so my guest appearance was to be in both Josean and in Minstrish because there was this whole thing where I'm helping Ye-ji's character figure out how she wants to deal with the CEO's offer for some vacation and her feelings for him and her doubts on her self-worth and the CEO played by the absolute nicest person in the world, Hyun Bin. And"—he scratched his arm—"we talk in Josean until I switch to Minstrish and I have this really intense and romantic line. I say—"

Gary turned to Jaxton and asked, "Can I say it to you?"

Jaxton sighed. "Fine. Go ahead."

Gary readied himself as he put his arm around the back of Jaxton's chair with intense eyes and he rumbled, "'You're undeniably gorgeous in body and mind. The moment I met you and saw your smile, I knew you could bring down any man to his knees. Don't underestimate yourself. You are an absolute beautiful person. And I'm envious of the man who gets to hear you tell him you love him'."

Applause rang around, and Gary offered a shy smile. "But see? Or it was something like that, but I'm pretty sure that's close enough. But, anyway, I get asked to record that a lot since a lot of people like the line and the delivery."

"Why is that weird to you?" a crew member asked.

"It's just such a weirdly intense line to say, I guess?" Gary supposed. "I don't know. I've done very limited voice work before, like, for, you know, Magia and stuff, but I can't intentionally recreate that sort of intensity and just…act like that on command. So it's weird when people want me to get into the intense headspace and say it. But I'm glad to record other things." He turned to Jaxton. "You've done some voice-work, right?"

"Yeah. Outside of the Fairy Tail lacrimagame, I've been asked to lend my voice for a few lacrimagame characters."

"Well, right, but didn't you do a superhero?"

Jaxton snapped his fingers. "Right. I voiced the first animated appearance of Doctor Jade," he remembered. "He was the first Zhōnguánese superhero to break into animation, but I liked voicing him. I didn't know much about him until Tesla showed me. He was this young twenty-something doctor with virtually no friends since he was asocial all this life—"

"Oh, wow, it's like looking in a mirror," Gary ribbed, though he laughed when Jaxton smacked the back of his head.

"But he had these mystical powers due to the Jade Rabbit blessing him, which isn't a prominent figure in Zhōnguá unless it's the Year of the Rabbit, but I thought it was cool how they actually integrated some of my culture into his storyline," Jaxton said. "And it was nice they let me speak in Zhōnguánese for his attacks too."

"Do you remember what it was called?" Gary asked.

Jaxton nodded and recalled, "I voiced Doctor Jade in the Hell Raiders and I think also Teen Justice and The Legend of the Scarlet Assassin."

"That's on MAX," a crew member stated. "I just watched those. Those are all streaming there. But an article has rumors about you acting as Doctor Jade in the upcoming 'The Horsemen versus The Absolutes' movie. Is that true?"

Jaxton's eyebrows went up. "Really? I mean… I might be him…?" He and Gary shared a laugh. "I don't know. Gary knows that I just show up where I'm told to go, so if I'm acting as Doctor Jade in the movie, that's great, and I'll be there."

Gary pointed at the camera and said, "And all of you who haven't seen what we're talking about…" He wrapped an arm around Jaxton's shoulder. "After this video and after you binge-watch Please Don't Love Me, you should all check out Hell Raiders, Teen Justice, and The Legend of the Scarlet Assassin on MAX and drop thirst comments about how much you want Jaxton to talk you into an orgasm." He half-laughed half-groaned when Jaxton socked him in the gut and teased in a rasp, "He brings you so much pain, but he also brings pleasure, I swear."

"Well, gentlemen, that's all the time we have for our video," a crewmember informed them. "But thank you so much for stopping by and reading thirst twits for us."

"Thanks for having us," both men chorused.

Jaxton got up first, but Gary looked up as he brought his water to his lips and he teased, "You can't get out of here fast enough, can you? You know we drove together."

"And I'm going to leave you behind if you don't hurry up," Jaxton called as he walked off the camera. "I have a thirsty girlfriend at home waiting for me."

Gary groaned as he got up, and a crew member came over to help him with his mic. "He's such a dirty person. You should start making segments of him giving advice to people on how to be filthy because he could give some serious advice." He looked over past the camera and called in a laugh, "Wait, don't actually leave without me! You touched my boobs! We had a moment!"

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Ena Fernandes – Xanthe Huynh

Erza Fernandes – Colleen Clinkenbeard

Laxus Dreyar – Patrick Seitz

Gajeel Redfox – David Wald

Liberty Justin – Mela Lee

Freed Justine – Justin Bourgmeier

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Icarus – Christopher Sabot

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Juvia Fullbuster – Brina Palencia

Julia Fullbuster – Michelle Ruff

Silver Fullbuster – Yuri Lowenthal

Gray Fullbuster – Newton Pittman

Natsu Dragneel – Todd Haberkorn

Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel – Cherami Leigh

Levy Redfox – Kristi Kang

Happy – Tia Ballard

Constantine – Powers Boothe

Number Five – Melissa Fahn

Nashi Dragneel – Lauren Landa

Býleistr – Josh Tomar

Cael – Jason Griffith

Seraphim – Jameison Price

Justin Justine – Ian Sinclair

Luke Dragneel – Alan Lee

Galileo Redfox – Josh Grelle

His Majesty –

Karameel –

Shenlong – David Lodge

Protector – Kira Vincent-Davis

Euboea – Hetty Abbott

Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns

Jang-ta "Jaxton" Yang – Eddy Yeong

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING SONG

⟪ HANDS ⟫

BLUE ENCOUNT

Lyrics by

Junichi Tanabe ⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG

⟪ Get Me Bodied (Let's Move Remix) ⟫

Beyoncé

Lyrics by

Sean Garrett, Kasseem Dean, Beyoncé Knowles, Solange Knowles, Angela Renee Beyince, Makeba Riddick ⌟

•

⌜ENDING SONG

⟪ Long-Distance Train ⟫

Aoi Yamazaki

Lyrics by

Aoi Yamazaki⌟

---

Chibi-Luna peeks out with a shy smile. "Hi, everyone! We have some more fun interviews that our heroes can do in the future, but we need your help deciding them!" She points at the board. "Here are some options for future specials!"

Jason on the Street with JUSTIN JUSTINE! (feat. A surprise guest)

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Luna Dragneel & Cane Alberona-Groh Deeply Regret Eating Hot Wings | Spicy Ones

Luke Dragneel & Gale Redfox – Wizards on Wizards – Full Conversation

Mystogan Fernandes, Lance Dreyar, and Gary Fullbuster | Fairy Tail Panel | Bernard City Guild Con USM

A Drunk History: Formation of the Magic Council (ft. Luke Dragneel and Elvin Strauss)

Teatime with Nashi Dragneel and Ellie Strauss | An exclusive interview about PRIDE, Devils, Magic, and more

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Chibi-Luna adds: "Please let us know which interview you would like to see or if there are heroes not listed you would like to see interviewed! We'll be adding more interviews and alternating between interviews and Fairy Lessons or neither for future episodes! You'll get to know your heroes and get some of your questions about them hopefully answered too! And we have some special interviews in the future coming once Fairy Adventure progresses a little further!"

"Let us know which battle you liked the most!" Chibi-Luna adds. "And which battles you'd like to see in the future! You never know! Master might've been onto something about Gale versus Jura."

She waves. "See you in the next arc! Time for Silver and Ena to get the spotlight next!"

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Next time, on Fairy Adventure

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Episode 101

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WELCOME TO SAVANT HALL

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SEE YOU IN THE NEXT EPISODE, FAIRIES…