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!

115. Adventure 115

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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PREVIOUSLY, on Fairy Adventure: our spring breakers decided to check out a spooky haunted lighthouse to see if a Poltergeist was still alive and kickin'. To pass the times, Nashi told a story of when Luke turned into a werewolf! Well, all he did was start to turn into a monster, thanks to Anna's Celestial Spirit Therium. Ines and Ellie met way back at a work function, but their initial meeting was no bed of roses. And Jaxton told the chilling story of a creature it ate the hearts of its victims back in imperial Zhōnguá times. But when all the fun was over, they finally got to meet a real Ghost! Which turned out to be Huang Chun doing his master a tiny favor for the evening. Even so, nothing is ever normal with our heroes with the dark history the lighthouse hides.

"And I am so fucking proud of you."

"I… Thank you."

Sometimes, even the people with the hardest of hearts need to hear those little words. And it looks like Jaxton never forgot how beautiful gray eyes could be, huh?

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Stans were the people of nightmares.

The Sky Port was always backed in traffic since tourists came by the boat-ful, but on a day like today, exuberant fans had laced the welcoming halls with their posts, their pictures, and some with their professional cameras. Those working and normal tourists cringed at some of the squeals and excited yips. Already, an attendant helpin de-board the Sky Boat rolled her eyes seeing the hordes of fans.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

« This is the Caracole-Alicanto Domestic Sky Port, a smaller Sky Port that only permits travel from the islands and to Fiore. Those around the world must travel to Fiore first to charter a flight to the Gran Alicanto Islands. »

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

It felt like a war cry was uttered when the first fans noticed their celebrity was coming down the hall and like a ripple effect, all the fans were screaming with their signs and cameras up to catch a glimpse of their beloved idol.

PACHA-PACHA-PACHA-PACHA!

Security had set up fences to keep the fans at bay and manned their stations with cool expressions.

PACHA-PACHA-PACHA-PACHA!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

Caracole-Alicanto Domestic Sky Port

Lìron City, Caracole Island

Fiore, Ishgar

10:05 AM CAST

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A sigh. "Honestly. We need to figure out which of your personal assistants or your staff keeps leaking your location because this is ridiculous."

Caracole weather might have been warm this time of year, but she adored her pantsuit. Her 188-centimeter height did not care as she wore heels to give her another 10 centimeters. You might not believe it, but the street of pink and lavender in her violet bangs were perfectly natural.

She pushed up her glasses. "I'll do a thorough investigation soon."

⌜BIG PAW AGENCY

Name: April Schneider

Age: 37

Occupation: Executive Personal Assistant

Likes: country music Dislikes: crystal healing

Special Note: April might look tough, but even she fangirls over her favorite country singers! ⌟

The man beside her was only shorter thanks to April's heels. Like her, he did not dress for Caracole weather with his black tactical joggers and oversized black shirt and bucket hat with his shoes and face mask a bright white. Even his eyes were covered with shades, but he nodded to what April said.

April hung back to speak to the accompanying security, but her client still heard all the chants and shouts.

"I love you, Jeremy!"

"Aaron and Lily for life!"

"Marry me!"

"You're so hot!"

Jeremy tugged down his bucket hat, lowering his head, but the tips of his ears reddened.

April hurried to his side to murmur, "I've been informed the car is waiting for us. We'll be out of here shortly. Just hold on a little longer."

Jeremy gave her a nod. His head tipped as he glanced and he saw all the pictures and posters the fans had culminated. Some had displayed him singing and dancing, but a majority had shown him shirtless from Dawn promotional posters.

And his gaze went to the ground.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

And then…

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The car was a large SUV limo with tinted windows. Luggage packed into the back, April boarded the back with her tablet out with her client sitting quietly on his side. She used her pen to tap and click to report, "I had one of my sources tell me even your hotel room was discovered, but don't worry. I pulled some strings so we can stay at a different one. Only you, myself, security, and the driver know."

Her client fidgeted. "Th-Thank you."

April glanced up and sighed. "There's no need for you to keep on your glasses and your mask, y'know."

"O-Oh. Right." He was careful to yank down his mask and pluck off his sunglasses. Deep violet eyes showed, sharp, with curled lashes. For all intents and purposes, from his tanned skin, his unique eyes, and athletic build, he was easily a man to lust over. But he hunched over and brought out his squishy stress ball to hold and fidget. "S-Sorry, Miss April."

⌜BIG PAW AGENCY

Name: Shikoba Bravebird / Jeremy Carter

Age: 21

Magic: Tamer

Occupation: Actor, Model, Singer-Songwriter, Dancer

Likes: animal charms Dislikes: eye contact

Special Note: Shikoba uses "Jeremy Carter" as his stage name as an ode to his late maternal grandfather! He is the actor behind Dawn's famous werewolf Aaron Gray! ⌟

"It's fine, Jeremy," April dismissed. "You really need to get used to eye contact. You're a celebrity now." She paused when Shikoba sank in his seat. "Never mind. Just try to enjoy the trip. I've made sure it'll be drama-free."

"I would've b-b-been fine at home," Shikoba mumbled.

"Yes, but right now, we have to show the director for your new movie that you do like to travel and adventure if you want to keep this part," April maintained. "It'll just be for a few days. I've already had some photographers ready. Bear with this a little longer. And remember. You're supposed to be the outgoing Jeremy Carter, so please make sure to smile and speak to your fans."

Shikoba swallowed. "Right."

He looked out the tinted window, glum. I just wish people wanted me as Shikoba. He looked down at his stress ball. But everyone loves Aaron Gray and Jeremy Carter. I doubt anyone would like just me.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

kazoekire nai hodo no omoi wo

itsu made mo okuri tsuzuke te kun da zutto zutto sen mo

•

kurikaeshi gokoro ni chikau yo

te wo nigiri zutto soba ni iru n da soshite kesshite hanasa nai yo

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Líron City had plenty of places to dine at, but their exclusive brunch items were always popular to try. With star mango drinks and jams and specialty meats and dishes, it was a real Caracolean treat. Even though the restaurant lived atop a hotel, it catered to the warm weather with a spacious terrace and a partly-covered indoor section as well. A platform bar had the right idea to be the place to go for drinks after or before you got your meal, but the entire establishment was designed with a night-on-the-town in mind with a rotating roster of live musicians and DJs, specialty cocktails, and shareable dishes.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is The Melting Pot, a rooftop bar and restaurant atop the Grand Ole Hotel. Guests of the hotel get a discounted price, but you don't have to have a reservation to visit the restaurant.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

CLINK!

Justin, Nashi, and Tesla toasted before downing the first sips of their brunch cocktails. The brunch crowd in itself was still quite large as everyone came out in loose pants, sandals, shades, and smiles.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

The Melting Pot

Lìron City, Caracole Island

Fiore, Ishgar

10:52 AM CAST

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"I could get used to this," Justin sighed with his fan flared out and his legs crossed to show his shorts and wedged sandals. "Honey is going to be crazy jealous I got to experience this."

"Yeah, but Honey is off at the Cape Hyde Island, remember?" Nashi reminded. Maybe one day, she would scold Gary for buying her a wardrobe, but she had to admit the pampered pink sundress she wore that he bought her was cozy and she loved it had pockets. "And I saw on his Insta that he's getting freaky with those cabana boys."

Tesla groaned. "I want that life so badly." She prepped her plate to take more of her panini. Her madras halter dress with a plunging neckline made her feel like a local. "Could you imagine waking up and a literal Encan god is serving you?" She snorted as she forked her panini. "Couldn't be me." And she took a bite.

"Oh, I already know I want to do master-servant role-play with Carlisle," Justin declared, fanning himself. "He'd look so cute on his knees serving me. And sucking me."

Nashi snickered, shaking her head. "You both are insatiable."

"And proud of it, sweet girl," Justin told her with a wink. "Also, boo that Ines and Ellie flaked on us—"

"They didn't flake," Nashi reminded. "Ines planned for her and Ellie to do some sort of really in-depth nature tour."

Justin scrunched his nose. "Nature. Disgusting."

"Um, Mama Nature gave us all that." Tesla gestured to one of the servers with a generous backside, his flirty grin, and dreamy brown eyes. "You can hate her, but I love her for sculpting such divine eye candy." She dragged once-over earned the attention of the server, who flashed a wider grin for her. She smirked back and mouthed Hi.

Nashi playfully rolled her eyes. "How would you feel if Jaxton was scoping out the local fauna?"

"Proud." And Tesla meant that. "Honestly, it made him sus when he told me he didn't find anyone attractive outside of me. Like, come on now. I'm aware that beauty has many forms, but he doesn't even bat an eye at anyone." She shrugged. "It is what it is. Man's obsessed."

"I so want to see you both at The Academy," Justin wished. "Ace told me about it and I'm dying to go, but he says there're some rules that I'd probably break in the first thirty seconds."

Tesla simpered as she finished her next panini bite. "Yeah, probably. I think you'd love it, though. The whole aesthetic is a speakeasy on the top and then the dungeons are above and below. The masters and mistresses there are bomb, but there's, like, a shit ton of paperwork to be a member and then on top of that, even if you're with a partner or partners, still have to do regular testing, checks, forms—everything."

"That sounds stressful," Nashi remarked.

Tesla thought nothing of it. "It keeps everyone honest and safe, so Jang-ta and I don't mind it. It helps a lot with spontaneous scenes and whatnot."

"Oh!" Justin grinned at her. "Speaking of scenes, can you please tell us about the scene you and your beau are doing at the end of this week?"

"Sorry." Tesla mimed zipping her lips. "My lips are sealed."

Justin whined, "Oh, come on! Please…? All you said was that it's going to be intense and I really want to know what's going down!"

"I do too," Nashi chipped in, leaning in. "What's so hush-hush about it?"

Tesla rolled her lips as she weighed what to say and what she could not say. Jang-ta gave me the rundown of it, but he said entering dual Cultivation with someone is a sacred ceremony, so I can't tell them about the tea ceremony or the vows. But maybe… "All I'll say is that it involves him chasing me naked."

"Oh, love that," Justin cooed, grin widening. "That sounds kinky as fuck."

"It's not the first time we've done this," Tesla relayed. "But it'll definitely be more intense this time." Grays swept to Nashi and she added meaningfully, "I think we'll be more connected than ever after it."

Nashi's brow knitted together before the emphasized word registered. Hickories looked at Tesla in a new light. Wait. Are they…? Tesla's inclined chin was all the confirmation she needed. So then… They're going to connect to each other like Gary and I are.

Such news made Nashi want to hug Tesla and excitedly congratulate her, but she kept all her enthusiasm to herself. Oh, that's so beautiful. I'm just surprised they're able to. Kyler said it's pretty rare for that to happen on Earth Land since the practice is outdated. She smiled into her next sip. I'll have to talk to her later. I'm so excited for them.

"I'm interested in diving in more with BDSM," Justin started, "but it feels like a lot. Ace is great at helping me along with my questions, but still…"

"Mmm!" Tesla sucked down her gulp. "The Academy has cool educational stuff they do to help 'virgins' find their kink niche and explore. They have beginner's classes, intermediate, and masterclasses. It's super fun and you connect with a lot of good people in the community that way. I know switches, doms, subs, kinksters—whatever. Really helped me broaden my horizons."

Justin took that into account when Nashi brought up, "Do you have to be a member?"

"No." Tesla shook her head as she planned for a bite of her omelet and hash. "The classes are pretty loose and they're free. The most they'll want to see from you is ID to make sure you're a consenting adult. But The Academy donates and educates to a lot of sex educational services and stuff for minors to help spread awareness. It's a cool place to be." It amused her when Nashi raised her hand. "Yes?"

"Well—" Nashi stopped herself, conflicting. "So then… You could learn about all kinds of kinks?"

Tesla thought about her answer with care. "To a point, yes. But extreme kinks have paid classes since they're taboo."

"Are you itching to try a new kink?" Justin teased.

Nashi flushed. "Maybe. I'm not sure yet, but… I'd like to at least learn about it. And the LacriNet basically gives me porn to watch."

Tesla grimaced. "Yeah. Porn's a great lift-off point, but it sucks for educational value. I have some PDFs and YouViewers who might be helpful to get you started if you want. And, obviously, I'm here and Jang-ta is here too if you have some questions."

"How much do I have to pay you to wear a naughty teacher costume?" Justin wondered.

Tesla could not contain her laughter. "Been there, done that, so nothing. I've been the student and the teacher, so pick your poison."

"Sickening." Justin smirked. "Love it."

"Right?" Tesla stretched. "'Kay. I need to haul ass to the ladies'." She shook her Compact for effect. "Time to send him a freaky pic to mess with him."

Nashi snorted. "We don't need him hijacking our day out." A beat. "Actually, wait, yes we do. He might've killed Gary already."

"He won't on both accounts," Tesla assured as she rose from her chair. "And Ace will be there for a buffer because, as much as I love Jang-ta, there is no way in Hell I trust him alone with Gary."

"Same," Nashi muttered. "Gary likes to poke the bear."

"And Jang-ta is a very angry bear," Tesla sighed. "Okay. I really need to go. I'll be back." Maneuvering through all the people and servers proved to be a challenge with such a busy rush. And in her tries to be graceful and mindful, it all backfired when she ran headfirst into someone's chest. "Ah, crap!"

"O-Oh, no! Are you okay?"

Tesla rubbed her nose. "Yeah, I'm fine." Noticing a stress ball on the ground, she pointed at it. "Is that yours?"

"Well, yes, b-b-b-but—"

Tesla scooped it up and offered it back to the man she bumped into. His face was well hidden behind his sunglasses, but it was not her problem to understand why. "Sorry about that. I'll be sure to look before I leap and all that." She flashed him a smile. "Have a nice day!" And she danced away from him to get to the restrooms.

Sunglasses tilted, Shikoba's violets watched as Tesla hurried away. Gray eyes… He looked down at his stress ball. What a strange color. And he squeezed his ball as pink topped his ears.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 115

•

The Werewolf in Caracole

•

カラコール島の狼男

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Jasmine knew Pacer and her aunt Sharon fought solely based on how Pacer came into the living room and when the mudroom door slammed shut.

Sharon's living room was cozy and she splurged on a massage recliner that Jasmine claimed. Reading another mother-to-be book that was a guide for rearing magical children, she had decided to put on an oldie but a goodie movie from Webflix. But an eyebrow lifted when Pacer swept into the living room with his jaw set and his pale red flaming.

"I take it that conversation didn't go well?" Jasmine surmised.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

Château Sharon

Gazania Town

Fiore, Ishgar

12:30 PM FST

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"She was giving me a warning about leaving us alone," Pacer muttered darkly. "She made it very clear to me how vulnerable you are and how any flirting attempts would have me back at my family's cabin."

Jasmine frowned and set aside her book. "If you just let me talk to her—"

"It's fine." Pacer crouched next to her with a softer expression. "Don't worry about it, Slugger. This is something she and I have to figure out since I plan on being here for the long haul."

"Yeah, well, I'm sure she's even more stressed she can't be here when Lupita comes over since she got called in and Maddox has an appointment and then some work to do." Jasmine sighed and rested against the vibrations. "I'm sorry you have to deal with this. You can go if you—"

"You're not getting rid of me that easily, Slugger," Pacer chuckled. "I grew up around a very insane and very nosy family. There's a lot I can take. So don't worry about me and don't let this stress you out."

Jasmine harrumphed. "Whatever. Don't come crying to me when Aunt Share finally pushes all your buttons then."

Pacer crossed his arms on the armrest and set down his chin. "I'm not worried. Besides, I only want you to push all my buttons, attorney."

"Find new representation and leave me alone."

Pacer snickered before sighing and observing her. Insofar, everything's been quiet. My family understands Slugger's position, but I know Mom and Dad wish they could meet her. Pale reds dropped to the ladybug charm. Thanks to Libby's charm, Jasmine's been able to sleep. She's not in any pain anymore. I know Uncle Freed wasn't happy when she made a Lucky Charm. I was pretty surprised too. But she said she thought Jasmine would need it.

Pacer softened as Jasmine made it apparent she was dozing off. I just can't believe she's the mother of our twins. I always wanted to be a dad, sure, but I didn't think it'd happen so soon. And she's giving us twins. She's incredible. His heart sighed. If only I wasn't such an ass when we first met. We could be dating right now. But…that's not what she wants. I respect that.

Jasmine sneezed in her sleep before laying a hand on her stomach.

Pacer smiled to himself. Still, though. As long as she still lets me in her life to see cute moments like this… She'd make me a happy man.

DING-DONG!

Jasmine roused from her light slumber, still sleepy. "Mmmm… That must be Lupita." She waved a hand. "Help me up."

"The world must be ending for you to ask me for help," Pacer jested as he lent her his harm. Even with his grin, he watched with sharp eyes for any signs of wobbling or swaying as she got up.

"The world will end when you stop flirting and shut up," Jasmine muttered and hefted her way out of the living room. "Out of all the men I get stuck with for a baby daddy, it had to be you."

Pacer chortled. "You say that like you've been condemned."

"Because I have," Jasmine deadpanned. "For the rest of my life, I've been condemned to you."

"That sounds awfully like a proposal, Slugger."

"How about I propose for you to leave the premises before I tell Aunt Sharon to file for a restraining order?"

"Touché."

Jasmine unlocked the door and could not help but smile when she saw Lupita. "Thank you for coming over for a home visit."

"I had to see you before you were gone, so we could plan out your present with your ibeji and beyond," Lupita told her. She came in, but she gestured to the mountain of a man behind her. "This is Jura, my friend who came to drop me off and be on his merry way." She might have smiled through her sentence, but her last words were stern.

As a testament to being nicknamed the immovable mountain, Jura refused to give an inch in the presence of Lupita's firm hand. His iron gaze dropped to Jasmine's stomach. "It's nice to meet you." Every word on the cusp of an earthquake. "My apologies for intruding. Lupita is a dear friend and needs to be looked after currently."

Lupita offered him a surly look. "I do not need a mountain like you to stand about and tell me what to do."

"I'll keep out of your way," Jura affirmed, lifting his chin. "But I'm not leaving you alone."

Lupita huffed.

Jasmine and Pacer exchanged amused glances before Jasmine smiled up at Jura. "Sure. Come on in. Lupita, it's fine if he wants to hang around."

"It's an honor to meet a Wizard Saint and one of the council members," Pacer put in.

Jura examined Pacer. "You're one of the brothers to Penelope Strauss." His tone held respect. "You should be proud of her. She is a promising Sorceress if she allows herself to be."

"Thank you." Pacer's chest swelled with pride. "She's the genius of the family."

The group moved into the sitting room and Lupita was quick to unpack her medical supplies while Jasmine looked at Jura in curiosity. "So you're this 'Wizard Saint'? I take it that means you're pretty high up there in the Magic Community?"

"Yes." Jura remained standing while Jasmine and Pacer sat on the chaise lounge together. "Per continent, there are ten Wizard Saints. The Council Chairman evaluates Wizards all over the world annually to see which Wizards should keep their title, lose their title, or be bestowed with it."

"Mister Kneekis, Warrod Sequen, and Wolfheim are the longest standing members of the Wizard Saints for Ishgar," Pacer boasted to Jasmine. "Most rankings in other continents get switched up, so it's pretty rare to have the title for so long."

"That's impressive then," Jasmine complimented. "I'm sure your family must be proud."

Jura's gaze settled on Lupita as he rumbled, "They will be."

Lupita cut him an exasperated and flustered look. "Jura—"

"We'll talk later," Jura told her. Or perhaps this was a promise he was making to her.

Lupita cleared her throat and dismissed him to turn to Jasmine and Pacer, both curious and entertained at what they were witnessing. "It has only been a few days since I've checked your pregnancy, but I'd still like to see the state of your ibeji."

Jasmine smiled and rubbed her stomach. "It's okay," she whispered. "You can come out now."

The twins needed no more nudging when their soul projections burst into the world. Scooby was curious about the newcomer Jura and circled him with their green diamond form making silly alterations to reflect their eagerness. Shaggy was less enthused and their cloud of black-violet stayed close to Jasmine.

Lupita laughed. "My, my, aren't they a curious bunch? I suspected they were strong, but it was only just a hunch."

"My brother told me it's rare for magical kids to do this," Pacer said, love in his eyes as he watched both the twins' soul projections. "I'm still surprised when I see them come out like this."

"Try being a non-Wizard and dealing with this," Jasmine muttered. "My granny might send herself into a grave from shock if she saw this."

Lupita tittered. "It is not common in little ones to do this, no. But your ibeji are powerful enough to make it so. Which brings me to the topic of potential foes." Her smile fell for a heavy sigh. "I wish I could help more. I am sorry I can't. Even with all my power, there are eyes on me every instant."

Worry filled both Jasmine and Pacer as Jasmine questioned, "What do you mean? What's going on? Are you okay?"

Lupita settled on the coffee table and explained, "I am fine, child, so no need to fret. We should not worry about something that has not happened yet." She glanced at Jura. "But I am starting to take precautions against those interested in the patients I see often."

"Lupita has unusual magical patients," Jura filled in with his hands in the robes of his yukata. "It's very rare to have someone with her skills high up in the medical world in Ether medicine. But she handles abnormal cases." His eyes hardened. "And she was issued a warning if she continued."

"Jura," Lupita murmured, "now is not the time for your anger. I am not in immediate danger."

"But you are in danger," Jasmine fretted. Her concern was enough for the twins to nestle against their mother. "Are you going to be okay here? Is there anything we can do to help?"

Lupita smiled at such a kind offer. "Worry not, child. I will be fine." She shyly ducked her head. "Jura will be…watching me. Temporarily," she quickly inserted. "Just for a small time." Her bashfulness crushed for sobriety. "But I must confess. I am worried for all of you. For me to be threatened, I fear I won't be able to care for my patients without bringing in another problem or two."

"You've been a blessing as it is," Jasmine promised her. "You gave me my life back. You helped us see our twins. You didn't cause any problems. You gave us so many solutions. And we're thankful for it."

Pacer rubbed his jaw. "It's still concerning someone is trying to warn you off from treating your clients."

"Doctor Mothersbaugh, Doctor Geonard, and I have already launched a private investigation," Jura recounted. "Her patients have been made aware, so she'll be making more house visits and I'll be escorting her."

Annoyance and embarrassment washed through Lupita. "I need no escort, Jura. I have told you this. Why must you insist?"

"You are my responsibility," Jura said like it was final.

That flared some of Lupita's anger and she slightly bristled. "I am a grown woman, not a 'responsibility'. If you continue to think I am a child needing watching, prepare to feel my hostility."

Jura held his ground. "You know that's not what I think of you." The darkness of his eyes steeped with something passionate. "I've always seen you as you are."

Emotions passed between their connected tense gazes.

Pacer coughed into a fist.

Lupita blinked, a little flustered, before she found her footing again. "But before I go into hiding, I wanted to see how I can help you find the right Healer for your ibeji," she informed the parents-to-be. She brought out a folder and offered it to Pacer and Jasmine, elaborating, "I have pulled a list of Healers to hire for your prenatal care. All vetted, all trusted, though some have a little dramatic flair."

Jasmine and Pacer took a look at files together, but it stunned Jasmine how thorough each one was with a careful background search, profile pictures, little blurbs, and many of the Healers were multilingual, well-read with multiple degrees, and had a padded history of magical prenatal and neonatal care. "There are so many options…"

"This can be overwhelming, I know," Lupita soothed. "That is why I want to help make the process as easy and made sure every file was thorough." Her eyes softened on the twins. "Your ibeji need proper guidance to grow. We must take cautions to surround them with ones willing to teach them so they never plateau."

"I understand that," Pacer murmured. He looked at Jasmine. "I don't think we should do any Wizard daycare for the twins."

Jasmine's features scrunched. "They can't even go to a magi-daycare—er, sorry, a Wizard daycare? I thought that'd be fine for them?"

"Your twins have powers that need careful monitoring until they can attend school," Jura rumbled. "And you must be wary choosing a magical academy for them with their gifts."

"But… I mean, they're Wizards," Jasmine reasoned. "And now I have to even be careful of that?" She massaged her temples with a deep breath. "I just thought magical stuff was the same as Spiritless but magical and now you're telling me they'll never be allowed at daycare and I have to even vet Magic Academies." A slow exhale, but it came out shaky. "Ho… This is getting more stressful than I thought."

"It is stressful, I know, but you will not be doing this all alone." Lupita raised an eyebrow at Pacer.

He leaped into action to throw an arm around Jasmine and gently take one of her hands into his own. "Slugger, I'll be with you every step of the way," he soothed. "This is a little overwhelming, I know, but I'm here too."

"Yeah, but this has always been your life," Jasmine reminded him not unkindly. "This… This was never my life. I didn't have to think I can't use standard hospitals for my kids. I didn't have to think I have to be paranoid about their daycare or the people they meet or their school—Oh!" She sniffed when both her twins pressed against her.

Mother. Sad?

"There, there, Mommy's not sad," Jasmine promised them. "Just…stressed."

Lupita passed her a sympathetic look. "It will be an adjustment, but not one without its trials and tribulations. But you will have help to make sure you and your ibeji withstand all of life's variations."

"What help?" Jasmine looked up at Pacer, torn. "How am I supposed to take to my aunt about this? She won't know what to do." She rapidly blinked as her breathing did not agree with. "I-I don't know what to do—"

"Shhh… It's okay, Slugger," Pacer calmed and kissed her forehead. "It's okay." Her eyes fluttered shut and she roughly swallowed as he pressed soothing coos against her skin.

Lupita and Jura exchanged a look before Lupita got up and flattened down her coat. "Within the folder is my Com number. Give me a call if you need anything at all." Her gaze softened on the twins. "And if it is all right, I'd like to visit you before your precious little ones are born."

"Of course," Pacer agreed and could not keep away his sincere gratitude. "Thank you for all your help in this, Lupita. Really."

Lupita smiled. "Of course." Eyes dropped to Jasmine's pregnant stomach and a flicker of sadness passed through her. "I understand wanting what's best for your children. And I make sure my patients are prepared for the world—that will always be a given. My door is always open to your family. If you need any help, just call for me."

Pacer nodded and curled a frazzled Jasmine into him. "We will. We promise. Thank you."

°•°•°•°

Lupita and Jura left, and Jura could see Lupita's burdens fall back on her shoulders. He murmured, "They'll be protected. Don't worry."

Lupita sighed. "It's not a simple as to worry or to not. Whether we face it or run from it, this family is in a Demon's plot." She glanced back at the dual doors. "I can't help but want to hide them away so they may never see this world and its underbelly."

"You're too caring." Even for someone so unmovable, he softened seeing her concern. "You can't take care of everyone."

"I can most certainly try," Lupita argued. "I must do something. I will not standby."

"No. You won't."

Lupita shied her gaze away from the smoldering look Jura gave her and cleared her throat. "If you insist on escorting me and insisting I am your 'responsibility' then we need to make haste." She quickly walked away from him to the car. "I will not let a mountain like you make me be late."

Jura easily kept stride with her and his heavy words floated to her ears. "I meant what I said, Lupita. You are not just my responsibility."

Lupita froze.

Jura stopped with her.

A heave of her shoulders for an exhale, but her stare would not meet hers. She murmured, "I am thankful you saved me those years ago. But…I have nothing to offer." Her hand grazed her stomach, but the memory—the sensation—was too much to bear. "Nothing but barren sorrow." Her eyes closed when rough fingers grazed her cheek.

"You don't know how much you can offer," Jura told her. "Your worth is not tied to that." He added lowly, "And Doctor Mothersbaugh and Doctor Geonard both think that witch doctor was wrong. All you have to do is allow them to check. And I can be there too."

Lupita's nostrils flared for her inhale and a long exhale came next. Her hand gently nudged his away from her. "Thank you, Jura. But that is not necessary." Her smile would not reach her eyes. "My sangoma does not lie. There is no future for me."

Jura pulled back his hand, but he made sure to stare into his eyes as he said, "If you want to remain blind, I will be your guide to the future for both of us, Lupita."

"I…" Lupita faltered before turning away. "We must go. Noah will not appreciate the delay. And I have more patients to speak to today." It looked like she was fleeing for how fast she scurried to the car, but even with her back to him, she could feel him watch her every movement in silence.

And his silence spoke volumes.

---

SHA…!

To get a massage was one thing, but to get a massage from someone hot set a very different tone.

The spa and wellness center did not split any hairs when it came to its staff. Of course they were professional in their blinding smiles and appearance, but harmless flirting to make a client feel a minor ego boost could not hurt.

Anyone came here per reservation or strings pulled and had the pleasure to take advantage of private massages, saunas, heated lazy rivers, mud or milk baths, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and even waxing and mani-pedis. Whatever was deemed relaxing, they were more than happy to offer. The music pitched to soothing tenors and altos with sandstone heated floors and calming greens and blues and violets to immerse clientele in a full-body relaxing experience.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Cójela Suave Spa and Wellness. "Cójela suava" is a Cráole phrase that means "Take it easy" and this establishment is popular for its natural rejuvenation therapy and is even prescribed for pain management patients for massage therapy, aromatherapy, and acupuncture. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi, Tesla, and Justin enjoyed their oil massages with toe-curling pleasure. It was not enough that the scents swirling the room deliriously dizzied them, but the massage therapist for each one of them had been hand-chosen to thoroughly give them an experience.

Nashi's eyes fluttered as her massage therapist helped massage out the knots in her shoulder blades where her wings normally sat. "Oh… This is the life."

Justin reached for his cocktail for a lazy slurp. "Mmm-hmm. Oh." He looked up when his male massage therapist took the cocktail once he was finished and Justin could not resist an appreciative perusal of his dark-skinned handsomeness. "Thank you."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

Cójela Suave Spa and Wellness

Lìron City, Caracole Island

Fiore, Ishgar

1:02 PM CAST

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Tesla shivered when her lower back was being worked over."Aye… Esto se siento mágico…"

"¿Hablas esiñol?"

Tesla hummed and moved her head to catch a glimpse of her massage therapist—a dark-skinned woman with her madras headwrap. "Mm. Sí."

The masseuse's smile widened a little. "Si pudiera ser tan atrevida, usted es muy hermosa, señorita."

"Gracias," Tesla murmured. "Y usted también."

Nashi opened an eye to catch Tesla's flushed cheeks. "What was that?"

"Nothing, nothing." Tesla yawned and felt the need to stretch like a cat. "That bath and scrub were amazing. I'm so jealous Ellie and Ines already booked to have a romantic private treatment because I know they'll get freaky."

"Right?" Justin turned his head to look at both ladies. "I missed the days when I popped in a pill and was ready to go. Now I'm healthy and crap and know my body, but boy, was it nice to just be loose and not care about the aftermath."

Tesla giggled—even the massage therapists withheld their laughter—while Nashi snorted. "Yeah, but you'd always complain to Chi-chi how sore your ass was afterward—"

"It's so hard finding tops that don't just fuck," Justin groaned. "Like, I want to fuck but don't destroy me." He grinned to himself like he got his cream. "Ace and I will be gentle with Carlisle—at first."

"Don't break h-him." Tesla stammered when her glutes received a massage. "Dante will never hear the end of it which means I'll never hear the end of it. And I like his boyfriend, m'kay."

"Yeah, yeah." Justin fanned his face as he yawned.

Nashi pitched, curious, "Are you and Ace doing anything with Dante?"

"No, but we have an…arrangement in place."

Nashi narrowed her eyes when Justin's grin grew. "How nasty is this arrangement?"

"Too much for your little ears, sweet girl," he laughed. "Don't worry. We're all be clean and safe around our baby boy." He inspected his nails to internally debate all he wanted for his mani-pedi. "I can't believe we're seeing a meteor shower tonight. It seems so…tame."

"My mama is excited about it." Nashi had to smile remembering how much her mother sparkled thinking about the meteor shower. "It's a Lyrid shower, but it goes deeper than that. My aunt Lyra told me that within the stars, we're actually watching Star Trains."

"What are those?" Tesla asked.

"Basically, springtime is when a lot of newer stars start heading towards whichever court or house they belong to. They take Star Trains and it's really neat," Nashi explained. "It's an annual event and we get to see the Star Trains, essentially. I'm so excited to watch them tonight!"

"Huh…" Tesla pondered on Nashi's explanation. "It's so weird how disconnected magical explanation and the stuff I learn in school is. Y'know, all science-y and boring."

Justin shrugged. "It's normal, to be honest. It's not like Wizards run the world. Magic and Lacrima might run the world, but certain Magic types are ignored. Same to a lot of the BS happening with the Faction and the Magic Council." Sky blues turned jaded. "Media paints us all as terrorists."

Nashi sighed. "Yeah. My parents told me it didn't use to be like this. And not every country now believes in that. But a lot of countries have hit some hardships in both their government and with the Magic Council. Public imagery is everything these days, so, y'know, with the media being basically Spiritless-government ran, we're depicted however they want us."

"It's not fair, but I get it," Tesla muttered. "So, what about that 'Sanctuary' place?"

"I think it's bullshit," Justin declared.

"What JJ means," Nashi cut in, "is that it's pretty far away but we don't know how it is up close."

Tesla half-understood the explanation and tried to fill in the blanks. "Essentially, in theory, it's great to have that sort of grand utopia where governments can't touch you, but it's a pipe dream in reality."

"Precisely," Justin agreed. "I mean, from all the SNS I see with it, it's basically a paradise for refugee Wizards and Aberrants trying to make better lives for themselves. Rumor has it that people want to make it a whole ass country with a government, but the whole debate is if that happens, then the island isn't considered a 'residence'."

"Which means MC ruling can take effect," Nashi swooped in to finish. "Good thing is, if it becomes a country, it means that people can apply for citizenship. That's the biggest reason Sanctuary-stayers want it to be a country with the whole WDM. Wizard Draft Mandate," she explained to a confused Tesla. "There's a bunch of BS happening for Illegals, basically any unregistered Wizard not in a guild. Countries are calling them 'Illegals', which is bullshit."

"Oh my gods, did you see they're calling Aberrants 'Aliens' and 'Mutants' now," Justin gossiped. "Even Dims, in some countries, are getting a collar on their neck. Like, it's bad out there." His features warred with anger. "It makes me sick how much Liberty's birth country is trying to get her back. When she turns ten this year, she can finally register as a Fairy Tail Mage and then the government can't touch her. But still."

His hands clenched. "It's so frustrating to deal with this. And I hate how afraid she is she might be sent back. Or that she has to be in a guild to be free from this shit."

"Does she know?" Tesla softly asked.

Nashi answered for a too furious Justin, "Liberty knows the gist of what's happening. Mister Freed didn't think hiding it from her would help things. Especially after two years ago…"

Justin went on before Tesla could inquire: "The villagers from her birth village tried to manipulate Libby. Before her parents died, a lot of shit went down to make sure Liberty wouldn't go to her family members or any of the villagers. My dad is murky on the details, but he adopted her. But we try to make it a point to bring Liberty back during the holidays so she knows where she comes from and her that part of her culture. But…"

His teeth gritted. "As it would seem, her country made a deal with the villagers. If they turned over Liberty to their government, they'd be rewarded handsomely."

Tesla's eyebrows slammed together. "Are you kidding me?"

"Bitch, I wish I was," Justin growled. "My dad and I didn't have the heart to tell Libby why we had to cut our trip home. And this year was a blessing we couldn't go. We had planned to stay in one of the bigger cities, but when we were told my dad and I couldn't go but she could, we knew it was basically a plot to get her alone."

"Why do they want your little sister that badly?" Tesla wanted to know. "She's nine, right?"

"Yeah." Justin's face darkened. "And she's special. Let's leave it at that."

Tesla dropped the subject, but she mulled it over in her head. It looks like his family has some secrets. And it's not like I'm no better. My sperm donor is one of the most vicious Hunters known to man. And I'm sitting here with Anti-Ether running through my systems. My boyfriend is an ancient Cultivator and a Lycan. Gary is a Devil and Nashi is an Angel.

She closed her eyes. It seems like with everyone I meet, we all have our fair share of dangerous secrets to keep. I just hope those secrets won't get out.

°•°•°•°

After their four-layered facials, it was time for mani-pedis in their robes and the massage chairs were to die for. Thankfully, they could be grouped together even with other clients filling up the chairs. The LVs were on, but that did not stop this from being the perfect gossip hour.

Justin swallowed down his giggle as his pedicure took place. "I hate that my feet are so ticklish," he bemoaned. "Speaking of hate. Nashi, your boyfriend is being too big of a pushover for that fag and I hate it."

"I was waiting for you to say that," Nashi said dryly.

"Well am I wrong?" Justin asked. "It took me no less than two seconds for me to want to gut him."

"I would've thrown hands," Tesla muttered in agreement. "Take it from swingers—that Elis needs to go."

Nashi sighed. "Gary told me it's nothing to worry about it and he flat-out ignores Elis. I told him I'm not tolerating that if Elis is going to be a grade-A assaulter." She internally sweatdropped. But I think he mistook my words.

• — • — •

Naked and in bed, Gary looked all too happy with Nashi's declaration as he nuzzled her. "Angel is my white knight!" he cooed. "Defending me from a villain! Angel truly does love me…!"

Red-faced and irate, Nashi snapped, "If you're not going to defend yourself, then you leave me no choice but to do it for you!" She huffed. "Honestly. What do you expect me to do? Sit back and let it happen? No. If someone wants to touch you, they can die trying."

Silence.

"Does Angel…really mean that?"

It confused Nashi when Gary pulled away with bangs falling before his eyes. "I mean… Well…" Now embarrassed, she mumbled, "I don't want people touching what's mine is all. What's so wrong about that?"

"Angel…thinks I'm her possession then?"

"What?" Fearing she screwed up, Nashi waved her hands and frantically tried to explain, "W-Wait! That sounds bad! I-I didn't mean like you're a thing or anything like that! I-I-I just mean, y'know, you're my partner and I just want your body to myself, that's all! Wait, no, not that! I-I mean…! Well, I…! I just…!"

"Angel doesn't have to say anymore more." Gary's hands curled. "I…understand."

Mortified, Nashi scolded herself. 'Look what you did. You're making him feel like you only think of him as a prize to be won. What's wrong with you? He's a person. And now he's pissed off—'

"Angel"—a glint entered Gary's eyes as he looked lovestruck with a whole adoring aura around him—"truly does love me!"

Nashi choked. 'What!'

"Angel said I'm hers! Angel doesn't want anyone to touch me ever again!" Frost puffed from his nose. "Angel… Angel really does care about me!" His hands shook. "And I… I can't hold back anymore!"

Nashi gaped when Gary tackled her. "Gary, wait—!"

"Angel is so bold showing me her love for me!" Gary crowed happily. "And now I want to lay all my love on Angel!" A furious lust gleamed in his eyes as he loomed over a pale Nashi. "I want Angel to feel the full force of my love over and over again so Angel can tell me I'm hers."

• — • — •

Nashi felt ashamed. In the end, I was too weak to turn him away. I'm going to Hell for this.

Cael piped up unhelpfully, Hell or Hel is a personal perception. As a potential Agent, I'm sure the Prosecutor will overlook your overzealous lust and offer you the options of joining the Heartfilia Clan in the Spirit Realm, becoming an Agent, or other options.

Indeed, Seraphim contributed. It is more than likely you will be offered to start a Seraph upon death if I offer a reference. The job is rigorous, but with some training…

Nashi wanted to die as Seraphim and Cael went back and forth on her afterlife options. I should've kept my mouth shut and my legs closed.

"At least the break has been nice, assaults notwithstanding," Tesla commented, pulling Nashi back to the conversation. "And we still have that adventure tour on one of the islands to do and everything. All in all, spring break has been pretty fresh for me this year."

"Samesies," Justin chirped. "Chi-chi is being a traitor though—"

"JJ, we have to drop it per Saudade's wishes," Nashi reminded. "And besides, she and Spider-Man are having a blast on their spring break together."

"And this is why I'm so grateful Ezra has his ass in Melandia because I would murder him in cold blood if he even thought about ruining Daddy and Spider-Man's vacation together," Justin grumbled. "She doesn't deserve to be living large for Ezra to call her while he's drunk again and start crying he loves her."

"Ha-ha…" Nashi's eyes fell to her lap. "Right…"

Tesla studied her. "Is…everything okay?"

"Um…" Nashi swallowed. "Yeah. Yeah, everything is fine."

"Mama didn't raise a liar, sweet girl," Justin cautioned. "What's up? What's got you wearing the 'I'm in the photo and I don't like it' face?"

Nashi weakly snort-laughed. "Nothing, it's just…" A long sigh. "Galileo called me that night when we went to Club Cabana," she confessed. Her lips twitched when Tesla and Justin gasped. "Yeah, I know, I know. He called, JJ, right when you came and got Gary for your talk."

"What happened?" Justin asked, turning in his chair. "You were red-eyed when you and Gary came back to the table, but we just let it be that you and Gary were having an emotional moment."

"Yeah…" Thanks for reminding me of what I have to tell him. She collected her thoughts. "It's just…" She winced. "Well, y'know how Leo and I were…together for a little bit."

Justin's gaze became guarded. "Yeah… But you told El-bell and I you ended it with him a while ago. Like before he left on his S-class assignment."

Nashi flinched. "I, um…" She licked her lips.

Justin's expression hardened. "Nashi, tell me you didn't."

"I…" Nashi looked at her lap. "It was when he came home," she confessed in a small voice.

"And what other times?"

Hearing the edge in Justin's voice reminded her of her father. "Just…a few times… And after Hallow's Eve—"

"Oh my god." Justin rubbed his temples to make sense of this. "I knew you were scared after you and Gary had sex, but then you went back to Galileo. Nashi, are you serious?"

"Let her explain," Tesla chided when she saw how pained Nashi looked.

"I know it wasn't right and I told Gary about it because I felt so guilty I did that to him," Nashi confided to Justin. "I know it was a bad choice, JJ, and I regret that. And I know it hurt Gary and I hate that. But I can't change that."

Justin huffed through his nose. "Well. What's done is done and I'm glad you and Gary talked it over," he supposed stiffly. "Why did Galileo call you and please don't tell me he wanted another chance?"

Nashi held her tongue.

"Oh sweet mother of god," Justin bemoaned. "I am going to kill him."

"He was drunk," Nashi hurried to explain. "He wasn't in his right mind, JJ—"

"Oh, don't defend him," Justin snapped. "Why are you defending him? 'Being drunk' is not even an excuse. He knew exactly what he was saying when he said that and he damn well knows you're dating someone, but please, keep going."

Nashi rolled her lips for a moment. "He's not okay, JJ," she murmured. "He's just…"—her hickory regard saddened as her mind slipped back to that Com call—"lonely."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

That night on the beach…

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi watched as Gary followed Justin down onto the beach. I hope everyone works out okay. Her attention bounced back to her Compact and she brought it to her ear. "Leo?"

A hiccup then a rough groan. "Nashi?" Galileo slurred.

Nashi's eyes widened. "Leo?" Her arm crossed under her burst for a self-embrace as she heard noises crackling. "Leo, where are you? What's going on?"

"M'sorry." Galileo sounded like he was gulping down a drink. "Went to a club. Bit noisy. How are you?"

"I'm… I'm fine, but Leo, tell me where you are," Nashi demanded to know. "Are you with anyone? Please tell me you're not alone."

Galileo gave a pathetic laugh. "You worried about me, Angel-fish? M'fine." Another gulp, but it sounded like a shot glass was being slammed down. "I'm with Cade. S'all good. Hey, le Fay!" he hollered. "You good?"

Cade darkly said in the background, "If that's Nashi, tell her to tell her boyfriend I'm looking for Dazzler with or without his fucking help. Fucking asshole."

Nashi rolled her eyes. "Please tell me you're with anyone else other than Cade. Is T'oree with you, maybe? Mustang?"

"T couldn't hang," Galileo told her with his slur thickening. "She had some shit to do. And Mustang has a job tonight. Just Cade and me tonight. And you, Angel-fish." A beat. "I wish you were here with me. We used to have so much fun hangin' out."

Nashi closed her eyes. "We did," she admitted. "We did have fun."

"'Member when we were each other's first kisses," Galileo recalled. Another gulp of something before he chuckled. "We were pretty shitty kissers. You pushed me away when Gary came downstairs to the basement back then. You had that cute blush on your face."

"Yeah…" Nashi's hand fists over her heart. "I remember." And she did. That first kiss was a bit of a mess. We didn't even know what we were doing down in Galileo's basement. And then Gary came downstairs… She remembered being so heated and flushed and how her attention swept to Gary and their bickering instantly started.

"I wanted to kiss you again," Galileo fessed up with his slur waxing nostalgia. "We kissed a few times." A worn snicker. "I still remember when we made out in a movie theater. God. I can't believe we did that."

Why is he bringing this up now? "Leo, how much have you had to drink?"

"Just some shots and a few glasses," Galileo dismissed like it was nothing. It sounded like he took another shot. "I remember how you used to fall asleep on me whenever you came over or I came over. You'd snore a little too. It was fuckin' cute." Another shot. "You're still too cute."

"L-Leo." Nashi's voice trembled. "Leo, you need to stop the shots—"

"I still remember the first time we were together." A shake strapped against Galileo's slur. "God, you were beautiful. You don't know how much I wanted you. I was so fucking angry those fuckers hurt you like that. And then you trusted me with something so precious."

"Leo?" Nashi gripped her Compact. "Leo, you're drunk—"

"I always noticed you, y'know. I always noticed you were alive," Galileo barreled on, stuck in the past, stuck in time. "You always had this perfect sort of laugh. I loved making you laugh just to hear it." Another gulp. "You had this confidence about you. It was like nothing could stop you. And you always smelled like a meadow in the summertime. I loved the way you smelled. You carried yourself like a princess. I would've given anything to be your prince."

Heat clouded Nashi's eyes. "Leo, please—"

"I didn't even notice you noticed Gary was alive," Galileo continued like the story he was weaving was in a private place and not in a den of sin. "I never noticed it. But I noticed when he was gone, you didn't smile as much or laugh as much. You didn't look like a princess. You looked like a widow. Did you know that? You didn't look up anymore. You always looked down."

Stop. Nashi tried to find her voice as tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. Please don't do this. Don't ruin this.

"When he came back, you smiled again." Another swig. "You laughed a lot more. You looked up more. I still didn't notice it then. I don't think I would've ever noticed it because I was so focused on you and how bright you were. And then he told me. He told me he was in love with you. He trusted me with that. I didn't think it mattered. I didn't think you noticed he was alive."

A heavy breath. "I couldn't breathe when I learned something that horrible happened to you back then," he confessed. "I couldn't even think. You'd blossomed and now you were wilting. I was so worried for you, Angel."

Nashi cringed hearing that sweet name from his lips and tried to stop her shaking.

"I couldn't understand it when you asked me to help you." A sad laugh. "I was so worried for you. But you told me you wanted to be normal again. And you begged me to help you feel that way again. You know I can't say, 'no' to you. And we kissed again. And you cried." A hard swallow. "I remember how slow we had to take—how much I learned about you and your body. I remember watching you blossom the first time we had sex. I thought you noticed I was alive. I didn't think I was your fraud."

"L-Leo," Nashi whispered, barely audible. "Leo—"

"The second I saw you when I got home, I couldn't believe it was you," Galileo continued. Something relaxed in his tone. The alcohol loosened and thickened his tone. It knocked down any emotions and restrictions.

The Devil's poison forced out dark truths.

"You looked so beautiful," Galileo remembered, wistful. "And the way you smiled at me made me think you noticed I was alive. I felt so greedy having you to myself. It was better now between us. It felt like a dirty secret when you snuck out in the morning. I couldn't believe how lucky I was when you wanted me again. I felt so selfish with you. You were this…beautiful flower and I just wanted to hide you away." A few more swallows.

Nashi felt her knees weakened. Galileo, please.

"I knew you fucked him when you came to me." A harsher statement on a garbled tongue. "I could tell when you said his name. I let it go. I told myself I didn't want to bring it up because I was hurting and you were hurting, but I was fucking selfish. I just didn't want it to be true. That you noticed he was alive and I was just your fraud. I was just desperate to have you even if you said his name to me. I didn't care. I just…wanted you."

"I'm sorry." The tears splattered off her jaw and hit the stand. "Leo, I…" Not enough apologies could wash away this, this stain in time, their ruin. All those apologies would be little reminders of the grounds they were needed. For every time she had fallen into his bed. For every time they hurt each other. For every time they were each other's ruin.

"There was someone I met during my assignment," Galileo went on, shooting the breeze, a fraud lamenting his status. "She hated Wizards, but I didn't care. She noticed I was alive. I wasn't her second or her fraud. I thought I could keep noticing she was alive. And then she left and I was stuck with just memories of her. And I thought that'd be okay if I just thought about her, but I thought about you too. And then I saw you again. And I started forgetting about being her first and started wanting to be your second."

"Leo—"

"I meant it when I said I love you."

Those words—a fraud cementing his ruin.

"I told you it was a heat of the moment thing because I couldn't stand how freaked out you looked afterward. Like you wanted to run back to him—your first."

Another gulp. "I was pissed with myself for fucking up when it was fine. I could be your fraud if you could notice me. I didn't care that you loved him. I thought I could change your mind. I didn't care I was hurting him every time I was with you. I could see it in his eyes whenever we talked that he knew I'd been with you, but he just smiled at me and kept telling me how great of a friend I was to him. I knew why he did it. He wasn't trying to guilt me. He was fine sacrificing his first to me if it made you happy. He was telling me that. I was a good friend because he thought I was making you happy when he couldn't."

A long pause.

Nashi covered her mouth to smolder her cries.

"Gary is a better man than me," Galileo finally said. All his drunken accents converged to a moment of despaired clarity. "He isn't selfish. He isn't greedy. He wants you happy and doesn't care if your happiness isn't with him. And he would've never gotten a second—a fraud. I could tell. He would die with you as his only. I couldn't use enough soap to get rid of your scent before I met up with him. I smelled clean, but I just knew it in his face that he knew." Another gulp.

Another pause.

"Fuck, I wish I knew what to do," Galileo shakily breathed. "I know I need to figure out what to do, but I keep being so fucking hopeful you'll notice me. And I know that's shitty of me to do. I can't keep hanging around here. I can't keep hoping for something horrible to happen that you'd make me your first. I can't—" Panting. "I want to stop loving you, but I can't. I'm someone's first—I was her first—but I just want to be your second. I don't deserve to be a second, but for you, I would be in a heartbeat. Part of me just wants to wait for that, but it's wrong."

Noise swallowed him in the den of sin.

Why why why? Such a question rang throughout Nashi's head with her thoughts running amuck, drowning drowning drowning in his story, their story, their ruin. Each word sparked that scar that would never heal of their time together, faking being each other's firsts. Each word cemented the ugly truth.

She was his first, but he was her second.

"Leo, you're drunk." She tried to save this—him, her, them. A first saving her second. "Y-You wouldn't be saying any of this if you weren't drunk—"

"I kept seeing you with him." He would tell this story to the end. "I saw you with him after the Festival of Gratitude. You had your back to me, but I couldn't stop seeing you. And you smiled at him and laughed with him and kissed him because he was your first. You smiled at me, but it wasn't the same. I know that. I was always your fraud. You'd never smile at me like that.

"You know, I always laughed at Gale whenever he got jealous with Luna," Galileo suddenly spoke. "But it worried me. You always told me how Igneel would worry you when he was younger because of the look in his eyes when he talked about that girl he loved. You told me you were scared for her and you even told your parents. I didn't get it then. I get it now.

"Gale had this look in his eyes I started noticing. I knew my dad saw it. I knew Olivia saw it. He would've Marked her that night. I know you don't want to hear it, but he would have. Even with him angry, I know how it works. There's no excuse for that. There wouldn't have been enough sorries to go around if he did that to her. He would've forced himself to be her first. And Luna is so sweet and she's so forgiving, isn't she? I was scared for her. I love my brother, but I was scared for her. I'm telling you he would've done something unspeakable. What does that say?"

Nashi never heard the tides crashing and only heard Galileo's rising inhale and falling exhale.

"I know he's getting better. He wouldn't do that to her. He'll earn his way to being her first. Can I still earn your way to be your first?"

Quiet was the only answer.

"Where was I again?" It sounds like he was lost in his own story. "Gary's a good man. He would never force his way to be your first. He earned it." That clarity lessened more and more for the slur to return, for him to fade back as a drunken fraud.

"He'd sacrifice being your first if you asked him to. He really is a good man. We shared words once about you and me and we never spoke about it again. We never fought. He'd never fight me. I'd fight for you. I know I wouldn't win. I know if I threw the first punch, he'd make sure I'd stay down and know my place. Maybe that's what he waited for. Maybe he wanted me to throw the first punch so he could show me my place with you." A half-assed snicker with no humor to be found.

"I could smell him all over you for months and I understood Gale."

Fear trapped Nashi.

"I could see how tense he'd get smelling someone on Luna. He'd prowl around like some angry dog and make sure she smelled like him. Dad nearly beat the shit out of him for Scenting her. She's so young. She doesn't deserve that. Dad said he wasn't about to let Gale make the same mistake Igneel made.

"Did you know Dad's worried about Silver? He has a look in his eyes too around Ena. I'm scared for her now. I know she's strong, but I'm scared for her when Silver has that look in his eyes. Is that something I should say about my family? That I'm scared for the ones they love because of them?" The ramblings wove in and out.

The silence came so abruptly that Nashi worried he had been cut out—

"I knew it was our last time and I wanted to Mark you," Galileo slurred. Drunks words christened sober thoughts. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be thinking that. But I wanted to. I bit my good arm to stop myself. You just said my name like that and I knew you were crying because it was the last time you could stomach being around your fraud. I didn't want you to go. I had a first out there, and I didn't want you to go.

"I thought I could do this. I thought I could be okay with watching you with your first if you were happy, but I'm not like Gary. I'm not a good man. He's okay watching you with another first. He'd die with you as his only. I can't do that. I know it's wrong and you don't want to hear that and I'm so sorry. And then I smelled how your scents combined and I just thought something dark. If I Marked you, would you still smell like him?"

Nashi crumbled to her knees. Gravity would claim her now. Nothing could keep her standing at such a question. She curled into herself, but she quieted her sobs into nothingness even those her heart was breaking breaking shattering.

"She's a good woman, Nashi. She wanted me as her first," Galileo breathed, sounding like his eyes had glazed over and he would pass out at any time. "So why do I still want you when I could be her first? I know where she is. I don't let her see me. I feel so guilty she doesn't know I'm a Wizard. She'll hate me. And even if she takes me, would she even love me knowing how much I'd leave her if you'd let me be your first? It's not her fault. She's perfect. She's just not you."

All of this—a drunk man's words, a fraud's story, a second's lament—was their ruin.

Nashi tried to keep a grip on her Compact. She could not let him go. She could barely push out a word. Batting his words back would do nothing. Stopping him would do nothing. Silencing would do worse. But she needed to try. Their history, his dark truth, laid bare and the scraps of them had scattered, but she would pick up the pieces even if it meant she bled.

"Leo, please—" A crack in her beseech. She was faltering, tripping, stumbling as she trembled picking up what used to be them. "Please. I'm s-s-sorry—"

"Nashi." A dead silence. "I might be your second, but I had you first."

And that was it.

That call ended.

Even though it ended with soft beeps, it felt like a slam that betrayed every part of her. That last message—his final say as a fraud—was one meant to stain her.

He was the fraud who had her first. And Gary was her first who had her second.

She would cry. She would weep because they had no future yet they had a history. They were ruined. But it would come later. She gulped down her cries and ignored her burning tears that threatened to wash her away so she could lament in their ruin, but she pressed with trembling fingers onto her Compact to make one final call because she scavenged for any remains of their ruins.

"Don't worry," Cade grunted on the line. "I've got him. He's pretty much passed out. I'll take him back to my apartment. Mustang will look after him, all right?"

"Th-Thank you." The gratitude felt dead and barely there, but she forced them out. "C-Cade—"

"Ignore whatever he said. I lost track of him, but I'm sure he said some shit that didn't need to be said. He's drunk," Cade excused like all that was exchanged as harmless one-sided words and nothing deeper, nothing shattering, nothing that would ruin them. "Tell Gary I'm not stopping my search for Dazzler whether he likes it or not." And his call dropped.

Nashi dropped her Compact into the sand as more tears rained down. Pitter-patter-pitter-patter. It was like she was mocking the ground that she was the unbending storm who would slaughter them in her rain. Her fingers dug into the loose sand that would not yield to her need to ground herself, steady herself, not be drawn back into their history.

Why? That was all Nashi could ask herself. Why? Why? Why…?

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

'Why did we ruin us?'

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi held steady against the emotions crashing within her, threatening to consume her. In a vain attempt, she withdrew her summer away from Gary's winter. The threads that tied them together gave her a cut for withdrawing from the one she Chose, but she did not care.

I wanted to see how Leo is doing, but… I don't even know if I should and where to start, Nashi thought. I thought we were okay and he had to say that. Why? Why did he have to say that? Why did he have to ruin this? I wanted to tell Gary what he said, but… How could I explain it?

Tesla murmured, "As someone not as close to the situation, I can't say much. But what I can say right now to you is that you need to breathe and you need time."

"I haven't told Gary what Galileo told me over the Com," Nashi revealed with great guilt.

"And you know what? That's okay," Tesla soothed. "Because you are still processing things right now and he will understand that. You need to breathe and you need time, okay? Because what you are dealing with is clearly a lot to think about. You don't deserve to be overwhelmed, Nashi. You deserve time to think, breathe, and then you can react."

Nashi's shoulders shook as she took a breath. "Thank you."

"Hey." Tesla shrugged. "It's what I do." She pointed at Justin. And you there, child, let her breathe."

"I will," Justin said defensively. "I just hate that Galileo is behind all of my sweet girl's distress."

The laugh Nashi gave was purely reactive and unexpected. "Yeah, I know. It's not like I like it either." Stomach churning, her smile dowsed in grief. I don't even know if we can go back to being friends after this. He's one of my oldest friends…and now we're this.

This broken. This shattered. A first and her fraud. A second and his first.

"You just let us know what you need, sweet girl," Justin murmured. "All right? I won't do anything to Galileo unless you want me to. And then I will be more than happy to—"

"JJ."

Justin offered a harmless shrug. "We're ride or die here, sweet girl. You know that and if my nails weren't being dipped in powder, I'd hug you."

"Same," Tesla chirped. "We've got your back, girlie, Hell or high water. You can tell us anything or nothing at all. So don't stress about what we think or what Gary thinks or what anyone else thinks. What happened between you and your friend is between y'all. But in the words of the Fate's Sisters, I'm your girl," she sang. "You're my girl! We your girls! And don't you know that we love you!"

Justin perked. "Oh, Ladybug loves Fate's Sisters and we played Girl in the car. She loves it! I guess when Gale and Luna were watching her, he introduced her to a bunch of songs and she totally fell in love with all these classics." He snorted. "My dad nearly had a heart attack when she put on Hot In Herre and you just hear my little sister singing, 'Good gracious ass is bodacious'. I fucking lost it."

Nashi sunk herself from the conversation Justin and Tesla sparked. Those last words haunted her.

"I might be your second, but I had you first."

She tried not to tense, but it felt impossible.

"Because even if Angel doesn't want me"—ceruleans glistening with tears and a forced smile—"I will still love Angel with all my heart and want her happy."

"I know you're both friends. I know that. I trust you." Winter's cool touch soothing her distraught summer. "And if it's Galileo… I can handle it."

But…could you handle this? I just don't know, Nashi whispered. What do I do? I don't want Gary to hear that and feel bad. And I don't want to lose, Leo, but I just… She sighed. What do I do? Cael? Seraphim?

We can't answer that, Little Wing, Cael told her sadly. Your relationships are your choices to make.

But not all relationships maintain throughout lifetimes, Seraphim advised. Some relationships serve their purpose. Some, you will always keep. But we can't make the choice of which relationships you should maintain or let go.

It looks like for this, Little Wing, Cael thought, you are on your own.

And when Cael and Seraphim withdrew, Nashi hated feeling this alone.

°•°•°•°

Leaving refreshed and relaxed and passing glowing reviews to the manager, the three left the wellness center and took their party to the streets. Líron City did not disappoint spring breakers with the summer weather, the streets filled with food and fun, and music wherever you stepped. Thankfully, the council for the city had wanted to preserve the integrity of Caracole. Tourists were welcome, but it was more important than the true nature of Caracole never be forgotten.

Tesla took in a lungful of that tropical air. "I can't wait to go home and just nap. I feel so bad, but I'm just so relaxed."

"We got in some shopping and a nap will do us some good," Justin assured. "And it's basic treatment one-oh-one that the best thing for you to do is rest up and hydrate for the next twenty-four hours." He playfully narrowed his eyes. "So no sex."

"You don't have to tell me," Tesla sighed. "I have to keep my legs closed until my scene with Jang-ta anyway." A lecherous grin wove onto her lips. "But then it is so totally on when I unleash the beast."

Justin cackled and gave her a side-hug. "Gods, I just love you. And it'll be nice we chose this as our relaxing day anyway. All we're doing today is just chilling." He checked his Compact. "Ace told me he, Jax, and Gary made sure we have everything for the meteor shower tonight since we're meeting up with Gary's islander friends for it. Aw, and the menfolk are making us a light snack. Bless their hearts."

Justin and Tesla stopped when they saw Nashi lagging behind. Giving each other matching looks, they swarmed her sides and Tesla encouraged, "Come on, missy. The quicker we get home is the quicker you can get some rest."

"Yeah, I guess," Nashi supposed.

They fell into step to get back to the parking garage, but Tesla had them stop at a tourist shop. "Hold up. I want to buy some water because my mouth is dry. You guys in?"

Nashi nodded and Justin agreed with her.

The tourist shop was a trendier one. Yumas—Cráole for "foreigners"—were everywhere as they spoke in different tongues and checked out all the paraphernalia. The shop promoted the meteor shower which made picnic blankets massive sellers. A few wines, whiskeys, and rums that featured the star mango were popular items to bring home, but the children gravitated to the stuffed animals and the dulled weapons replicated from some of the battles waged over Caracole territory.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the Caracole Outpost, a popular chain tourist shop. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Justin gaped. "Oh, Ladybug would adore some of this!" He nudged Nashi. "Come on! I know Luna would love some more stuffed animals, yeah?"

"Yeah." Nashi managed a half-smile. "Let's go. Tesla, we'll meet you at the check-out line."

"Sure!" Tesla made a beeline for the food and drink section. Of course she had meant to get water, but when she saw some of the snacks, she could not resist plucking one of them for the ride back to the house. Taking her time, she perused the tourist shop and took in all the offerings.

I already bought Mama a madras skirt that she wanted. I got Diego covered too. Dante and his parents, Carlisle, Juju—I even got something for Weiwei. She laughed to herself. Even if Jang-ta thinks I shouldn't have. But her wedding is marked for the summer. Jang-ta said Weiwei never married. It must be a big deal. I know even he was pretty touched Weiwei asked him to help with the chuangmen and to see him on the third day of her wedding. .

Grays glistened in soft adoration. I'm too young to think about marriage, but… I'm happy he's trusting me enough to give me a taste of what Gary and Nashi have. Maybe it's not how all my paranormal books paint it, but…it's special. And it's ours. He doesn't care that I'm related to the worst Magic Hunter in existence. He just…loves me. How could I ask for more?

Glints caught Tesla's eye. Her feet carried her into a dipped section of the store where bookshelves with glass doors lined the walls. None too many visited this area and she could not understand why, considering the shelves had loads of carefully crafted figurines and symbols. Some were flat and had been propped and others where three-dimensional, but not all of them were made from the same material. Some animals were made from bone, some figures were made from wood, and other were crafted from metal and lead and tin. And the rare ones found were made from crystals.

Oh… These are milagros, Tesla realized. She read the sign posted:

『 The Holy Eye has guaranteed all items on display have been spiritually cleansed. Please ask an associate about specific blessings for your religion. 』

Lita told me about these. Tesla slowly scoped all the folk charms. She told me milagros were used as miracle charms. I never thought I'd see them since churches dole them out. But they're beautiful.

CHIRIN-CHIRIN.

Tesla's head turned—

Grays widened. Oh, my…

The milagro that caught her eyes was like none other and so hard to miss that it could make someone incredulous they had done so on their first sweep of the inventory. Crafted from Stellanium, a woman had been made, beautiful and pure in her hooded cloak. But even in her beauty, she wept. You could not see it in her eyes—a bandage covered her eyes—but you could see it in her face. But even in her pain, she clasped her hands in prayer.

CHIRIN-CHIRIN…

"Wow," Tesla breathed. "She's gorgeous." A draw sucked her closer to the feminine figure as the Stellanium made it look like she was fashioned out of the galaxy herself. "I wonder who she is."

"She's B-Bia."

Tesla was startled when she somehow failed to notice a man sidled up next to her. Gaze hidden behind sunglasses and a mask and hat making sure he sustained being unrecognizable, his physique could not be ignored. "I'm sorry?"

"B-B-Bia," the man repeated. "My mother told me ab-b-bout her. B-B-Bia is a legend in my culture. She n-n-never asked to b-b-be worshipped or loved. All she d-d-did was give b-b-birth to the universe and raises it, asking nothing in return and loving her work unconditionally. Like—"

"Like a mother," Tesla put together.

"Yes," the stranger agreed. "In my language, 'B-Bia' means 'Mother' in Minstrish." He hooked down his face mask to show a small smile. "She's truly b-beautiful."

Tesla softly agreed. "She is beautiful." '

Mother.' She reminds me of what Jang-ta's grandmother told him—about a Great Mother. Could they be the same person? She heard minor squishing, but when her gaze dipped, she vaguely recognized the stress ball in the stranger's hands. "Oh! You're the person I bumped into at the restaurant. You probably don't remember me but, I'm so sorry about that—!"

"O-Oh!" He shyly pocketed his stress ball. "You noticed, huh? It's okay, really. No harm or anything." He shuffled his feet. "I remember you. You have nice eyes…"

"My eyes?" Tesla echoed.

The man bobbed his head, fidgeting. "Mm-hmm." He looked at her through his shades with a flush on his cheeks. "I've never seen g-gray eyes b-b-before, s-so…"

"Oh." Tesla touched her face. "Right… My eyes…" My eyes are just a reminder I'm the only one who can fully use Anti-Ether. Her grays dimmed. Another reminder of who I am and that I'm always being watched.

The stranger recognized Tesla was growing dejected and tripped over himself to assure her, "I-I-I think they're really b-b-beautiful and everything! Really! I-I…! Um…!" He took off his shades to show his bright violets for her to admire. "My eyes are d-d-d-different too, right?"

Tesla was taken aback by how vivid his coloring was. "Yeah. Your eyes are…" Wait a second. She scanned his face. He looks…familiar… It clicked and she gasped. "You're Jeremy Carter! You're Aaron Gray from Dawn!"

"O-Oh." Shikoba's eyes fell. "Yeah, that's…me…" His hand found his stress ball and started squeezing.

Tesla sparkled. "Oh my gods, I'm a huge fan of yours! You were magnificent in the entire Dawn series and I can't believe I'm meeting the werewolf from—!" All her prose and praise toppled into silence when she noticed his crestfallen face. "Oh…" A realization made her feel foolish. "I'm sorry. You probably came here dressed like that so people didn't recognize you and here I am fangirling. I'm so sorry about that."

That dumbfounded Shikoba. "You're 'sorry'?"

"Well, yeah. You looked like you didn't want to be bothered, and I was bothering you," Tesla explained like it was a common fact. "Sorry that I disturbed you. I'll leave you be—"

"No!" Shikoba blurted. But his outburst made his cheeks rosier. "No, it's okay. You can stay if you want to… I-I, um…" He squeezed his stress ball harder and swallowed. "I'm okay…having company, I mean."

"Oh." Tesla stayed put. "Thank you, Mister Carter."

"'Shikoba'."

"I'm sorry?"

"'Shikoba'," he repeated. "That's my name—my actual name. 'Jeremy' is just a stage name."

Tesla blinked twice. "Are you sure you should be telling me that?" She perched an eyebrow. "I mean, I just said I'm a fan. I could be one of those crazy psycho stans and I'll go blabbing this all over Insta or something."

"Wh-Wh-What!" Shikoba started sweating and kept squishing his stress ball. "P-P-Please d-d-don't say anything or my agent will b-be mad at me—!" His panicked stammering stopped when he realized Tesla was giggling behind a hand. She's laughing?

"Sorry. I don't mean to laugh." But the silly little grin would not abandon her. "I might like your work and I am a fan of yours, but I have human decency, Mister Car—I mean, Shikoba. It's nice to meet you, Shikoba. I'm Tesla."

"'Tesla'," Shikoba repeated. His violets dropped to his shoes as red palmed his neck. "That's a nice name."

Tesla snorted. "Ha. I sound like a car." She nodded to him. "But I think I like 'Shikoba' a lot more than 'Jeremy'. It sounds very cultured and poetic. Does it mean anything in particular? And I'm genuinely curious, I swear. I'm not going to go to a gossip blog and spill my guts."

Shikoba gave a quiet laugh, still a little shy. "It means 'little feather' in my first language," he admitted to her. "'Jeremy Carter' came from my g-g-g-grandfather. He d-d-died when I was young, b-b-but he was a cowboy on one of the ranches who d-d-did b-b-business with my tribe when he met my g-grandmother."

"'Tribe'?" Tesla's brow furrowed.

"I g-g-guess everyone knows I went to high school in a p-p-p-performing arts school," Shikoba ruefully remembered. "I'm actually from one of the tribes in the USM."

"Oh…" Such a factoid pleasantly surprised Tesla. "That's really cool!"

"R-Really?" Poor thing looked even more flustered. "It's not that special. My tribe is pretty huge, so I was just another face in the crowd."

"What made you go into acting?" Tesla asked.

The memory sullied some of Shikoba's bashfulness. "My mom," he confessed in quiet breath. "She'd always wanted to b-be an actress, b-b-but…she wasn't able too. She never forced me into it, b-but I wanted to make her pr-pr-proud."

That made Tesla's heart soften. "I'm sure she is proud of you for all you've accomplished."

"Maybe," Shikoba supposed, shuffling his feet. "I hope so."

Tesla observed him for a moment before she commented, "You're a lot more down-to-earth than I anticipated."

Question marks went around Shikoba. "What do you mean?"

"Well, considering Aaron Gray and some of the characters you play are always shirtless and edgy with tattoos and you do that smirk thing all the time—"

"D-Don't remind me!" A full-body flush cloaked Shikoba as he buried his head in his hands with hanging shame. "You must think I'm some sort of weirdo!" I know taking all those 'bad boy' roles would make people think I'm some sort of weird pervert! he lamented, miserable. But Miss April told me I had to!

• — • — •

"Sex sells, Shikoba." April looked unfazed while Shikoba was dying on the inside seeing the blown-up promotional poster of him all glammed up and shirtless and "alpha male" with the actress for Lily swooning in his arms. "You can't keep being embarrassed by it. We have to play up your assets."

• — • — •

"Pffft!" Tesla broke into laughter. "It's good to know you're just a normal guy at the end of the day. It's nice." Her smile enlargened. "I think I like 'Shikoba' a lot better than 'Jeremy Carter' or 'Aaron Gray' insofar."

Shikoba blinked. She likes…me? A new sort of flush overwhelmed him.

"Tesla!" came a distant caterwaul. "We're checking out!"

Tesla hollered back. "Coming!" She offered Shikoba an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. That's my friend. We have to head back to our vacation home." She wriggled her fingers at Shikoba. "It was really nice to meet you, Shikoba. I hope your vacation is a good one!" She turned away and could not hide her fangirling face. Omigodomigodomigod, I just met the werewolf of my dreams and we're on a first-name basis! I can die happy now!

"Um, Tesla?"

She turned back around and cocked her head. "Yeah?"

"U-Um, well…" Shikoba shuffled his feet, messing with his stress ball. "My agent told me I have to b-b-b-be adventurous while I'm here, so, um…" A heavy gulp before timid violets connected with curious grays. "Could I ask for your help?"

°•°•°•°

The kitchen was in full swing between the three men. A late lunch for them curated steaks on the grill and heavier portions, but they dedicated their time making sure their significant others had light snacks and silk robes ready and waiting for them.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

Casa de Gary

Caracole Island

Fiore, Ishgar

2:46 PM CAST

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gary salivated when Jaxton came inside with a platter of steaks and could not help wanting to take the plate. "Are they ready to eat now? Ow!" He rubbed his smacked-away hands with a pout. "That was mean."

"I'm not letting you drool on our food," Jaxton said flatly. "Stop being impatient and be still."

Gary mumbled under his breath as Jaxton passed, "You be still, Old Man."

THWACK!

"Ow!" Gary rubbed the back of his head with comic tears hounding his eyes from the hit Jaxton dished. Why is he so cruel to me!

Ace chided, "Jaxton. That wasn't very nice."

Jaxton stiffened. "Well—"

"Yeah, that wasn't nice," Gary snarked, but he quickly hid behind Ace for protection when Jaxton narrowed his eyes at him. "Bad dog!" he mocked. "Bad!"

TICK!

"Ace," Jaxton snarled, "step aside so I can kill him."

"I don't think I will," Ace said calmly. "Tesla would be very upset if you killed Gary. She would be so distraught over him that she wouldn't even think about you or even sleep in your bed, And you wouldn't want that."

Jaxton reluctantly backed down. A dark glare was thrown to Gary to frighten him, but he angrily set to work divvying up the steaks.

Ace sighed. "Gary, maybe you shouldn't try his patience—"

"Aw, the poor doggy is so mad at me." And there Gary was, delighted as all get out to poke and prod a very angry Jaxton. He taunted, "I think someone is just frustrated he's not allowed to have sex right now. Is that it, boy? Is the poor puppy angry he has to keep it in his pants and have blue balls all the time—"

TICK!

AGU!

Gary cried out and looked at his pulsating finger with teeth marks around it. "He bit me!" he whined. "Ace…! The mean dog bit me!"

Jaxton reached up and yanked down Gary's ear, ignoring his yelp. "And I'll fucking do it again if you put a hand in my face."

"Haven't you heard the phrase 'don't bite the hand that feeds you'?" Gary whimpered.

"I feed you, pissant, and you should be lucky I don't turn you into a eunuch for your shit," Jaxton venomously hissed as the tick marks kept growing. "You…! You…!"

Ace watched when Jaxton repeatedly kicked Gary and growled, "I should've killed you when I had the chance!"

A battered Gary weakly whimpered, "You wouldn't kill your best friend—"

"You are not my goddamn friend, pissant!"

Ace sweatdropped on the inside. We made it home alive. I'm not responsible if Gary gets himself killed at this point. He perked when the alarm system chimed as a door opened.

"Honey…! We're home…!" Justin hollered. "And we brought a special guest!"

Ace, Jaxton, and Gary blinked, confused. A 'special guest'?

Justin and Nashi came into the kitchen first and neither one could stop grinning. Justin announced with a wink, "And this man is all sorts of special."

Ace, Jaxton, and Gary echoed, A man?

"Look who I found!" Tesla chirped as she came into the kitchen clinging to a nervous Shikoba's arm. "Fellas, this is Shikoba AKA Jeremy Carter AKA Aaron Gray. We bumped into each other like it was fate and now, here we are! Isn't this amazing? The hottest werewolf in the world is breaking bread with us!"

Jaxton's eyebrow twitched.

Shikoba, flustered, offered a little wave. "I-It's nice to meet you, everyone. P-P-Please just call me 'Shikoba'." His violets landed on Tesla. "Tesla said she'd p-p-p-prefer that."

Tesla snort-giggled. "You really are charming!"

Gary put a fist into a palm upon realization. "Oh… That's the guy." He whispered to Jaxton as Tesla fawned over the bashful cinnamon roll that was Shikoba, "Isn't he the same guy that you said Tesla goes nuts for and said she wanted to marry him and was obsessed with his thirst twit video and said he's her fantasy werewolf—?"

TICK!

BAKI!

And Gary was down for the court seeing little Angel-Nashi's floating around him.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

TICK-TICK!

All in all, lunch and chilling was a quaint affair. Ellie and Ines were still enjoying their sun-up to sundown date, so it left the others to enjoy their bites and drinks with cultured conversation. And with the outdoors too lovely to dismiss, they had moved to the shaded patio to enjoy their food.

TICK-TICK!

"Wow…" Shikoba's face said it all as he dug into his food. Ace awarded him a steak (and ignored the sour look Jaxton gave him for it). "Th-Th-This is s-s-so good! I n-never g-get to eat this m-m-much!"

"Eat all you want," Tesla urged, more than happy to spill some more grilled vegetables on his plate. "Diets be damned! You are on vacation and you are worth it!"

Shikoba blushed over her words with that boyish smile, small and cute on his lips. "Okay. Thank you, Tesla."

Tesla beamed. "Sure thing, sweetie!"

TICK-TICK!

"Oh! Want to try some?" Tesla offered her mocktail and a wiggle of her eyebrows. "Not alcohol in it since we can't drink that shit until our bodies have fully recovered from being pampered, but it's sweet."

"O-Oh. Thank you." Shikoba took a sip from her straw and his eyes lit up. "It's really g-g-g-good!"

"I know, right?" Tesla enthused. "It's so sweet but so addicting!"

Shikoba complimented shyly, "You're sweet too."

"Aw…!" Tesla pouted. "Thank you, Shikoba, you're sweet too!"

TICK-TICK!

Justin smiled against his drink as he watched sparks fly between Tesla, who made sure Shikoba was fed like a Josean auntie, and Shikoba let her do as she pleased with those puppy eyes. "Well, well. Tessie find her dream beau."

"I know, right?" Nashi snorted. She had to shake her head when Shikoba looked enrapt in every word Tesla brightly spoke about. "It's like watching Therium and my Granny Anna. Cute puppy love at first sight. And it's even better he's Aaron Gray."

"Right?" Justin fanned himself. "So fucking hot. Who would've guessed our shirtless wonder-wolf is a li'l puppy on the inside? Tesla is probably plotting their wedding right now."

TICK-TICK!

Gary sweated as he twitchily smiled. "U-Um. Maybe we should switch to another topic?"

Any other topic. Please. He tried not to cower back from the dark aura radiating off Jaxton that was leaking onto him and threatened to suffocate him. If we keep this up, Jang-ta will take his anger out on me and I'd like to live a lot longer.

Justin did not see the harm. "How is there anything else for us to talk about except that the Aaron Gray is eating with us? And in Dawn, you know how big of his fanbase became? He is stacked like an Encan god."

Ace chuckled. "I didn't know you were a Dawn-hard."

"When you have besties who live for it, you're forced to marathon it," Justin said dryly, with an amused look at Nashi. "And the eye candy was what made me stay. Aaron Gray was easily the best part, hands down. Tesla needs to snap him up."

TICK-TICK!

The murderous aura around Jaxton thickened and Gary nervously cut into the conversation, "H-H-Hey! Let's talk about the meteor shower, huh? I mean we should probably go over some of our plans, shouldn't we?"

Shikoba looked adorably confused. "'Meteor shower'?"

"That's right!" Tesla smiled up at Shikoba. "There's this massive meteor shower happening tonight. You should come! Oh, it'll be so beautiful, Shikoba! Oh, but if you have other plans and have to check with your agent—"

"No. I d-d-don't have any p-p-plans," Shikoba assured. "Miss April won't mind."

Actually, I haven't checked in with her. He wanted to hide imagining her seething rage raining fire on him for escaping her watchful eye. I don't want to think about how angry she'll be at me later. She's going to scold me again for hiding. But… His gaze rested on Tesla. I did get adventurous like she asked of me.

"Great!" Tesla was all sparkles and excitement. "It'll be so fun with you there!" Ah, my number one fantasy man is hanging out with us! I can die happy now! This is a fangirl's dream come true! Suck it, Dante, I told you I'd meet him in real life!

Justin interjected, "Hard agree. I can't believe we actually get to meet you in person. You're so modest and everything. I don't mean it as a bad thing when I say it's a little surprising, but then again, any of us Fairy Tail Mages get the same thing."

"Yes, I'm a huge fan of yours," Shikoba confessed, face red. "Fairy Tail seems so fun and accepting."

Nashi smiled. "We're a bit destructive, but we do our best to keep our doors open for anyone and everyone."

"D-D-Do you accept Tamers?" Shikoba hoped. "I always wanted to b-b-be in a g-g-guild, b-but Tamers aren't always accepted into Wizard g-guilds."

"You're a Tamer?" everyone but Jaxton exclaimed.

"How did we not know that?" Tesla wondered.

Shikoba flushed and squished his stress ball. "Well, my agent said it was safer for me to not tell p-p-p-people I'm a Tamer."

The Mages at the table sadly understood the sentiment and Nashi spoke up, "Yeah, considering how the world is, it's dangerous to be alone and say you have powers. At least Tamers have a little more leeway in the system than other Wizards, but we understand."

"Do you have a specialty in Taming?" Justin inquired, intrigued.

"U-Um…" Shikoba swallowed. "Not really. I used to use my Taming on the ranch, b-b-but with my schedule, I d-don't Tame as much." Violets softened. "B-But I d-d-did have a p-p-partner. She's a Thunderbird."

That got impressed looks from Nashi and Justin. "That's a rare creature," Justin remarked. "A Tamer I know said Thunderbirds are even considered being labeled as S-Class because not only are they rare but they're extremely powerful."

"How did you manage to Tame one?" Nashi questioned. "I heard Taming creatures A-Class and above is pretty difficult. Around five percent of Tamers can get to that level. And you have a Thunderbird as your partner?"

Shikoba hummed, ducking his head. "Yes. She was the first creature I Tamed." Violets shimmered. "I miss her." He blinked when a gentle hand laid on his arm and violets met with understanding grays.

"I hope you can see her soon," Tesla wished. "She sounds like she means a great deal to you, so I'm sure you will see her soon."

Shikoba took those words to heart. "Thank you."

As Justin launched another series of questions about Shikoba and not "Jeremy Carter", Gary observed Shikoba for a few moments. He's very sincere. I could tell. Tamers who have Partners don't normally separate. For him to do that must be gut-wrenching for him every day, to feel like a piece of him is missing. Blues fell. I understand that all too well.

He perked when Jaxton moved and saw him get him. "Jang-ta?"

"I'll be back," Jaxton grunted.

Gary watched with a frown as Jaxton slipped away. Jang-ta… He rested his chin on a propped hand. You're not as impervious as you think, Old Man.

---

It was not that Pearson was a neat freak—it was that he barely brought much outside of standard clothes, so throw was not a lot to throw around. Without sharing a room with Pacer at the lodge, it meant he had a freer reign of the space provided, but even with the added freedom, he did little with it.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

Strauss-Dreyar Cabin

Greenheart Alps

Fiore, Ishgar

4:17 PM FST

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Pearson adjusted his backpack when a knock hit the door and Lance poked his head in. "Going somewhere?"

"You know where I'm going," Pearson muttered. "But that was a nice conversation starter. And I'll have to turn down your request, Lance, so don't try to ask me this again." He gave his cousin a warning look tempered with patience. "No, Lance. She's overwhelmed."

Against it all, Lance slipped inside and shut the door behind him. "Pearson, she and Pacer need to know that their twins are in an extremely dangerous situation—that their entire family is in an extremely dangerous situation," he reasoned with insistence. "Aurinia painted that clear—"

"And we're supposed to trust Aurinia's judgement?" Pearson straightened up his cuffs. "Jasmine is coming around to giving birth to actual Wizards and you want to drop the bomb on her after all this that her twins are chosen by the Gods in utero to be their successors? How well do you think this is going to do? Even if she was a Wizard, Lance, she would still have trouble believing you, let alone trusting you—"

"I know this isn't ideal," Lance managed, collected. "None of this is ideal to me, Pearson. I never expected to be a God Slayer or have to protect the entire next generation of them, but I am and that's what I'm trying to do."

"Says who?" Pearson challenged. "This could be a bunch of bullshit, Lance, and you're eating it up—"

"Pearson."

Rankled pale reds clashed with steady grayed emeralds.

Pearson heaved a sigh with his shoulders moving. "I know." His hackles lowered. "I know because it's you that this is very real and this is happening. Lance, I know that, but—!" Another forced sigh from his nose. "Jasmine is completely overwhelmed. You weren't the one who has been with her through all of this, Lance, I was. I sat with her through her first appointments and I had to calm her down when she worked herself up."

He sat on the edge of the bed to rub his mouth. "Do you know how much she worked herself up when it was confirmed her twins would be Wizards? She couldn't stop shaking in my arms." The memory of how terrified such a strong woman could be would stay with him. "She's never had to deal with all the rites and laws of the Magic Council. She's never had to think about Warlocks and Demons and Custodians before. She never grew up around this, Lance."

"I know." That was all Lance could say.

"And what, you think this will go well if we tell her this? She's going to stress out over this or worse. And I can't watch her put her body through that."

"I know." Lance took a seat beside Pearson with gentle understanding in his eyes. "You care about her, Pearse; I get it. And you have every right and reason to be worried about how she'll react to the news. I know Pacer will understand. He grew up with this. He'll get upset, but at least he understands this. But Jasmine is adjusting to the Magic community and none of it has been easy on her. I'd dared to say this is traumatizing to her."

"You heard Aurinia," Pearson rasped. "If the wrong people find out she's the mother to God Slayers, she could be hurt or captured or worse. That's the real danger she'll have to face. And with the Faction and Council-corruption and the Anti-Magic Movement…" He held his head in his hands. "I don't even know how I have to break the news to hear that I'm about to hire a Reaper or a Ghost to keep her safe."

"Are you sure it's the right move?"

"It's the only move." Pearson's reds darkened. "I'm doing my best to take care of the animavores I see, but I know I'm not enough. And Soul Meisters aren't a commonality, especially not to deal with monsters like that. I need Jasmine and her twins protected. Giovanni helped snag me a ticket to catch one of the trains to the Ghost Realm and I spoke to one of my Shadow Charmer contacts to put out some feelers where I could start my search."

Lance nodded, following along. "My dad mentioned he knew about Giovanni and Sindella."

"They're good people," Pearson vouched. "Their interdimensional Magic Shop is a pretty niche hub with trusted clientele, but they stay out of the spotlight for reasons." He sighed and confessed, "Sindella has me worried, though, when she mentioned all those rumors about laboratories and the Bureau… I can't afford to take any chances with Jasmine. Pacer's gets too damn impulsive. I don't want him fucking up and getting any of us in trouble."

"We'll need to be strategic," Lance chimed in. "We have to keep Pacer involved in everything we do. Jasmine might be different, but we have to make sure she has a failsafe if all other options failed to keep her and her kids safe. Not even Pacer can know about it or you or me."

Pearson snorted. "And you think she'll agree to that after you drop this bomb on her?"

"She won't have any other choice," Lance said, honest. "I might not have a foolproof plan on how to hunt down and protect the God Slayers, but I know that we definitely have to worry about the ex-Custodians of the Gods willing to do anything for revenge. I'm not invincible and neither are you nor Pacer. We'll have protections in place, but those could fail. And any one of us could be compromised."

He sat his elbows on his thighs. "I don't like to think that way, but considering Warlocks and Curses and the Black Arts are quietly on the rise, I can't be arrogant in thinking I would never be compromised or taken out. What matters the most is the safety of the other Slayers. Jasmine's not a Slayer, but that doesn't mean she's in less danger. The fact that she's Spiritless puts her at severe risk And I'm going to do everything I can to protect her and her kids."

He turned to Pearson, unyielding, unbending, a god in the making. "Will you help me?"

Pearson kept quiet, studying, watching, appraising this offer. "You know I will, Lance. But it's up to Jasmine how she handles things."

"She doesn't have a choice." Grayed emeralds darkened. "It's either we help her…or someone else kills her."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

DING-DONG!

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Cooking with some classic R&B never got old.

Dinner was on Jasmine and Pacer tonight with Sharon and Maddox having predetermined dinner plans to make, but that did not mean they could not make dinner fun. The twins freely roamed in their soul projections—well, Scooby did with their diamond form getting into every nook and cranny while Shaggy stuck close to their mother. But as Pacer and Jasmine tag-teamed to work on a chicken dish, it came at the price of Jasmine's laughter.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

Château Sharon

Gazania Town

Fiore, Ishgar

5:30 PM FST

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Pacer crooned off-key with the R&B singer, "You…! You remind me of a love that I once knew…! Is it a dream or is it déjà vu…? I just had to let you know, so I had to sing it…! 'Cause for you, boy, I don't know…!"

"Stop, please, my ears!" Jasmine laughed. "You're so disrespecting Mary with that god-awful singing."

"What? My singing is phenomenal!" Pacer bragged with a twitch of his lips.

"Your singing needs some work and I need therapy." Jasmine shook her head as she made sure the sauce was ready. "I didn't take you to be a Mary O. Blige fan considering you a white boy."

"Okay, okay, yes, I'm pale, but a friend brought me along to a few house parties with some of the black frats," Pacer explained. "That was when I learned I was dancing wrong."

Jasmine threw back her head as her shoulders shook with mirth. "My cousin Ricky grew up in a pretty gentrified neighborhood where, like, no one listened actual R-and-B, but you know for damn sure all the cousins would hang out on Sunday afternoons at Granny's house and we'd be doing our dances to the music videos. My cousin DJ would take Ricky to parties." She shook her head. "I can just imagine Ricky doing the same to Peter."

Pacer asked, "'Peter'?"

"Yeah. You know him. Peter is my cousin, but Pearson said he's dating your little cousin Mary Jane."

"Yeah…" Pacer frowned as he hung onto that thought. So Peter is her cousin. Huh… He caught Jasmine's yawn and nudged her away from the stove. "Why don't you go sit down? Dinner is almost ready anyway, so I can take it from here."

Jasmine narrowed her a suspicious look, but there was teasing in it too. "One yawn doesn't mean I'm tired, Pacer. I hope you have some evidence to support that type of claim."

"I maintain my right of silence," Pacer quipped. "But seriously, I can handle it from here. Go sit and relax." He ribbed, "Let your young hot baby daddy take care of you, mama."

"No. Ew. No, don't call me that," Jasmine stopped him with an exaggerated grimace that had him snicker. "I am not your mama and I don't want to be your mama. And I hope you don't have a mommy complex because I have some news for you."

"Love my mom, but not like that, Slugger." He winked at her. "But I do have a thing for baby mamas." He could not dodge fast enough when Jasmine smacked his shoulder. "Hey! It was a compliment!"

"Boy, please," Jasmine wrote him off. She heeded his advice and decided to step away from cooking and focus on prepping the bar for their dinner. It made her smile how Shaggy's cloudy presence of murky black-violet clung to her. "Well, I think it's safe to say we know who will be a mama's child and who is our wild-child."

Pacer snickered seeing Shaggy cluster in more violet than black, embarrassed. "Souls can evolve as we evolve, but it's amazing they have so much personality even unborn. Your ultrasound confirmed they developed a little faster than where they should be."

"Yeah." Jasmine faltered getting the silverware. "Nothing about this pregnancy is normal, huh…"

Pacer turned off the burners to look over his shoulder at Jasmine's downcast expression. Dinner would be done once he combined all the ingredients into the main sauté pan, but he spared moments to go to Jasmine. "Hey," he murmured. "I know this morning was overwhelming, but we'll get through this."

"That's easy for you to say," Jasmine muttered. "This is your life. All this…this Magic. That's not my life, Pacer."

"I know." Pacer trailed his hand down her back. "But I'll help you through this."

"That's funny. I don't see you pregnant with twins," Jasmine groused testily.

Pacer smiled despite Jasmine's huff. "No. I'm not the one carrying them. You're right about that. I don't know how you feel. I don't know what it's like to not live without powers. But I want to understand you so I can help you, Slugger."

Jasmine huffed again. "Well, now I'm irrationally mad and you're not helping being all validating and comforting. Piss me off or something, don't be sweet and shit."

"I'll try my best," Pacer chuckled and could not help his heated appreciation of all her curves. "If I tell you how sexy I think you look, would that help?"

Jasmine gave him a freezing look. "You want me to hit you? I'm fat and my boobs leak."

DING-DONG!

Pacer touched her cheek and could not help it when he took in the swell of her breasts, but it warranted a strike on his chest for it. He laughed it off. "You were the one asking me to piss you off. Didn't I deliver? Aren't I such a good baby daddy?"

"Fuck you, asshole," Jasmine seethed. "Don't stare at my tits."

DING-DONG!

Pacer wiggled his eyebrows. "That leaves me with so many more choices to stare at then, Slugger."

DING-DONG!

"You fucking dick," Jasmine barked. "Get the damn door because if I do, I'm clawing someone's eyes out."

"So aggressive," Pacer teased her. "Just like how you were that night when you took control and topped from the bottom—" He danced away from Jasmine manhandling the cutting board to hit him. "I'm going, I'm going!"

"And don't come back while you're at it, asshole!"

Pacer snickered. "I know that woman loves me." He checked the peephole first, but the high he was riding from sparring with Jasmine fell when he saw who awaited entry. Unlocking the doors, he swung one open. "Lance?" He gave his brother a questioning look. "You didn't tell us any of the family was coming."

"I know." Pearson rightfully looked apologetic. "I'm sorry for that, but it couldn't be helped."

Pacer stood his ground, wary. "Jasmine doesn't want to meet the family." He stressed this to Lance. "We should respect that. I'm sorry, man."

"Pacer." Lance squared his shoulders. "There's something you need to know. I know she doesn't want to meet any family. I respect that. But I need to talk to you. Please, Pacer." He dropped his next words quietly, "It's about Jasmine and your twins."

Pacer looked at Lance for a few moments. "All right." He stepped outside before crossing his arms. His stare narrowed when Lance and Pearson exchanged a look. "What do you need to tell me?"

°•°•°•°

Jasmine finished setting up the bar and decided to help herself in getting dinner together. He's been gone for a long time. I wonder who's at the door?

She made sure the plates had even portions of their chicken recipe and murmured to Shaggy, "Looks like you're going to be a chicken-lover like Mommy. I hate red meat."

Shaggy pressed into her—

Mother. Warm.

Jasmine was tickled pink. "You really are a mama's kid." As she slid the plates on the bar, one of the songs from the playlists had faded into silence and left room for conversation to be picked up at the door. Curiosity might have killed the cat, but it made for a good attorney. He's talking to someone? I think that's another man outside. Dread betrayed her. Is it someone from my family?

Too nervous to let it be, Jasmine hastened to the hallway and the voices grew louder—

"Don't fucking bullshit me with this, Lance," Pacer growled from outside. "God Slayers haven't been around in decades."

Jasmine's fast pace slowed. 'God Slayers'?

Pearson soothed, "He's telling the truth, Pace. And you know that. I know this is hard to accept—"

"Accept the fact that my goddamn kids are God Slayers?" Pacer retorted. "Yeah. It's fucking difficult because you know how severe being a Slayer is? And on top of that, being a God Slayer?"

"It's a lot to process, I know," an unknown man murmured. His voice made him seem like a leader. "But I couldn't keep silent when you'll be leaving for the states soon enough. You need to know so we can talk about protection for your twins and for Jasmine."

"The Hell does that mean?" Pacer gnashed.

Jasmine quietly closed in as Pearson explained, "You have to know by now what happens when kids with exceptional powers are born, Pacer. It's not just the kids people will want—it'll be the mother."

Jasmine froze. Me?

"Right," the unknown man agreed sagely. "The second people discover a Spiritless woman gave birth to two God Slayers, it won't end there and you know that. Remember what happened with Misses Dragneel? Jasmine could be captured to try and give people more God Slayers—"

"That won't happen," Pacer snapped, oblivious to Jasmine's small gasp and the way she squashed her hands over her mouth. "Don't say that shit, Lance—"

"But it is a possibility," Lance told him calmly. "Pacer, this isn't something I say lightly. I know you're aware of that. More than anything, I want you to have a happy and healthy family. But in order to do that, we have to accept hard truths—"

Jasmine backed away as Pacer snarled, "'Hard truths'? The fact that a 'hard truth' is you think Jasmine is about to become a human broodmare to pump out more alleged God Slayers makes me fucking sick—"

"Pacer, calm down," Pearson stressed. "Don't…!"

But the words fall into radio static as Jasmine could hear every shallow breath she took. Her eyes darted to no location in particular, but her vision blurred in and out. A…broodmare? What…? Her fingers trembled. God…Slayers…? I don't…understand… She took another step back. What…? What does this have to do with me? Shaking fingers spread onto her baby bump. My twins aren't born. What is…this…?

Both her twins clustered around her—

Mother. Afraid.

Nausea swept through Jasmine, but she held her ground. Gravity made her sway—it rocked an unstable boat—but she kept on her feet. What's going on? Why are they…talking like this? Her hand flattened on her stomach. I don't…understand…

°•°•°•°

Pearson made sure to get between a fuming Pacer and a collected Lance. "Pacer, lower your fucking voice," he hissed. "You need to chill out—"

"Don't you ever tell me bullshit like that!" Pacer snapped at Lance, and Magic swirled in his eyes. "I will never let that happen to her or our children!"

"But you can't say for certain such a thing won't happen, Pacer," Lance relayed, even. "It's not ideal. It's not something we want to think about. But we have to look at every angle that this can happen." He made sure his grayed greens stared into furious pale reds. "We are living in a world where Magic is being condemned. It's not like how it was for our parents. They were revered as heroes."

His hands clenched into fists. "And we're called the villains."

Pacer growled, "Lance—"

"Do you remember the stories our parents told us?"

Pacer stopped.

"They told us stories about the horrors they faced," Lance continued. "They were candid once they thought we were ready. The world said they were heroes. And at some point, they agreed with it. But slowly, the countries turned their backs on the good Magic caused and focused on the bad. Right now, Wizards are being forced out of their homes by spies and secret police. Some of them are being mandated into the military. Some of them have become terrorists. And some of them are dying every day for their homes."

His expression contorted as his fists shook. "It's not good outside of Fiore, Pacer. You know that. It's not just as simple as name-calling. It's the stoning. It's children tested posted for potential Ether wielders being segregated. It's the Magic Council not protecting those who don't conform to a recognized guild. And it will be your children who enter a world ready to use them however it feels fit. So tell me, Pacer."

Lighting clacked off Lance. "How can you be a hero on your own in a world full of villains!"

Pacer opened his mouth only to glower at the ground. "I just don't understand it," he puffed. "You're telling me the twins I haven't even met yet are God Slayers. You're telling me Jasmine could be taken just like that. I could lose my family overnight because of this. I just… I…" He pulled away from Pearson's hold to make sense of this.

Pearson added, "The USM isn't a bad place, Pace. But that's for now. You know there's unrest in the Magic Council there. The state branches have been left alone to become independent and corrupt powers and the federal branch is too content with it. The Anti-Magic Movement isn't too huge, but we can't take the chance."

"So what are we supposed to do?" Pacer gritted. "I'm not about to tell her to uproot her life for this."

"And she won't have to," Lance assured. "But we need to put in protections in place. As the mother of two God Slayers, even after birth, she'll need careful protection so she isn't taken. I refuse to take that sort of chance on her life. It's not just God Slayers for me, Pacer. I know that I'm still figuring out what I need to do, but I know enough that every person has people they care for. I want to make sure not just God Slayers but their loved ones can live in peace," he declared.

Pacer opened his mouth—

"And how do you expect to do that?"

All three men paled when Jasmine opened the door with no expression on her face.

Pacer and Pearson were especially spooked, and Pacer whispered, "Slugger, I—"

"I wasn't talking to you." Jasmine made sure Lance knew he was being looked at. "How do you plan on doing this?"

Lance pivoted with his chin down as he faced Jasmine. "Let me start by saying I have no intention of subtracting from the life you have. You are in control of your life. All we can do is add support so you can maintain the life you want." Grayed emeralds lowered to her stomach. "Your twins, however…" He re-gripped his fist and clenched his jaw.

All three men did not expect the soul projections to appear, but it surprised them either when Lance was forced back when Shaggy's hellishly black storm cloud tried to consume him.

"What—?" Jasmine stumbled back when Scooby blocked the door in a hazy diamond, frantic. "What's going on? What's wrong?"

Pacer stood before Lance before Shaggy could rush him again as their turbulent black burning darker and darker. "What's going on?" he demanded to know. "He's family. What are you doing?" His irises filled with a murky green. What the Hell are they doing—?

Pearson noticed Pacer had frozen and pried, "Pace? What's wrong with them?"

"They're afraid." Jasmine had calmed Scooby's diamond back into her hand, but those cold eyes of hers now looked worried.

"'Afraid'?" Pearson echoed. "Of what?"

Pacer turned his head with disbelief on his face. "They're afraid of you."

And all eyes fell on Lance.

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

KACHI!

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

---

Light turned onto the main hall and Illumi in his old age still had his nine tails frailly vibrating as he perked. He stretched himself out with a cat's yawn before shaking out his fur. It took him a little to make his way to the front door, but he would not hesitate for his master.

Lance stood at the door with his face downcast, but he did not breathe a word.

Illumi did not mind. He sat before his master and waited.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

Lance's Ranch House

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

9:45 PM FST

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Lance looked down at his elderly Fulgumiho with a smile. "Hi, Illumi." He knelt down to stroke Illumi's graying muzzle and sent soothing shocks down his coat. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting for so long. Thanks for being patient."

Illumi nuzzled his hand.

Lance thumbed the silver streaks on his muzzle. "You're getting old on me, Illumi." His eyes saddened even if his smile remained. "Were you ever afraid of me too?"

Illumi's tails vibrated.

Lance continued to stroke him, but his mind clung to what happened before. Pacer and Jasmine's twins…were afraid of me….

"I don't think it's you they're afraid of."

• — • — • — • — •

Pearson was the first to offer this because a frightened Jasmine and stunned Pacer would say nothing. Fingers grasping his chin, he assessed the situation with clear eyes.

"The twins are God Slayers, like you," Pearson continued on. "And Aurinia, Veleda, and you have said you're connected to the god Baracles, right?" A darker debate caught his stare. "Something about what Aurinia said bothered me. She said Baracles was 'a brother to many, husband to none, and friends to those who were useful to him'. And that even with his leadership, not everyone enjoyed it. The way she made it sound… Baracles didn't rule with respect. He ruled all gods with fear and intimidation. And that's especially true for The Hearth."

Lance nodded. "Yeah. From how Baracles was depicted to me, he was an Old God, but he was worshipped for that title and that's why he was an Old God able to survive in the Middle Era during the transitioning of Mid-Gods. But even with Baracles' rank, it never meant much outside his authority."

"'The sins of the father pass down to the sins of the son'," Pearson quoted. "Baracles chose you to be the next leader for a reason. But even with him gone, that doesn't mean his influence isn't. That's what Aurinia meant when she mentioned The Hearth. When she talked about The Heart, she mentioned present tense. Meaning that God is still alive."

"What?" Pacer looked taken aback. "How is that even possible? The gods abandoned Earth Land—"

"It's just a theory," Pearson told his twin. "But Aurinia wouldn't slip up and use present. But it was bugging me when she said that. And since she didn't say much about The Hearth afterward, I think that was the only clue she gave us that The Hearth is alive. And if The Hearth was intimidated by Baracles in the past because of their ability to keep the God Realm open, it's safe to say The Hearth ran away once Baracles was gone."

"I… I've been to the God Realm."

Now Pearson looked astonished. "You have?"

"I think so," Lance said. "Veleda brought me to the God Realm, but it was empty. It had been abandoned because the gods abandoned us. I never thought about how to reopen it though." 'The Hearth is the key to unlocking the God Realm, which would create a safe space for in-need Slayers.' His brow furrowed. 'However…' "Even if I wanted to reopen it… The Hearth wouldn't do it."

"What?" Pacer frowned. "Why? And who is this 'Hearth'?"

"So you understand it," Pearson murmured.

"I think I do." Lance looked down as lightning wound in his hands. "It's not that the twins are afraid of me as a person. No. But as Baracles' successor, they can feel his presence." He clamped his hand down on a bolt and watched it squirm in his hands. "God Slayers will be naturally afraid of me because of how Baracles treated their gods."

• — • — • — • — •

Lance sank down to sit against his front door. Illumi might have been a full-grown Kumiho, but that did not make him any less of a lappet since his kit days. He laid down as much as he could in Lance's lap and soaked up all the rejuvenating lightning Lance massaged through his fur.

Lance watched Illumi with thoughtful eyes. That was one of the missing pieces to this. God Slayers are still connected to their gods. It's not as direct as a Champion or a Demigod, but we have parts of their Spirit inside us. Mister Dragneel and Mister Redfox told me they could feel Dragon Slayers and sniff them out way back when. That's how they could tell Igneel and Gale would follow in their footsteps. The divusiometer helps me locate God Slayers within the radius, but…

Grayed emeralds shadowed. What does it matter if they run away the moment they sense me? He remembered that orange glow in the negative space the divusiometer took him to and how abruptly it bounced away. That day… The Slayer I sensed… Did they disappear because they sensed me? And if Pacer's unborn twins are afraid of me… How am I supposed to get grown God Slayers to trust me to help them?

Aurinia's words came back to him. "Upon the Gods deserting this realm, they closed every portal to the God Realm. But in order to do that, only one god had the power to do so. And that god…is called The Hearth."

"The Hearth," Lance breathlessly repeated. I can't be choosey about which God Slayer to find, but… I need to find The Hearth. Opening up the God Realm is my priority. It's like the Ghost Realm and Spirit Realm—only Gods or those permitted access can enter and exit at will. It'll be the perfect haven and home for us. But…

"Baracles instilled jealousy, hatred, and fear to certain gods," Aurinia's voice came back to him. "Especially the one god needed to keep the God Realm open."

If Baracles terrorized The Hearth, then it'll be even more difficult to get them on my side, Lance supposed. To them, they'll think I'll do the same as Baracles did to them and they'll run the moment they sense me. Hiding my own power is one thing, but to hide a power I'm still not in touch with is another.

His head fell against the door. Baracles… What were you thinking choosing me to bring back the God Slayers when you knew you wronged the very gods you want back? Why me?

Illumi whined and licked Lance's chin. Sparks clacked from his fur to Lance, assuring and sympathetic.

"I'm okay, Illumi." Lance leaned down to hug his Fulgumiho with a grateful smile. "You've been with me through it all. I hope you can stay with me until the end." Grayed emeralds shimmered. "At least…stay with me until I can give the Slayers a home. Could you stay with me until then?"

Illumi yipped with his nine tails vibrating. Shocks stroked through his fur as he nuzzled Lance and static passed from him to his master.

Okay.

---

PACHI… PACHI…

BO… BO…

The firepit had been thrown together with dinner kept light and the drinks kept clean. Ellie and Ines had returned from their sun-up to sundown date and looked like newlyweds the way they could not stop their sweet touches and chaste kisses. Stories had been passed around as everyone took a turn explaining to Shikoba the shenanigans of Fairy Tail or silly significant other stories. But those stories broke in quirky banter and more and more memories sprung up.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

Casa de Gary

Caracole Island

Fiore, Ishgar

9:45 PM CAST

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi shot back at Justin, "You are not responsible for our relationships!"

"Yes, I am!" Justin protested. "Think about it for a second! I was the one that got you and your man to coordinate as Little Red and the Wolf, didn't I? I set y'all up on our candy challenge, didn't I? And what happened afterward? Y'all fucked."

Nashi flushed. "But that wasn't because of you!"

"It totally was!" Justin insisted. "Gary should be kissing my feet the way I had to force your ass to get that lingerie—"

"JJ!" Nashi had steam puffing from her head with her face red.

Laughter spread around as Justin started badgering Ellie to let him take ownership of her relationship as well. Tesla noticed Shikoba's shoulders shaking as he quietly laughed and bumped his arm. "Sorry for the craziness."

"I like it," Shikoba assured her with a small smile. He cupped his mug and thumbed the rim to see his reflection. "I d-d-don't g-get to d-do this often."

That surprised Tesla. "Hang out with people, you mean? But your Insta and Twit—"

"Those p-p-people aren't friends." Violets dimmed. "It's hard having friends in my career. There are some very nice p-p-people, b-but they d-d-don't last long. And the ones who d-do are the ones you see on set or b-b-backstage."

"Friends of convenience," Tesla compared. "It's like in school when you made friends with the people in your class, but you never saw them outside of it. Your friendship was convenient for whatever time you shared."

"Yeah." Shikoba's shoulders dropped.

Tesla saddened and her gaze fell onto her lap. "That sounds lonely," she murmured. "I guess…I never thought about it like that. I mean, I know people like you had a different life, but still, I…" She sighed. "I'm sorry."

"O-Oh!" Shikoba waved a hand with an awkward smile. "You d-d-d-don't need to ap-pologize or anything! It's really okay!" Bittersweetness slandered his smile. "I'm g-g-grateful to have this op-p-pportunity in life. Really, I am. I'm really lucky to have made it this far. And Miss April has b-been g-g-great at all this. I can't complain."

"Maybe," Tesla drawled. "But just because you have it good doesn't mean you can't wish for more." The flames flickered in her grays. "It's one thing to be grateful for this life. But it's another thing to settle, y'know? I'm lucky for everything I have. I'm lucky the mother who adopted me is so beautiful inside and out. I'm lucky my family loves me. I'm lucky for my friends. But that doesn't mean I'm going to settle with what I have.

"I still have ambitions I want to fulfill. I owe it to myself and my standing in this life to keep reaching. Because if I give up and settle for what's around me, then I'm disrespecting those less fortunate who would grab any and all opportunities they could. I guess I really would be taking my luck for granted." She smiled up at him. "Don't you think?"

Shikoba blinked. A soft sort of smile caressed his features. "Right. I think so too."

"Good." Tesla pointed at him with a mockingly stern expression. "Which means, mister, no more settling for you. Take some time to do the things you want, yeah? You owe it to yourself and the life you have to never settle."

"Right." Shikoba's smile widened as red splashed his ears. "I will."

"Good boy," Tesla cooed with a grin.

The heat on Shikoba's ears increased, and he staved off more conversation to sip his drink. Settling is just the same as taking things for granted. I wish I could be a better Tamer like my father. But…I just don't know how to do it. He swallowed his sips. I'd trade my entire career if it means I can fly with her again. She must have moved on to another Tamer by now since it's been so long. He clenched his glass at the mere thought. She deserves better than a coward.

"So… I've been trying to be normal, but I have a question I'm dying to know the answer to." Tesla looked ready to burst with eagerness. "How did they turn you into a wolf because the entire crew from Dawn was so secretive about it!"

Shikoba chuckled. "It was p-p-p-pretty simple. They had actually b-b-been looking for a Transformation Mage to keep things easier, b-b-but since I was hired as 'Aaron G-G-Gray', I used this enchanted necklace to transform into a wolf."

Tesla gaped. "Far out! That's too cool!"

More red piled on Shikoba's ears as he ducked his head. "It really wasn't that imp-p-pressive."

"Are you kidding me?" Tesla was aglow with the power of the simp. "I can't even begin to tell you how wow you were in the series! Like, seriously, you're the reason I got into Dawn! You were my first werewolf crush!"

"Really? I was?" Shikoba looked like an eager puppy at the news.

"Mm-hmm! Mm-hmm! You're the reason I got so deep into werewolf stuff! You were my inspiration!" Tesla confessed. "And even after reading more werewolf stuff, you totally ruined me for any other werewolf!"

TICK!

Jaxton ground his teeth as two tick marks beat against his temples. Does she not know I'm right here?

"And I'm not just saying that!" Tesla insisted. "There's no comparison! Hands down, you're the best werewolf ever!"

Murderous shadows seethed off Jaxton while his girlfriend was all glitter and sparkles praising a bashful Shikoba. Does she want a spanking that badly?

Gary noticed Jaxton's rising agitation and whispered, "Don't pay any attention to it. She's just really excited she gets to be in the presence of her dream werewolf who she's been talking about marrying—"

TICK!

SLAM!

Nashi caught Gary's body locking up and asked him, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Angel," Gary soothed with a smile and his left eye twitching. He refused to alert her of Jaxton's heel jamming onto his foot. I should've known better than to handle a jealous Lycan.

"D-D-Do you want to see some of the videos I took of shifting?" Shikoba offered. "I have a few on my Com if you're interested."

"Really?"

Shikoba was taken aback when a hyper Tesla touched his arm and her steely grays baldly showed her joy. She enthused, "If you don't mind, I'd love to see it!"

She's so close. Shikoba gulped, but he could not pull away from her stare. But her eyes… They're really pretty. "Okay." He fumbled getting out his Compact when he nearly lost his soul seeing how many missed calls April had left him and voicemail. "Oh, no…"

Tesla frowned, fretting. "Is something wrong?"

Shikoba managed a weak smile. "It's nothing. Just my agent." Inside, he was mourning. I can't imagine how angry she's going to be with me. When another call from April flooded in, he had no plausible deniability left and tentatively answered the call. "Miss April—"

"Jeremy Carter, you are in so much trouble!" April roared with Shikoba mourning the loss of his ears and everyone else startled by the noise. "I can't believe you! I knew you'd do this! I knew you were going to go find another hidey-hole! You get back to the hotel room and you get back here now because you're in for the lecture of a lifetime!"

The call ended.

Sweatdrops went around.

"Uh…" Justin's eyebrows rose. "Is she okay?"

"She's, um, okay," Shikoba promised. "She's just worried." Discretely, he frantically squeezed his stress ball and wanted to cry. She's going to murder me when I get back.

"I guess you better get home, huh?" Tesla looked so put-out. "And I guess that means you can't come with us to see the meteor shower…"

Shikoba felt awful and murmured, "I'm sorry."

"Nah, it's cool. You're a big shot. Of course you have other shit to do," Tesla dismissed while the others gave their agreement. "Want me to drive you back to your hotel room? Or is your agent sending you a car? I, um…" She flushed, tucking a braid behind her ear. "I don't want to let you leave too soon."

Inwardly, she was rolling over like an eccentric fangirl with a hachimaki and an Aaron Gray shirt. A late-night drive with my favorite actor? Eee! Check!

Shikoba looked both relieved and happy with the suggestion. "If you wouldn't mind—"

"I'll take him home."

Everyone looked over to Jaxton, who leveled Shikoba an even stare.

Tesla tried to protest, "But—!"

Jaxton stood up, decision made. "You don't do well in unfamiliar territory, especially at night, baby girl." His chin lifted. "I'll take your favorite werewolf home."

Tesla still wanted to press. "But—"

Gary suddenly went rigid and sweating before he pitched, "Th-That sounds like a great idea!" He tried not to let it show Jaxton once again heel-stomped on his foot. This is abuse! Why do I put up with this? "The roads barely have street-lighting anyway, so it gets dangerous to drive late at night if you're not used to all! I mean, the cars have high beams, so I guess—"

CRUNCH!

"The cars have very bad quality high beams, so you should stay here, please," Gary squeaked. My foot! Jang-ta, you monster!

"Well…" Tesla reluctantly backed down. "Okay." Turning to Shikoba, she asked, "Is that okay with you?"

"Sure!" Shikoba chirped and tried not to let his disappointment show. "I'm just hap-p-p-ppy for the ride back to my hotel!" These people are so nice to me. I'm sure it'll be fine.

°•°•°•°

I change my mind.

Shikoba clutched his seatbelt and squeezed his dress ball in the SUV, sweating as the lethal aura radiating off Jaxton threatened to off him. This guy is scary!

The ride down was predominantly downhill with wide stretches of land between. Ranches and vineyards and smaller towns came and went, but Shikoba was able to see the settled waters of the ocean thanks to the glittering starlight. The silence choked with no radio to fill the void. But Shikoba caught a few people taking the hike to the highest point with their blankets and coolers, all smiles and laughter. Violets softened when he witnessed a Tamer and her Asena playing together.

Jaxton caught the expression before turning back onto the road. He grunted, "You should return to Taming."

The fact that Jaxton spoke to Shikoba startled him, but his words delivered a secondary blow. "Oh! Well…" Violets flickered outside to catch one final glimpse of the Tamer. "I'd like to," he admitted softly. "B-But…" His eyes fell into his lap. "It's…complicated."

"Bullshit."

Shikoba caught Jaxton's unreadable profile.

"Our entire lives are filled with complications. But what it comes down to is what you choose to let be a complication and what you choose to fight for so you have no complications standing in your way," Jaxton muttered. "Anyone who says otherwise is giving an excuse to something they refuse to fight for. So tell me, werewolf." When a streetlamp passed over them, it almost looked like his eyes flickered yellow. "Is the Thunderbird you Tamed not worth the fight?"

Shikoba's eyes went wide and he opened his mouth only to meekly retreat and close it. A second wind of confidence made him try again, but all he did was keep quiet in the end and let his stress ball rest in his palm. It's not… His shoulders tensed. It's not like I don't want to fight for her, but I… His fingers shook, threatening to clamp down on his stress ball, until his hand went limp.

"You disgrace the honor that comes with being a wolf," Jaxton rumbled. "Wolves are loyal to their unit, their family—their pack. They devote themselves to hunting for the pack and protecting the pack. Nature is their biggest complication." Darkness stormed. "If spring and fall didn't merit their prey more spawns, then they are left to make hard choices through the winter when it comes to hunting and some go to bed hungry. They care for their young and their old. And"—his hands gripped the steering wheel—"they remain loyal to their partner until the very end."

Shikoba flinched.

"I know the value of living as a unit—of being loyal to the one I choose and fighting against whatever complications there may be to make sure we're together." Jaxton tilted his head with clear challenge. "Can you say the same?"

Shikoba looked at his hands, but he said nothing.

The drive back withheld a pregnant silence. There was no ease into the city. You were hit with skyscrapers and luxury establishments within an instant. Cars and trolleys were awake and thriving and the streets were daunting to navigate for those unfamiliar with this sort of traffic, but Jaxton pulled up to the hotel Shikoba had given to him and put the car in park at the curb.

More silence.

"Thank you for the ride," Shikoba got out, voice small. "Sorry for all the trouble."

Jaxton gave a nod.

Shikoba unbuckled and managed to get out of the car until it hit him. "Oh, wait!" He ducked his head back into the car and requested, "Could you g-g-g-give Tesla my number?" The tips of his ears pinkened. "I was hoping I could talk to her some more—"

"Hey, werewolf." A murderous aura hounded Jaxton as his dark eyes swirled into something darker than black. "Do you have a death wish?"

Shikoba instantly flailed, panicky. "N-N-N-No! It's not like that! I know you're her b-b-b-boyfriend and d-d-d-don't want to overstep my b-b-b-boundaries—!"

That caught Jaxton off-guard. "You know I'm her boyfriend?"

"Well, yeah," Shikoba confirmed, like such a question had an obvious answer. "She couldn't stop talking about you." He rubbed his neck, abashed. "I d-d-d-didn't have the heart to stop her. You're really lucky. She really loves you."

Jaxton blinked. She…talked about me to him? His hand touched his heart. I thought… He caught Shikoba fidgeting like an unsure puppy and forced out a sigh. "I'll give her your number."

"Thank you!"

Jaxton reigned his bloodlust at how eager Shikoba looked. Ugh. Great. Another pissant.

(Gary sneezed and rubbed his nose.)

After giving Jaxton his personal contact information, Shikoba offered a shy wave before heading into the hotel. From Jaxton's perspective, he had the pleasure of watching April sic herself on her client and angrily shaking him while he whimpered for mercy. He snorted and put the car back in drive. Yeah. Another pissant. He took off back the way he came.

"Well, yeah. She couldn't stop talking about you."

Jaxton palmed his chest again. Dammit. His frown quirked into a small smile. In all the centuries I've been alive, she makes me feel like a kid again sometimes.

"They care for their young and their old. And they remain loyal to their partner until the very end."

Both hands on the steering wheel, Jaxton's smile left his face. I say that, but… In the end, my father's loyalty to my mother is his personal Hell and Heaven. We may not see eye-to-eye but being trapped with her is a death sentence. And I refuse to make that mistake. Yellow-ambers burned in his eyes. I have no intentions of letting Tesla go. If my mother decides to be a complication… His teeth bared to show his incisors. I will do what needs to be done so she is no longer a complication. Don't you agree with me…

His eyes shifted to his rearview mirror to catch a white tiger with glowing yellow-ambers staring back at him.

…Báihǔ?

And the tiger snarled.

---

Pacer came down the hall in some ratty shorts and house slippers, but he left his ink on his arms and chest absent of clothing. His hands frisked his hair with a towel to dry off his hair and he approached Jasmine's closed doors with care.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

Château Sharon

Gazania Town

Fiore, Ishgar

11:56 PM FST

— • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Pacer knocked thrice. "Slugger?"

"Come in."

Pacer opened the door and saddened seeing Jasmine in bed as the twins huddled close to their mother. Scooby looked ridiculous making shapes for her as though they were trying to cheer up their mother. But Jasmine's expression remained withdrawn and exhausted.

"Hey," Jasmine mumbled.

"Hey." Pacer slipped into bed with her—it vaguely amused him when the twins disappeared, like they knew they were intruding—and took into account the dark circles beneath Jasmine's eyes. "Today was a lot."

Jasmine hummed but gave nothing away.

Pacer turned onto his side to face her. He wanted to touch her, but his hand fell back onto the bed. "If there's anything you want to talk about—"

"I just want to go to bed," Jasmine cut in, weary. "I just…want to sleep this all off. This feels like a bad dream." A short hysterical burst laughed. "This feels like a nightmare. I'm living a nightmare."

Pacer's heart felt heavy when Jasmine clawed her sheets and her bottom lip trembled. "Slugger—"

"Is this what I was to you? A 'human broodmare'?" Jasmine accused shakily. "Is that why you—?"

"No!" Pacer cupped Jasmine's cheek to turn her head and frightened umbers connected with serious pale reds. "No, Slugger, no, I promise you that's not what you are to me—"

"But that's what I am to other people, right?" Jasmine shut her eyes. "I'm this breeding machine that gives them Gods or…whatever the Hell I'm giving birth to right now—!"

"Twins," Pacer inserted. "You're giving birth to our human twins, Slugger. That hasn't changed."

"Oh, a lot of things have changed," Jasmine snapped. Her ire cut through all her dissociative fear and exhaustion and Pacer was her closest target. "This was a mistake. All of this was a mistake—!"

"What was a mistake—?"

"You!" Jasmine burst. "You and your family!" She jerked her head from his touch, shaking. "I should have never gotten involved with your family if I knew it would be a bunch of bullshit and the fact that my life is on the line. This isn't my life, Pacer!" The angered tears stung her cheeks. "This isn't me! I'm not like you; I don't have powers or 'Slayers' or any of that! I'm normal! The twins are normal! I-I-I can't—!" She covered her mouth when the sob made her breath hitch. "I-I-I can't—!"

"C'mere, Slugger." Pacer wrapped his arms around her trembling form as she cried into his chest. Pain tore him up, made him helpless, but if all he could do was hold her as she weathered through her own fear and worry, then he would hold her for as long as she wanted. "None of this is easy," he soothed her. "I'm so sorry this isn't easy on you and our kids, Slugger. I know it's not fair."

"I can't do this," Jasmine choked. "I-I-I can't…be okay with any of this—!" She sniffled. "I'm just a Spiritless. I don't have powers. I have nothing. I just wanted to give the twins love and you're telling me I have a bigger target on my back than ever." She rubbed her cheek. "I can't do this," she whimpered.

Pacer hated telling lies, so he opted for a hard truth. "We don't have a choice," he murmured sadly. "I know you're the one carrying our twins, but I promise I'm going to be here to protect our family. And Pearson will too. And if you give Lance a chance, so will he."

"The twins were afraid of him—"

"They were afraid of the god he's connected to," Pacer explained. "But not Lance."

Jasmine sniffed, shaking her head. "You guys talk about gods like this—like it's nothing for you, like it's normal. That's…! That's not normal!" She opened her eyes to show the despair diseasing her. "None of this is normal. I can't go to hospitals anymore. Our kids can't even go to a regular Magic Academy. And now people are going to come for me—"

"Not on our watch," Pacer rumbled. His hackles raised thinking about such a horrifying prospect. "Slugger, I swear to you that we'll do everything in our power to make sure you and our twins are safe."

"I just…!" Jasmine's eyes darted, desperate, looking for an escape. "The police! Can't we go to the police back home—?"

"Spiritless police do nothing when it comes to magical affairs, Slugger," Pacer gently reminded her, even though he hated seeing her hope fleet so fast. "You practice Spiritless law. It's the right call to get the police involved for that. But in Magic Law, Spiritless police have no jurisdiction. It's a whole different court with different laws and different systems. And since you're one of the rare mothers giving birth to Wizards…"

More fear weighed down on Jasmine. "Can't we talk to your Magic Council—?"

"The Council is what we're leery of," Pacer told her.

"So I'm stuck? I'm just supposed to be a sitting duck while people are after me?" Jasmine tried to get out of his arms, but Pacer refused to let her go. "Pacer, let me go—!"

"No." Pacer seared her with a hard look. "I want to be gentle with you, Slugger, I do, but you have to accept things soon if you want to be protected." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he started again. "Because our children are magical, it doesn't matter that you're Spiritless while you're pregnant with them. The police can't help you. We can try if that makes you feel better, but they won't. And the Council is too hit or miss for us to trust it. Right now, as scary as everything sounds, we're going to pull all the strings we can so you are always safe, even when we're not around."

"Where are you going?" Jasmine fretted.

"I don't plan to go anywhere," Pacer calmed her. "But I'm also not suggesting we stick to each other like glue. We have our lives, our studying, our jobs—I don't want to take your identity away from you. You deserve to keep living your life. That's why we're going to make sure you can keep living your life by whatever means necessary." He threaded his hand with hers. "We're going to support you, Slugger."

"And you?" Jasmine asked. "What about you?"

"It's different for me. I have my abilities," Pacer reminded. "I know what to do to defend myself and what I don't know, I know I can ask my dad to train me farther than I am."

"I don't want to be a sitting duck in this, Pacer," Jasmine insisted. "I'm not some weak little pregnant woman. I want to protect myself and the twins too—"

"And you can do so by accepting help." He offered her a teasing grin. "Even if such a thing isn't your MO."

"I have half a minute to punch you in the dick," Jasmine muttered.

Pacer snickered. "That's my girl. I was afraid my feisty Slugger disappeared." He kissed her forehead before nuzzling her cheek. "You had me worried there you were about to make a break for it."

Jasmine sighed. "I might get pissed, but I'm not stupid enough to run away right now. I just…need to process. I need time. Everything is happening so fast like I can't even catch my breath."

Pacer frowned. "I guess it never fazed me before since it's normal to have to adjust pretty fast in the Magic World." He rubbed down her arm and cooed, "Don't worry, Slugger, I'll protect you for a price."

"How about that 'price' be I allow you in my general vicinity and don't try to kill you in cold blood?"

"Fair enough." He had meant to tease her further when her grimace and growing wet spots on her t-shirt and made him lose his train of thought.

"I'm leaking again," Jasmine complained, throwing an angry look at her shirt. "I didn't want to wear one of my support bras to bed, but I feel like it's inevitable." With Pacer too quiet given his personality, she snuck him a look only to scowl and whack him when she figured out where he was staring. "Don't look at my tits, you jackass! Read the damn room!"

"Sorry. It's just…" Pacer hard swallowed when his gaze fell back to her breasts.

"Ugh." Jasmine shoved him away and huffed getting out of bed. Without asking anyone's permission, she tore off her shirt and did not care when she felt Pacer greedily drink her in. She arched a haughty eyebrow at him with only her granny panties on and snarked, "Here. This is all you're going to get."

"Can I touch you?"

Jasmine's arrogance slipped for bewilderment. "Excuse me?"

"You just…" Pacer came closer to her and made sure to take his time in his hearty appraisal like a starved man. "You look so fucking gorgeous." He could not help himself when his hands slid onto her round stomach, but he refrained from going any higher no matter how badly he wanted to.

"I look like a whale, I gained five kilos in both my ass and my boobs," Jasmine stated flatly. "Nothing about this is gorgeous."

"No?" Pacer checked on his lip ring as he dragged his heated stare up to her own and burned her with his lust. "I could show you better than I could tell you."

"Really?" Jasmine dared to toy with his jaw with subtle drags of her nails. Taunting him further, she bent over with her breasts so close to his mouth that he could crane his neck to start playing with her. A smirk adorned her as she guided him closer to her breasts only to whisper, "Tough shit, baby daddy."

Pacer recovered from Jasmine's shove a fraction too late when she high-tailed it to her bathroom and managed to shut the door before he could properly give chase. Her laughter was music to his ears, but he still banged on the locked door and hollered, "Slugger, let me in!"

"I saw that hard-on. Impressive? Yes. Did it sway me? No."

Pacer could not deny that claim, but he still begged, "C'mon…! I just want to look!"

"Bye, Pacer!"

Pacer exaggerated a groan. "What happened to you worrying about me and letting me hold you and me promising to protect you? That had to get me somewhere, right?"

Jasmine opened the door to glare at him. "You can sleep here if you are going to sleep."

"Not even a little cuddling?"

Jasmine's death stare said it all.

"I'll take what I can get," Pacer sighed. But he would not be him if he did not push his luck, and he hoped, "Can we sleep naked?"

And he wholeheartedly deserved her punch.

---

Caracole Island had many spectacles that drew in the masses, but one spot that most tourists overlooked was the park at the top of the island. It was not a park, per se, but the trees had been kind in saving a grassy clearing and warned off wildflowers from invading the haven they painstakingly designed. Locals had hiked their way from their homes to lay down blankets and chairs with coolers and snacks passed around. The map of the heavens shined above them and tonight, the heavens would give these mere mortals who lived within a blink of an eye a true spectacle to watch.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • —

Caracole Island

Fiore, Ishgar

1:56 AM CAST

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Nashi yawned as she and Gary shared a blanket with a few pillows propping them up. He smiled when she curled into him. "Tired, Angel?"

"Yes," Nashi mumbled, closing her eyes. "Today's been a long day."

"Spa treatment go okay?"

"Mmm." Nashi cracked her eyes open. "It was fine."

"I might be your second," Galileo gravelly reminded her, "but I had you first."

Hickories dimmed, pained. Why did he have to say that? I thought we were okay. I thought we could be friends. So, why…? A heated sigh left her when she felt winter gloss over her summer. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Angel," murmured Gary as he mindlessly started sectioning her hair to braid it. "I know Angel has a lot on her mind. Angel doesn't have to tell me anything or she can tell me everything. Whatever Angel is comfortable with."

Nashi's hand tightened on his chest. "What if…what I tell you might be hurtful?"

But Gary held his smile. "As long as Angel is the one telling me her truth, I don't mind if it's hurtful." Blues sullied with emotion. "After all… Angel will tell me the truth about my soul…about Skade…"

Grief wound around Nashi and she dared not face him. Feeling cowardly, she curled further into him. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I don't want to hurt you at all. You don't deserve to be hurt. You deserve to be free of all this."

"I'm happy Angel wants to spare me from hurt, but it's okay." He had decided on Bellish braid with her hair. "I know what's out there for me, Angel." And that darn smile on his face never faded. "I know I'll never be free for this. As long as I'm alive, I can't be free. I accept that."

"Why?" Such a childish question, but the why's in the world had their part to play. "Why do you just…accept it?"

"I think Angel misunderstands," Gary mused aloud. "Freedom is a personal perception, but it's not cyclic. Freedom is intermittent. I'll never truly be free from this life, but I have moments where I feel it. And I mostly feel free with you and our friends and Fairy Tail and our family. I'm content with that."

"But not alone?"

"No." Ceruleans darkened. "Being alone makes me feel like a prisoner."

Nashi rubbed his chest as soothing summer kissed his winter. Her eyes accidentally found Jaxton and Tesla all snuggled together in their pillow-blanket nest and a subconscious smile lifted the corners of her lips at their slow kisses and closeness. "Tesla told me something interesting about her scene with Jax."

"Mm?"

"She said she'll be more connected than ever with him after it." Nashi thumbed his cross necklace.

Gary's lips twitched. "Did she now?"

"Gary…"

A chuckle vibrated his chest. "Jang-ta told me about it a while ago."

"And you couldn't tell me?"

"It wasn't my place," Gary alluded. He glanced over to Jaxton and Tesla and a flicker of pride and approval washed over him seeing the happy couple. "It won't be the same as ours. He still has reservations about completing it fully. But he wants to offer her the beginnings of it."

"Why not go all the way?"

"He has his reasons," Gary listed in vague, "but he wants to leave her with the option of separating from him without any pain until she's a little older to complete it. Jang-ta's culture is a lot more ritual when it comes to this. They consider it 'marriage'."

"I never knew that," Nashi murmured. "It makes sense he'd want to wait then if the Zhōnguánese consider this like 'marriage'." She glanced up at him. "Is that why you said you'd be busy?"

Gary hummed, still braiding her hair. "Jang-ta asked me to be a witness to it."

"That's amazing," Nashi breathed, taken aback. "That's such an honor, Gary."

"I know." Gary could not hold back how touched he was when his winter paraded it. "I accepted right away when he asked. I was surprised when he did, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I just want him to be happy."

"That's sweet." Nashi pecked his chin. "You mean a great deal to him, you know."

"I know." Gary finished her Bellish braid and gave it a tug to ensure it stuck together. "And he means a lot to me too." I don't think I could ever repay him for all he's done for me in the past.

"I don't think you've told me how you and Jaxton met," Nashi realized, a little troubled. "I mean… He never step foot into Fairy Tail and I never saw you both together outside of the guild."

Gary shifted and swept Nashi into his arms. "We met through unusual circumstances. And we've been friends ever since."

"You have a lot of unusual friends," Nashi remembered good-humoredly. "I still remember how you were always looking for a fight with Lance and Misty. Lance just kept electrocuting you if you got to close to him, and Misty would try to make you do all these tasks so you'd give up."

Such old memories of those days—the days before his capture—made him nostalgic in the strangest of ways. "Orochi never took me seriously. And Ezra just went along with whatever I did back then. And now look at them. Lance helps with military defense training and is basically a consultant. Mystogan is on his way to becoming a Sorcerer. Orochi has an amazing business sense—"

"And runs your brothel."

Gary breathlessly chuckled. "Yeah. And runs my brothel," he added. "And Ezra is at a big-named research institute to become a magi-geneticist. I couldn't be prouder of any of them." He stroked Nashi's back. "Now I just worry for Cade and Sparkles. Mustang's fine. I'm never worried about him or T'oree. But those two…"

Cade's last words to her came back to Nashi and she ended up admitting, "He told me to tell you… He's not going to stop looking for Dazzler." Feeling winter's resignation, she murmured, "But you already knew that. Why is he so desperate to find her?"

"They have a lot to work out," Gary cryptically explained. "When did Cade tell Angel this?"

Nashi haltingly confessed, "That night… When you and Justin left, I, um… I got a call."

"From Cade?"

"No… Not exactly…"

"I see." Gary pressed a cold kiss on her brow.

Nashi sighed. "I hate how you're so understanding." She yanked on his cheek and scolded him, "Stop being so understanding. It's weird, you idiot dog."

"I can't say I'm as good as Angel thinks of me." Gary cupped her hand against his cheek before kissing her wrist. "I'll always want to know Angel's secrets so badly. I do anything to know all of Angel's thoughts and dreams and wishes. But I'm afraid of Angel knowing what's in my head. So I'm more selfish than anything."

That triggered more of Galileo's drunken confessional. "Gary is a better man than me. He isn't selfish. He isn't greedy. He wants you happy and doesn't care if your happiness isn't with him. And he would've never gotten a second—a fraud. I could tell. He would die with you as his only."

"Why can't you be selfish?"

Gary frowned when Nashi trembled and her summer spasmed, distressed. "Angel?"

"Why can't you be greedy?" Nashi rasped. "Why do you have to be the better person? You should be mad at me."

"But why?" Gary asked, puzzled.

"Because…!" Nashi shut her eyes. "Because Galileo had me first and you had me second. You should be mad at me or something. You should be selfish or…or something. But you're just so understanding. You're… You're…" She found herself spewing the same words Galileo said. "You're a good man, Gary."

"I'm not—"

"You are," Nashi insisted.

"Angel thinks too highly of me," Gary strained to jest. "I don't think—"

"If Galileo wanted a second chance, what would you do?"

Silence.

His winter blanked, giving nothing away.

"Well… If… If Angel wanted to give him a chance—"

Hickories widened.

Gary continued weakly: "—then I can't deny her that right. I'll be happy for Angel as long as she's happy—"

"You idiot."

Gary tried to turn his head away when Nashi twisted and gathered his cheeks in her hands. "Angel—"

"You stupid dog." An insult with no true anger and only true anguish. "Don't say that to me," she hissed at him. No, she was not hissing—she was pleading with me. "Don't… Don't be like this. Don't be this good, you stupid dog." Her fingers trembled against his skin.

Gary's features cracked. "Angel—"

"I'm not good," Nashi told him. "I'm selfish. I'm really selfish. I don't want to let you go ever. I don't want to watch you be with someone else. I don't want to see someone be your second. I want you to be my only. I can't… I can't not be this greedy with you, y-you stupid dog." Her bottom lip quivered, but she stuck to her guns. "If you fall out of love with me, I'd still fight for you. I'm sorry, I know, it's selfish, and I should let you be happy with someone else, but I can't just…sit back and watch you with someone else."

Nashi touched his chest and could feel the rapid beating of his heart. "Everything about you is mine and I can't let you go," she professed to him. "Please don't be a good man anymore. Don't let me go. I can't let you go. You're my only, Gary, so please," she croaked in beseech. "I'm only happy with you, so please."

All of Galileo's words of ruin stroked fear into her summer. Images of Gary with someone else pained her to the point of near tears. I can't sit back and watch and be that miserable. I can't. I can't watch him find another first and be his second. I know it's selfish, but… I don't want to ever let him go.

A warm smile. "Angel…truly does love me."

Light browns connected with loving blues.

Gary stroked her cheek, searching her eyes. "I've been holding back because Angel deserves to fly freely. But if Angel wants me to be selfish…then I won't let Angel fall out of love with me. If me being greedy is what makes Angel happy, then I can be greedy. I won't let Angel go. I'll fight for Angel. I'll marry Angel." Blues shimmered. "I'll start a family with her."

Those were not pretty words—those were vows that made Nashi's heart clench. "You're my only, Gary, please remember that, okay?" She hugged him and nuzzled beneath his jaw. Against his skin, she imparted the words, "There was never a second."

Blues widened before they softened. Oh, Angel… He embraced her back. I had a feeling Galileo said something. But I was never worried. I have an Angel who loves me and wants me to be all hers. I could never when she says words like that to me. He breathed to her, "I know, Angel." He added in a sweet rumble, "Angel is my only too."

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Come on now, dance tonight

We can boogie till the morning

There's no plans tonight

Gonna have a good one

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Someone gasped and pointed at the sky. "Look! It's starting!"

Eyes drew up to the heavens with awe befalling over them as the beauteous spurts of light bolting through the galaxy. The Lyrid shower was not always so glamorous and quick to show its hand, but tonight, it decided to give a show as more and more streaks of light danced across the starry sky.

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Seaside no bijo

She's like an illusion

Pinku iro no neon

utsushidasu vision

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"Make a wish."

Tesla smiled against Jaxton's command on her skin as she toyed with his fingers. "I didn't take you to be one who wished on stars, Yang Jang-ta. How shamelessly childish."

Jaxton chuckled. "Just make one."

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Himitsu no location (location)

Mabushii refection (reflection)

Hikitsukero attention yoru no nuke dasou

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"Well." Tesla gave a big exhale. "My wish came true this afternoon meeting the werewolf of my dreams, so I think I'm all out of things to wish for." She laughed when Jaxton growled against her and poked fun, "Oh, stop it. And what's you wish for, you big baby?"

"Hmm…"

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Daremoga jealousy ni naru hodo ni sexy

katate ni wa Hennessy katachi dake tipsy

yarikata wa classic-hin yoku majestic

yokeinamono wa hora nugisutete sa

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"It's a secret," Jaxton decided.

Tesla pouted. "Killjoy." But she caved into Jaxton's little nips and kisses—a Male showing love to his Female. "This isn't like a birthday candle, y'know."

"It's still bad luck to tell a person your wish before it comes true," Jaxton amusedly reminded her.

Tesla dramatically sighed. "Oh, fine. Keep your secrets," she sniffed. "Not like I care." When he hummed and kissed her chin, she murmured, "Our big day is coming soon, isn't it?"

"It is." Jaxton thumbed her side. "I'm nervous about it too."

"Well, thanks a bunch, that does nothing to help my anxiety," Tesla grumbled. "Are you sure this is even legal with your customs and everything? Don't we have to go to a temple and everything?"

"Not until we officially do the ceremony," Jaxton explained. "But we aren't. We're only starting it. I'll start the process with my mother's side." He trailed a finger down her throat. "And I'll end the process on my father's side."

A shiver gave Tesla gooseflesh. "Don't you need Báihǔ's approval to do this though? He's your Guardian, right? What if he doesn't like me?" she fretted. "What if he blights you or something?"

"He won't, Tesla."

"But how do you know that?" she demanded to know. "I don't want you to get in trouble with him."

This woman. Jaxton nuzzled her. "I won't be in trouble." He silenced her when another argument was on the rise, "Watch the stars and make a wish, baby girl. There's no need for you to worry. I've taken care of any complications. All you need to do is be ready for me just as I am for you." He added in slight teasing, "Even if I'm not your dream werewolf."

"Of course you're not." Tesla kissed his chin. "You're my dream Cultivator and Lycan, and all of that is way better than some fictional werewolf." Her grays found the Lyrid shower and admiration for the beauty of starry nature reflected in her eyes. "I'm going to make a wish." She poked his chest. "And I'm not telling."

Jaxton's lips twitched. "Go ahead." He tightened his hold on her as he watched her look like she was praying. This woman… She's something else. He glanced up at the Lyrid shower. My wish is that I become strong enough to overcome whatever complications will come next. Miya Matsumoto, my mother, my father, the Doctor, Gannon Lynk—they are enemies I have to be ready for. His jaw went taught. And I will be ready for them.

"Miaow."

His gaze swiveled to meet the yellow-amber glow of a white tomcat with black stripes sitting between two trees. The tomcat bowed his head before getting up. His shadow was that of a tiger, but the tomcat merely turned back into the forest and slipped into the shadows.

And as long as I have Báihǔ's will—Jaxton looked back up at the stars—I know I'll be ready.

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Come on now, dance tonight

We can boogie till the morning

There's no plans tonight

We gonna have a Good One

Mizugiwa no playground

Konna kyouku wo play

And we can dance tonight

Hey we gonna have a Good One

•

Wanna see you move like this

I like it, you like it

Side to side, front to back

He likes it, she likes it

Wanna see you move like this

We like it, they like it

Upside-down, inside-out

And it's gonna be a good one!

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Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

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April Schneider – Morgan Garrett

Jeremy Carter / Shikoba Bravebird – Forrest Goodluck

Justin Justine – Ian Sinclair

Nashi Dragneel – Laura Landa

Hylia Lynk / Tesla Greer – Galena White

Jasmine Strother – Jasmine Brown

Pacer Strauss – Josh Keaton

Lupita Bankole – Brenda Crichlow

Jura Kneekis – Kent Williams

Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns

Cael – Jason Griffiths

Seraphim – Jameison Price

Galileo Redfox – Josh Grelle

Cade le Fay – Ricco Farjado

Jang-ta "Jaxton" Yang – Eddy Yeong

Ace Benson – Billy Kametz

Pearson Strauss – David Matranga

Lance Dreyar – Johnny Young Bosch

Aurinia – Seána Kerslake

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Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

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⌜ OPENING SONG

⟪ Walking with You ⟫

Novelbright

Lyrics by

雄大 / 勇太朗⌟

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⌜ENDING SONG

⟪ Good One ⟫

HIRAIDAI

Lyrics by

EIGO, Dai Hirai⌟

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Next time, on Fairy Adventure

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Episode 116

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CONNECT

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TO BE CONTINUED…

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Chibi-Luna greets the class warmly, "Hi, class!"

"Hi, Teacher!" the students greet back. "What's our Fairy Lesson of the day?"

Chibi-Luna claps her hands. "I'm glad you asked! For today's lesson, we're going to speak about—!"

"Teacher, is Galileo okay?" a student asks, worried.

"Yes!" Chibi-Luna is a little flustered she is interrupted, but she tries to move on to the lesson. "So we're going to talk about—!"

"When are we going to see him?" another student demands. "There has to be another side to the story, right?"

"Um, w-well…" Chibi-Luna nervously scoots back. "Yes, there is—"

"And when will we see the other protagonists?" a student demands to know. "What happened to all of them on spring break, huh?"

"And what's going on with Lupita and Jura, Teacher?" a student pries. "We saw all those looks! Something has to be going on with them, Teacher, right? We want to know!"

Chibi-Luna finds herself swamp as the students gang up on her with overlapping questions and demands and she begins to sweat. "Oh. Um. Well. I can't answer that right now, but if you could just wait a little while, there will be other episodes—"

"Tell us now, Teacher!" the class demands.

Chibi-Luna trembles in the presence of her students and squeaks rapidly, "Today's Fairy Lesson is about the difference between a God Slayer, a Champion, and a Demigod. A Champion is a person who proves their worth to a god and the gods gives them powers, but those powers aren't godly powers. Just normal Magic. A Demigod is the child between a god and a non-god who somehow inherited some of their god parent's powers. And a Slayer is someone unrelated to a god that is gifted a fraction of the god's power. The more they use their abilities, the more they grow in their strength to possibly ascend to being an actual god—"

"Teacher…"

Chibi-Luna gulps when her students leer at her. "O-Oh! That must be the bell!" She tiptoes away—

"Get back here, Teacher!"

"Wa…!" Chibi-Luna runs through the halls with comical tears as her students cluster in a mob and give chase. "I don't want to do these lessons anymore if you're just going to bully me!"