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.
In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.
LAST TIME, on Fairy Adventure: after learning about Gary's time with the Doctor, we learned Skade was a manifestation of the unattended trauma Gary went through this whole time. But even as Gary tries to piece together his past to create his desired future, Nashi promises to stay a constant in his ever-evolving present. Tesla and Jaxton completed one side of their spiritual connection, but with Miya Matsumoto on the rise and Ping-Mei lurking in the background, they have so much more to go. Jasmine took the plunge to keep her twins safe, but with how strong the Dreyar-Strauss Clan is, from a flirty baby daddy to the next leader of the God Slayers, she'll have to relearn what the term "family" means. And speaking of the next leader of the God Slayers, it's starting to look like this "Cymmie" and Noah Nakamura are more important than they seem.
'And I…will take us all to that world.'
But you know what? Caracole Island served as the vacation everyone wanted and needed. I can only wonder what's on the horizon in the next chapter of everyone's stories…
Basements were wonderful places for secrets.
Away from all the noise and lights, secrets could blossom in the basement. Secret crushes. Secret movies.
Secret kisses.
He could not believe his luck when their lips parted and he looked into those large light brown eyes. He could still feel her warmth, her taste, on his lips, and the glow from the LV made her pink hair shine and the blush on her cheeks darkened.
"Nashi…" The weight of her hand in his felt like it was natural—like it was meant to be. "Can I kiss you again?"
Nashi's lips parted—
KA-KA-KA!
Both swung their heads to see Gary had climbed down the steps and had peeked in on them. Maybe to her, she saw annoyance. But he saw it in Gary's eyes for a quick moment. He saw the pain and hurt.
"Gary?"
And now he felt nothing but pain and hurt.
SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK!
He felt the bed was about to break.
It did not matter that they were tucked away in a hotel room a town over from home. It did not matter that their clothes and a condom wrapper littered the floor. The squeaks of the bedsprings and the synchronized thumps from the headboard told neither one of them cared about the location or the state of their den of sin.
Her sweet moans and mewls were like music to his ears. Feeling her clamp down on him every thrust made him want to chase his release yet hold back and see how much it would take until she begged him to cum.
They had switched between missionary, cowgirl, and now a rough from behind would be how they would finish their passion. Her nails tore at the sheets as she tried and failed to smother her cries for more yes aaah with sweat glistening on her bowed back and tanging in her hair. She howled when his hand yanked her hair, and he groaned feeling her flutter around him. Watching her breasts bounce from every pound made him feel like a filthy man wishing he could see that all day.
She was intoxicating.
She was perfect.
She was his first.
Her whimper told him she would collapse soon. Maybe it was time to take pity on her. He dropped her hair to clamp his hands down on her hips—
Her weep of his name could not be any more beautiful to him.
Like a man starved, he made sure she felt the force behind each deep and frantic stroke. He could feel that familiar tingle spur him on to go deeper harder faster to subject himself to that precious release, but he refused to end this without her. He let his hand snake to toy with her clit—
A guttural groan left him when three strokes on her clit made her shudder around him so violently that he could not stop himself when he—
"G-Gary!"
Ropes of his seed filled her as the pressure left him. He knew that. He knew what his body was doing. He knew she had contracted around him, milking him for all he was worth.
But what did that matter when she had made it clear he was nothing but a second?
• — • — • — •
The myth that you handled hangovers better in your younger years was bullshit.
Galileo felt a throb in his temples and crusts of sleep trying to keep his eyes shut. But his body chose to wake him up regardless of the sourness of his muscles, the sour heaviness burdening his mouth, and the unwanted morning wood. His metal arm had the luxury of being free from this pain, but he regretted not taking off his arm before he had staggered into bed after puking out the weed and alcohol from last night.
Darkness swamped his bedroom but inheriting your father's eyesight meant that even the tiniest hint of light was well-noticed and hurt you when you were hungover.
He brushed the sleep from his eyes with clumsy fingers and one sigh from him offended his nose by the smell. I need to brush my teeth and shower. With a grunt, he forced himself up—
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.
"Galileo?" his mother called, timid. "I'm not sure if you're awake yet, but I just wanted to remind you about your one-on-one with Master is in a half-hour." Two beats. "I'll be in my study if you need anything."
He waited until he knew his mother was gone to swing his legs out of bed and adjust himself. It was as though all those drinks from last night sloshed in his head and worsened his headache, but he did not have the luxury to sleep it off. Getting out of bed proved to be a process and his walk to the bathroom was imbalanced at best.
The lights flicked on and burned him, but he had little choice in the matter. Vaguely, he saw Gale had taken a portion of his belongings, but he did not care about remembering why that was. He shucked out of his boxer briefs instead and decided a shower was his prerogative.
ZAA-ZAA…
The hot spray flattened his unruly hair and drizzled down his skin, soothing some of the aches. But it could not bring life back into those pale hazel-reds.
A sunny smile. "Leo!"
His half-hard cock twitched.
Lips pressed together, he recognized his body's wants.
Warm hickories. "I missed you!"
His hand fisted.
Flowing pink locks sprawled across satin sheets. A breathless moan. "Galileo…"
His fingers were gentle coaxing his now fully hard cock.
It hurt.
The memories of her touch, her voice, her scent were enough to make and the feel of the running water against him was enough to get him started.
It hurt.
It was hard to say if it was the shower spray that wetted his cheeks or if it was the fault of tears.
It hurt.
The way he worked his hand wishing it was her, the way his body tightened, the way he felt that pressure more and more and more until he did not care anymore and released against the shower wall with a grunt—
It hurt.
A ragged pant left him as he balanced himself with a hand against the wall. Under the spray, he could see the splatter of his mistake—his sin—and as dirty and disgusting as it felt—as he felt—all he could picture were those eyes.
And it hurt.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
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
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Being in the Master's Quarters might have been nerve-wracking to a first-timer, but it mattered little to a seasoned Wizard.
Number Five had poured tea and water for Erza and Galileo prior to her silent leave. But neither one reached for their beverage. Erza sat in her chair as she watched Galileo, and Galileo looked like he had half a mind in the present and the other half was nowhere to be found.
Erza could start the quarterly one-on-one like always. She had Galileo's file ready with his statistics from the past months printed out for him to sign and a recommendation plan on his training for them to go over, review, and sign. But she did not. Propping up her elbows on her desk, she loosely clasped her hands before her lips and she waited.
Galileo bit the bullet. "I know I haven't been going on as many jobs as I should," he started. "I'm sorry for that, Master."
"That's not important," Erza dismissed. "Me being your Guild Master isn't important. Right now, we are family. And we're having a conversation."
That sounded like an execution to Galileo, but how could he refuse? "All right. About what?"
"About you." Erza rested her hands on the table. "And how you're doing."
Galileo brushed off, "I'm fine—"
"You are not fine. Try again."
"But I am—"
"You're not."
Galileo blew out his cheeks, but he did not try his hand again.
Erza sat back with her legs and arms crossed. "If you wanted to fool me into thinking you're fine, I'd suggest asking my youngest daughter for advice. She has her poker face down-packed."
Galileo asked, "And does it fool you?"
"No." Erza shifted her arms. "But I'm her mother. And even if she thinks I don't notice, I do."
Galileo winced. "Did my parents say something to you? Is that it?"
"I have eyes, Galileo," Erza reminded. "Whether your parents spoke to me doesn't matter when I can see you for myself. And from where I'm standing, you are not fine. You're hurting over something." Kobichas softened. "Something I suspect revolves around a certain niece of mine."
"It's not like that," Galileo tried to refute. "We're not…like that. Anymore, I mean." He slouched forward with his arms hanging off his thighs as though he were Atlas and the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. "We were never anything, if I'm being honest about it. So it's fine. It's nothing."
Erza studied him before saying, "I don't get involved with personal relationships outside my children's because you and Nashi and Gary are all adults. On a professional level, I know the three of you will hold up decorum. But on a personal level—"
"I'm not going to turn into Gale, if that's what you're asking," Galileo tiredly muttered. "I'm not…that desperate. I know she's happy. She's fine. I'm fine. There's nothing more to talk about."
"I think there is," Erza gently disagreed. "And I'm sure I'm not the one you want to talk to about it. But you have to talk to someone."
Galileo's hands clenched. "I'm not like Emma. I'm not like Gale or Ka—" He bit his tongue on that last name. "I'm fine, Master."
"You are not your siblings, no," Ezra agreed with him. "What I discussed with Emma on her mental state will remain between her and myself. But whereas Gale's situation differed from yours, it still has similarities and those similarities resulted in the same advice."
That made Galileo slump even more. "I'm being ordered to see someone?"
"No." Erza shook her head and let out a breath. "No, you won't be. Emma and Gale were dangers to others. That's why what happened with them happened. But you have not proven to be a danger to anyone else. And I don't think you will be. But you're hurting and in pain, Galileo, over subjects none of us can know, so we can only guess.
"If you feel that you can improve on your own, then this conversation never happened. But if you feel out of control and…alone, then maybe it's time to open to someone that's not me or your parents or a friend but someone with the knowledge to not only listen but to guide you."
Galileo scrubbed his face with a hand before letting his arm drop back. "Is that it?"
Five beats.
"Yes," Erza said with a heavy heart. "That's all I'll say on the matter."
Galileo nodded and looked to the side. He murmured, "You never told my parents what Emma did to Gale."
"To be honest, I never knew the full extent," Erza confessed. "And had Igneel not stormed into my office, I probably wouldn't have known about Emma's true personality. Even so, in the end, I failed Gale as his Guild Master and as his family. And now he suffers for it every day."
"He's not suffering."
Erza hitched up an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"He's not," Galileo enforced, timbre quiet. "Maybe he was suffering before. He hated himself. He hated a lot of things. He was always…angry and ready for a fight. He was suffering back then. But now, he's just struggling. He's struggling working through all the damage Emma did to him. He's struggling balancing his emotions and his actions. He's struggling with a lot of things. But he isn't suffering anymore."
"I understand," Ezra said. "Then I stand corrected and I misspoke." She leaned forward to ask the fatal question, "Which one are you right now, Galileo? Are you suffering or are you struggling?"
And for that, Galileo had no answer.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure 118
•
A Spring Holiday Side Story
Galileo's Lament
•
春休みサイドストーリー
ガリレオの嘆き
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
It was not that Mustang minded visitors, but this one in particular surprised him when he opened the door. "Hey, Leo."
Galileo offered a nod. He did not have it in him to throw on a friendly smile. "Hey, Mustang. Is Cade here?"
"Yeah, he's here. Come on in." Mustang tracked Galileo's every movement. It looked strange to see Mustang without his cowboy hat on, but the dampness of his thick waves and the towel on his neck confirmed he had only hopped out of the shower moments ago. "Heard you both had a wild ride last night."
Galileo hummed as he took off his slides. "How's he doing?"
"Made him some homemade menudo and a whole breakfast hash this morning since he was as sick as a dog passing peach pits," Mustang told him as he toweled his hair. "Told him to take it easy, so he's passed out in his bed still." A sigh left him. "Ever since Miss Lafayette left, he's either about to pick a fight with an empty house or he gets drunk as a skunk. It's not like I don't miss her too, but…"
Mustang shook his head. "I'm sure if Miss Lafayette left, it was for a reason. Miss Tori says the same. She'll come home when she's good and ready and not a moment before. But Cade's impatient as sin."
Galileo tilted his head, curious. "Do you know why?"
"I can take a guess." Mustang gave his hallway a sad look. "But it's not my story to tell. I just wish he knew I missed her too. He's not the only one who…" He waved the thought away. "I've got some breakfast hash and menudo left over if you're in the mood. I have to get ready with Crimson for a job I'm takin'."
"Thanks a lot, Mustang," Galileo said. "I appreciate it. And good luck on your job."
"Thanks."
Galileo moseyed down the hallway to a closed door on the far right. Two knocks and a handful of moments later before he opened the door to Cade's room. Considering it had been a spare room when Mustang had lived alone, Cade had yet to decorate it with any personal touches. It was almost as though he preferred the generic modern look of the room.
Cade laid crumpled up in his sheets, but he mumbled, "Get the fuck out."
"I can't do that." Galileo had no issue creating a metal stool for himself to sit at Cade's bedside. "You look like shit."
Cade peeked from his comforter to show bloodshot eyes. "Feel like shit," he grunted. "That weed must've been from a bad batch. The second I got home, everything hit at once and I couldn't leave the bathroom."
Galileo grimaced. "Yeah. Same."
"Just goes to show even rich kids don't always have the good stuff." Cade shifted in his bed. "Master say something?"
Galileo shook his head. "No."
"Thank fuck," Cade groaned into his pillow as he curled it between his arms. "You got pretty sloshed last night, man." Concern flirted with his features. "You talk to Nashi after all that?"
The shame he tried to ignore from last night bled once more. "No," Galileo breathed. "And honestly, I doubt she'll want to speak to me again after doing that." After telling her everything I didn't want her to know. After ruining everything we had. Red-hazels glinted. The last good thing I had.
"Yeah, you fucked up."
TICK!
Tick mark on his temple, Galileo had half a mind to punch Cade, but he restrained his metal fist. Like he has room to talk. He let go of his agitation to claim, "I know I did. And I know…I can't take it back. But what's your excuse? You haven't been the same since Dazzler left."
Cade turned onto his back and rubbed down his face. "We just…have history," he lamely put. But he knew that was not enough for Galileo as he stared at his ceiling. "I know I've been giving Gary shit for not telling me where she is, but… She just up and left. And there's just a lot between us. And if Gary would just tell me where she is—"
"You know he won't do that." A bitter smile worked its way on Galileo. "He wouldn't disrespect Dazzler's wishes. He's…a good man." He's a better man than me.
Cade grunted. "Yeah, I know. The asshole is an S-Class deflector." But even with the insult, it had no heat to back it. "But at least he's loyal to the core. And I'm sure that's what she needs." Light grays saddened. "I thought she and I were getting somewhere, but I guess not. It's not like having sex cures everything. And she has every right to be upset at me." Especially after that.
"But you still want to find her?"
"I do." Cade sat up and stroked his sword cross necklace. I need to make things right. I need her to know…I'm sorry. Ruffling his hair, he broke into a yawn. "So what are you going to do about your stuff?"
"I don't know," Galileo confessed, honest. "Because before… I was fine with how things were. I thought I was. I thought if I could show her I was, then I was fine. But I know I messed up last night. And even if she gave me a second chance, I'm not sure that's what I need or even what she needs. And as for Gary…" His hands clawed down his shorts. "I don't have the right to call him my friend. Not after all of this."
Cade questioned, "Do you think Nashi told him about the call?"
"That's not something for me to worry about." Galileo looked to the side. "She's within her right to tell him. And I wouldn't blame her if she did. If he gets angry at me, I'll accept it. I deserve his anger." Red-hazels glistened. "For everything."
• — • — • — •
"I can't do this anymore."
The bed was his this time with the lights low and their clothes on the floor. His parents would be out on their date night, his brother decided pestering his favorite blonde was what his night entailed, and his sister made herself scarce. The heady scent of sex and sweat humidified the room, and his rings were still ringing from her moans.
And from her cries.
He watched as Nashi turned onto her side, giving him her back and a perfect view of the jagged scars burdening her shoulder blades.
"I'm sorry," Nashi whispered to him. "I just… I know this isn't right, Leo."
Galileo had little to offer as he fell onto his back. "I know," he murmured.
"I'm sorry." Nashi curled in on herself, grief rolling off her in large waves. "I know I'm being a bitch about this—"
"You're not," Galileo cut in. His fingers came up to come through her hair. "I know…how you feel about Gary—"
Nashi instantly denied, "It's not about him—"
"It is," Galileo told her. "I know, Angel-fish. You don't have to be sorry. It's okay." 'You've always been Gary's. Nothing could change that even if I wanted to.' The trembling of her shoulders made him curl around her. The subtle waft of her tears made his heart break even more than it was. "Don't cry, beautiful." He kissed her shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Nashi whimpered, voice scratchy. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this. This isn't fair to you. I'm so sorry." She turned her head to show her teary hickories. "You don't deserve this, Leo. You never deserved this."
Galileo took care in wiping her tears. 'If you knew what I was thinking, you wouldn't be crying over me. You'd run away.' "What I did or didn't deserve isn't up to you, Angel-fish. I wanted this—you. And I knew you were having thoughts about Gary." A mirthless laugh. "Which makes me a shitty friend."
Nashi's sniffled. "And it makes me a slut.
"No." His tone hardened, and he had not meant to make her flinch, but he would not accept that. "You're not a slut, Nashi. Don't even say that." He kissed her forehead to soften his blow. "You didn't do anything wrong." 'I'm the one who can't let go of you, even when you're saying his name when you're with me.' "I understand. Gary will understand." 'Like always. Because he's a better man than me. He would let you go if you asked him. But I…'
"I'm sorry," Nashi apologized again.
Galileo chuckled and kissed her nose. "Stop saying that." He smiled for her. Because if he did not smile, the alternative would be too painful. "Don't make me kiss you if you say that again."
A weak laugh bubbled out of Nashi and she rubbed her eyes free of tears.
Her laughter felt like a high and her scent was something to get drunk off. He could not help it as he asked her, "If this is really the last time… Can I have a proper goodbye?"
Nashi's smile faded for a flicker of uncertainty and sadness. "Leo…"
"Just one more time." Begging. He was beginning. He was begging to have his first once more before he had to leave with being her fraud. This was wrong. This was wrong. "Please." He kissed the corner of her mouth and could taste the saltiness of her tears.
She rasped, shaky, "Leo, wait." Her hands took to his shoulders. "Please—"
"Just one more time," he whispered, pleading, hoping.
"I…" Her hands slid down his chest and she did not resist him when he nudged her underneath him. Great sadness sang in her eyes, but she gave him a tiny nod before looking away. "Okay."
• — • — • — •
The memory made Galileo's head hurt. He remembered pouring his pain and his longing into the last moments shared. He could smell her tears and her quiet dispassion, but his want outweighed her need. A bout of dizziness betrayed him as his sensitive ears picked up the beat of Cade's heart. Every breath somehow sounded like it was right in his ear.
His stomach twisted. What's wrong with me? What…? What did I do?
Cade blinked when Galileo sat up and dismissed his stool. "Dude?"
"I need to go," Galileo choked out. He ignored Cade's concerned words. Mind racing and heart like lead, he fled from the apartment and staggered into the hallway. The world blurred for a moment and crushed him with more and more unwanted memories that he could do nothing about. I… Something is…wrong with me.
Pushing off the hallway wall, he forced himself down the corridor to reach the elevator. Sloppily, he pressed the button, but he could feel sweat dampen his forehead as his breathing became labored. Gravity warped as he felt like he was about to spill over and tumble to the ground. His mouth moved into a gurgle, but it took him seconds later to realize he had bitten his tongue.
In the far recesses of his mind, he could hear the elevator doors ding and part, but his body crumbled to the ground. His lips stuttered, trying to produce sound, but nothing would work. The world shifted, tripling its after-images, but he vaguely noticed someone had approached him.
And he could have sworn those were her eyes he saw before he passed out.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Leo… Leo…"
Drowsily, Galileo looked up and for a few moments, he saw a little boy leaning towards him, worried, and blackish blue hair wild and down his cheeks. But with one blink, reality forced him to see T'oree before him with a glass of water and her peculiar eyes holding worry. "Sir Galileo?"
Galileo blinked again before recognizing he was in her apartment, sitting on her living couch. "Yeah. Sorry about that Tor." He accepted the glass of water. "Thank you. I'm sorry for putting you out like this."
"You are not." T'oree floated before him before taking a seat on the couch with a wide birth between them. "My doors are always open to my companions." She folded her lengthy locks to one side as she watched him take sips with shaky fingers. "Sir Galileo… Forgive me for asking such a sensitive question, but you appeared to be having a sare. I'm unsure of the Minstrish equivalent, so I cannot properly translate."
"It's fine, Tori." Galileo set the glass on the coffee table with a dullness in his eyes. "Someone close to me used to have epilepsy. He's…gone now. But I remember how frightening it could be with his seizures." His reflection in the water showed him someone who was so very tired. "I'm sorry to put you in that position. I remember what it was like to wait for his seizure to end."
"I can imagine," T'oree said, timbre gentle. "You sound fond of him."
"Yeah." Galileo let his hands hang off his thighs. "I miss him a lot." If it wasn't for Emma, maybe he would be… "Anyway. I should get going." Wanting to get up and getting up proved to be two different ideas when gravity still was not your friend.
T'oree made sure to catch Galileo's arm when he stumbled and lowered him back onto the couch. "I don't mind if you stay until you feel more prepared to face the world, Sir Galileo," she assured him. "I had only planned minor cleaning today among a few unimportant errands."
"I understand." He took a gander of the living room and caught one of the pictures taken of Dazzler with T'oree and Gary during an autograph and photo op session for Dazzler's magic show. "How are you doing these days, Tor?"
T'oree noticed his line of sight and sighed with a faint smile. "I fare well, Sir Galileo, thank you. While I do miss Lady Dazzler, I understand that it was time for her to leave."
"You know where she is"—Galileo leveled T'oree with an even look—"don't you?"
T'oree told him, "I do not know the precise location of Lady Dazzler, no. But that is not to say we do not communicate either." She shoved back a hard look. "I expect this conversation is in confidence."
Galileo offered a faint snicker and raised a hand in surrender. "Whatever you say, Your Highness." Hazel-reds swept back to his water. "I respect that you and Gary are loyal to Dazzler, honest. I know Cade wants to look for Dazzler. But I also know if she wanted him to find him, she would have said or done something. So you have my word this won't get back to him."
"Thank you." T'oree stroked her hair. "Lord Cadorius makes his intentions clear that he will go on a quest for Lady Dazzler if he must. But she needs this time alone. I could see during the winter that her happiness here has been deteriorating. She needed to go on her own quest for self-discovery and self-care. And even if doing so meant she had to leave us behind, I support her decision to leave."
Sanguine hazels dropped. 'A decision to leave', huh?
T'oree glanced to the kitchen and offered—
"You don't think…she was running away?"
The question had T'oree tilt her head for a moment. "No, I do not," she answered him.
"But…" Galileo's hands twitched. "If she left everything behind, then…"
T'oree turned to him, understanding. "I believe there is a misunderstanding, Sir Galileo, and I would like to address it." She tucked one leg under the other and looked like a true heiress to her realm. "My mother once told me she found it easier living on the battlefield than living in our golden ages of peace. And the reason she told me that was, it is easier to live with herself when she only has one thought: to survive. But in those moments of peace, she's forced to look inside herself. And she is her own worst enemy."
"I can agree with that philosophy," Galileo softly said. "I told something like that to Gale once. But it's hard taking your own advice." He blinked up at T'oree when she touched his arm.
"I was hurt when Lady Dazzler left," T'oree confessed. "But I understood for her to stay any longer would hurt her more. Those around you will understand that for you to move forward, you first have to leave certain things behind." She added softly, "And I'm sure…Lady Nashi would understand that as well."
Hazel-reeds widened before they clouded over.
T'oree opened her arms when Galileo fell into her with his shoulders shaking.
And a tear dripped off his jaw.
°•°•°•°
Spring holiday could be wonderful for a professor if you were not bogged down with work.
It was not that Levy did not have teaching assistants assigned to her—she certainly portioned out the workload between her and the TA to the best of her ability—but with her own research on the line, it felt like there were not enough hours in the day.
"You're still mad at me?"
Levy pushed back her chair and said with stink in her tone, "I'm not mad, Nice. But I told you that Gale isn't ready to go off with Jura. He's not even seventeen!"
"You're going to be a horrible empty nester," Nice predicted with a simper.
Levy flushed over Nice's laugh. "I'm not going to be an empty nester." Hazels found the one picture she had in her office of her family as a whole. She cupped her hands around the frame and could not help but soften seeing her family. Her fingers traced a grumpy baby Gale in Gajeel's arms.
"I just… I don't want to lose him," Levy confessed in a murmur. "He's still my baby, Nice."
"But he's not," Nice gently reminded. "He's grown up into a capable Wizard and a young man, Levy. I know you know that." Three beats. "Him leaving doesn't mean you've failed him."
Levy gave noticeable pause before her fingers drifted to another younger girl with her complexion and unruly blue hair a few shades darker. Her fangy grin stuck out as she aimed a peace sign at the camera. "Maybe it was my fault back then."
"You're fault for grieving?"
Levy sighed and placed the photo back on its home on her desk. "My fault for not seeing the signs," she said. "I never noticed…Emma was unhappy. I never noticed what happened with Gale. And he won't tell me—"
"Levy…"
"I know." Levy propped her elbows up on her desk and rested a cheek in one palm. "I would never force him to. It's his right. I'm just… I'm worried about him."
I still don't understand what happened to him in the Boundary Forest. And as for the Snow Ball… I still don't know what could have made him that angry and hurt Luna. Hazels glimmered. He's my son, but…sometimes, he's a stranger. I just want to understand him.
Her eyes closed as she took a deep breath. I just…want our family whole again. And lately, all we've done is break even more apart. Pushing herself back in her seat, she opened her eyes and went back to grading essays.
She asked aloud to Nice, "Is Lupita taking this well?"
"If 'taking this well' means she rants to me about Jura and Noah? Then yes."
Levy laughed behind a hand. "She's used to being independent. But considering all the threats on her status, it's better to be safe than sorry. She's the only one capable of handling her patients. Without her, so many unique Wizards wouldn't have advocacy. She's helped so many of us."
"She has," Nice murmured in agreement. "And she'll help many more." Someone must have spoken to her when a mangled of voices went on for a minute before Nice was back on the line. "Sorry. That was Claire."
"Ah." Levy understood. "Without Mystogan here anymore, I'm sure Claire and Prospero and the other Sorcerers are hopeful you'll tell Luke to go to the Tower of Learning for his summer internship. You know he won't be happy with that."
"Mystogan's always been overprotective of him," Nice dismissed. "And as much as Mystogan's magical research has been ground-breaking, Luke needs to learn from the other Sorcerers. It'd be a waste of talent if he didn't."
"Just like it'd be a 'waste of talent' if Gale didn't do the internship at Saint Layla's?"
Nice's smile could be heard through her words. "Exactly like that. He's a smart young man, Levy. He just takes after his father a little too much."
Levy snickered at the grate in Nice's voice. "Don't be mad at Gajeel."
"He messes with my cigarettes and my booze," Nice complained. "Anyway, I have to go. Hasma wants to speak to me now about another pitch to skew Luke to coming to the Tower of Learning. Talk to you later."
"Bye." The call ended, and Levy let out a loud breath. Lucy told me Natsu's been helping Luke adjust to his powers. It's unheard of for a Demon to wield both a Curse and Magic. Their power systems are conflicting. But he manages regardless. The Tower of Learning would be a great place for him. Would Gale like it there?
She thought hard about that. At first, the vision started out lovely with Gale looking the part in his sorcerer's robes, but she sweatdropped thinking of Gale's temperament and how easily he could bully the others at the Tower of Learning. Maybe it's better if he doesn't go there…
Hazels half-lidded, Levy tossed a slight smile at Gale's photo on his desk. He looked all huffy as a child with bandages from a fight and certainly was not in the mood for photos, but he had reluctantly conceded on his mother's request. Either way, as long as he's happy, that's all I could ask for. Just for the happiness of my family.
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.
Levy blinked. Is that Gajeel? Since when does he knock? Still, she got up from her desk and opened the door—
"M-Mom?"
Levy broke seeing Galileo on the other side of the threshold with his eyes red-rimmed and his head low. "Galileo," she breathed. "What…?"
Galileo sniffled, tugging at his shirt. "Do you have a minute?"
"I… Yes. Yes, of course." Levy rubbed her son's arm and brought him into his study. "Here, sit down." She started to shut the doors to her study. "What's wrong, baby?"
A lengthy pause. "It hurts." Galileo sucked in a breath as he shut his eyes. "It hurts, Mom."
Levy softened, sad and knowing. "I know." She brought Galileo in for a hug. "I know it does."
And her study doors shut.
— • — • — • —
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!
— • — • — • —
•
•
•
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
Bonus Story
Roommates
ルームメイト
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
•
•
•
"Are you shitting me?"
That was the only response Windel could make as he stood in his running gear inside his shabby living roommate and scowled at his roommate. The girlfriend on his roommate's arm could not be bothered as she swiped through Insta, bored.
His roommate sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "C'mon, Win. I want to start a family with her and this place is the best for it. You understand, right?"
"I understand you want to bitch out on our lease again," Windel gnashed, "and hook up with your—which number is she now? Is she, what, the sixth girlfriend you've had in three months?"
His roommate dared to flush, chastised. "Well, yeah, but she's really the one," he insisted. "It's fate with her, y'know?" He sighed. "Well, you probably wouldn't know."
Windel's brows snapped together. "The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
His roommate fumbled before weakly shoring up, "It's just… Don't you think you're jealous of me even having a relationship when you pretty much fuck and leave? It's okay if you are—"
"Shut up," Windel growled, ready to pull out his hair. He shook his head. "Fuck this." He put in his EarPods as he walked away. "I'm going for a run. I swear if you even think about locking me out of my own house, I will call the Guard on you and your new toy." He wrenched open the door and leveled his roommate one last sneer before storming out.
I can't fucking believe this, Windel thought as he went to the sidewalk and put on a playlist to jog to. His girlfriend barely lasts two weeks, but he always pulls this shit, ends up getting screwed over, and comes crawling back with a sob story—but I'm supposed to be jealous of him?
He broke into an even job down the street with a heavy scowl. Fuck that. Fuck him. I'm done. And he picked up the pace.
His neighborhood was one of those everyone-knows-everyone, which was not necessarily a good thing when your intimate affairs were put on blast and parents leered at you if you even smiled at their daughter. But it had its upsides as well. The 24/7 liquor was one and the other was living close enough to the wilderness to check out the trails. But at this time of night, very little would dare head out into the forest and preferred to stay inside with some dessert, IshgarVision, or bedtime for the little ones.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Flamenco Town, a small village that often welcomes tourists who stumbled through the wilderness to accidentally find them. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Windel could not shake off his anger with a lap around the neighborhood, so taking one of the trails in the woods felt like the best bet to burn off his rage. To some, running in the dark might have looked foolish, but he did not care.
He piled onto one of the dirt paths without any remorse and the sound of heavy metal raging in his ears. His running was strategic. He jogged, increased his pace, broke into a fifty-hundred-meter dash, before cooling back down into a run. His calves felt that nice burn and all his ire dissolved for his set focus to training.
The woods in the dark never looked scary to him before and it was not about to start now. All he needed to do was follow the trail. But when he pushed himself as far as he wanted, a break was needed to stretch out, cool down, and gradually break back onto the path.
He took out an EarPod as he stopped at an intersection and decided it was best to stretch his legs—
Warm laughter. Incoherent murmurs.
Windel's brow furrowed. What the…? More murmurs and laughter drew his attention to the right path, and he found himself drawn. Someone is actually out here this late? He kept up his trek until he notice a lantern burning. A few awkward brushes past some bushes off the path let him see—
His eyes widened. Jemaine?
He could not hold back his surprise seeing Jemaine deep in the forest this time of night with his blanket around his shoulders and his Lantern Lacrima on the ground. A leather-bound journal was heavy in one hand as he scribbled in it. What seemed to capture Jemaine's attention and amusement looked to be a fluorescent beetle low on a tree trunk.
What the…? Doesn't he know it's dangerous to be out here this late? Windel took a step forward—
SNAP!
Jemaine snapped his head in Windel's direction, blanching, before the air distorted and he and his blanket disappeared.
Windel cursed to him, Dammit. Crashing through the grass and bushes and twigs, he whisper-shouted, "Jemaine! Jemaine, it's just me! It's Windel!" But when he made his way over to the Lantern Lacrima, Jemaine still had yet to show his face. "Jemaine, c'mon, dude, it's just me!"
The air warped, and Jemaine showed himself, though reluctantly, and his white locs fell over one eye. He closed in on himself to ask, "What are you doing out here so late?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Windel tossed back, crossing his arms like he was a disappointed father. "You shouldn't be in the woods this late, y'know. It's dangerous. Denisha would throw a bitch-fit if she saw this."
Jemaine turned back to his notebook and mumbled, "She knows I'm out here, so it's fine. And if anything happens, I can just turn invisible."
The fluorescent beetle made an eerie clicking noise.
To Windel's surprise, Jemaine smiled. "And this Fanta Beetle can alert me dangerous if something is coming. They're very in touch with vibrations." His smile dropped when his visible eye flashed up to Windel. "So I'm okay."
"It didn't alert you I was coming," Windel smartly pointed out.
But Jemaine flatly responded, "Because it thought you weren't a threat. And you aren't. You're just loud and clumsy."
Windel gaped. He's so cruel sometimes. He huffed and muttered, "You could at least be grateful I came over here to check on you with the night I've been having. And my night has been Hell."
Jemaine clutched his charcoal pencil, quietly panicking. Please don't sit down. Please don't sit down. Please don't—
"So, my roommate, right?" Windel sat down next to Jemaine (and he never noticed Jemaine hurriedly scooting away) and recounted his tale of woe. "He basically has a different girlfriend every other week, okay? Well, he has this thing where he and his girlfriend suddenly own the house we've been renting and I have to leave. Can you believe that? We're both on the lease, but he expects me to just break our lease!
"I'm always considerate when I bring girls home, y'know what I'm saying? Like, I give the common courtesy of warning him way ahead of time I'm bringing back someone or I go to her house, but he just wants me to up and leave? Who does that?"
As Windel aired out his frustrations, Jemaine attended to his notebook and continued to draw the Fanta Beetle he had been studying prior. He's so loud. When will he go away? His yellow eye glinted. It's not like I can understand his situation anyway.
"You aren't even listening to me! What's so interesting?"
Jemaine panicked when Windel stole his notebook. "H-Hey! Give it back!"
"Woah…" Windel was struck seeing the hyper-detailed drawing of the Fanta Beetle. "You…drew this? Like…you did this?"
Jemaine swallowed and clutched his blanket. "Mm-hmm." His nerves twitched when Windel started flipping. "Wait, don't look at those!"
"What, why?" Amazement blindsided Windel as he looked at the detailing drawing of magical ants to worms. Each drawing had a diagnostic accompaniment, an overview, and an anatomy and physiology breakdown of the subject in question. "These are… These are really good, Jemaine." He was blown away seeing a two-page panel dedicated to a butterfly. "Damn, this one is phenomenal!"
Jemaine took note of the butterfly and his gaze dropped. "That one isn't mine."
"Oh, yeah?" Windel touched the butterfly with care. "Who drew it?"
Quiet.
"My dad…when he was alive."
A cold chill battered Windel's skin from the words and seeing Jemaine clutch his blanket tighter was like a punch to the gut. "Right…" He closed the notebook with one last glance at the drawing. "I forgot your parents had died when we were kids. I…" He offered the notebook back. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Jemaine accepted the leather notebook with care and looked at it in such pure fondness. "They died doing what they loved—research. And drawing in the same book my dad used when he studied all of this and looking at my mom's research notes… It makes me feel closer to them in a way." He cradled then journal to his chest. "I just hope I'm making them proud."
More quiet.
Then…
Jemaine blinked up in shock when Windel laughed with his shoulders shaking. "Th-This isn't funny." Hurt, the air warped around him—
"I know they're proud of you."
Jemaine stopped as he watched Windel set his hands behind him on the grass to look up at the stars.
"How could they not be proud of you?" Windel asked of him. "You're not following their path just because you want to carry on their legacy. You have an actual passion for your studies. You're also doing what you love. What more could a parent ask of their kid than for them to enjoy what they do with every bit of their heart? That's what my parents tell me anyway."
Jemaine blinked before his gaze dropped once more. "Yeah."
Windel hummed. "Anyway, sorry for bothering you." He got up and dusted the grass off his shorts. "Didn't realize you had everything under control here. I'll get out of your hair, man."
"Ah." Jemaine thought about his words before questioning, "What will you do about your roommate?"
Windel snorted as he stretched his legs. "He's pulled this shit six times now. It's time for me to call a red flag 'a red flag' and find my own place." The thought put an irritated pout on his face. "It'll suck having to find a place. Most units don't have leases longer than a month considering all the revolving tourists and businesspeople." He had to shrug at that. "But it's not like I have much choice. I can't keep living with someone who tries to constantly kick me out of the house."
Jemaine fell quiet, thinking.
"Well." Windel whirled his arm around and cracked a grin. "Don't stay out too late, Jemaine. You don't want to worry Denisha." He tossed a wave over his shoulder as he about-faced. "See ya, man!"
Jemaine clutched his notebook.
Windel rolled his shoulders. I'll do another four-hundred meters and call it a night. He prepped himself—
"W-Wait."
Windel gave Jemaine a curious glance back. "Yeah?"
"Um." Jemaine tightened his grip on the journal. "Well… When my parents died, the house transferred to my name, and it's all paid for outside of utilities. If… If you want…" Saying the offer was about to kill his beating heart. He wished he could disappear and take everything back. "If you want…you could stay in the spare room for a little while."
"Really?"
Jemaine flinched back when a puppy aura enshrouded Windel. He's so loud. This was a mistake. His lips parted to rescind the offer, but it all fell apart when a hand was in his face. What…?
Windel gave a happy-go-lucky grin. "Thanks a lot, Jemaine! You're a real lifesaver! If it's really okay, I'll crash with you until I can find a unit that'll let me lease annually." He noticed Jemaine hesitating and waved his hand. "I can help you up. Or are you not finished here?"
Jemaine wanted to say no, no he was not finished, but he hesitated for too long to make a concrete choice in that. And instead, he murmured, "I'm finished." He lifted his hand toward Windel, but he could not make himself cross the distance.
Windel laughed. "No need to be shy, man." He grabbed Jemaine's hand—
Wild yellow widened.
Windel pulled Jemaine onto his feet with ease, but he snickered when Jemaine crashed into him. "For someone hanging out in the woods this late at night, you're a lot clumsier than me. It's kinda cute."
Jemaine stiffened before pulling away to clutch his journal to his chest. He muttered, "You should watch what you say to the person letting you live in their spare room." He got his Lantern Lacrima and pivoted to trudge away.
Windel instantly matched Jemaine's stride and flailed to smooth things over. "It was a compliment, I swear! I promise I'm a good roommate! I can even go sixty-forty on the utilities with me being the sixty! I can pay whatever rent you want, and I'll even get groceries and do laundry!"
A silently irked tick mark plundered Jemaine's cheek. So loud. "I didn't say I was taking back my offer," he mumbled. "We can talk about stuff like that tomorrow. I'm tired."
"Sounds good! Awesome!" Windel pumped a fist. "Thanks so much, dude! Y'know, after we hash out all the details, I'll take you to a bar with drinks on me and loads of pretty girls! Nothing better than that!"
Jemaine opened his mouth only to close it.
Windel stopped when he realized Jemaine had.
"You…" Jemaine looked away. "You should go by yourself. I don't like having that sort of attention on me."
Windel gave a huff of a laugh and crossed his arms. "Now, now, don't be like that. You can be such a hermit sometimes, you know that?"
Jemaine clutched the handle on his Lantern Lacrima and his powers flexed to warp the air.
A long sigh. "Fine. We'll do it your way."
It spooked Jemaine when thick fingers threaded through his locs and brushed them back to expose both of his eyes. Yellows were naked against dark browns. He's…
The tender smile and knowing glint in Windel's eye could make anyone's skin tingle. "How about we stay up together and drink the night away? Just the two of us."
Yellows glistened before Jemaine could not handle the eye contact and let his stare go to the grass. A warm pink simmered on his ears, and he swallowed before making his choice. "Okay."
Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance
— • — • — • —
Galileo Redfox – Josh Grelle
Nashi Dragneel – Laura Landa
Levy Redfox – Kristi Kang
Erza Fernandes – Colleen Clinkenbeard
Mustang Marvel – Lucas Till
Cade le Fay – Ki Hong Lee
T'oree Denv'rz – Kimberly Brooks
Nice Geonard – Tia Ballard
Windel Lawrence – Dyllón Burnside
The Roommate – Justin Cook
Jemaine Froth – Parker Kit Hill
• — • — •
Additional Voices
Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn
— • — • — • —
⌜ OPENING SONG
⟪ Walking with You ⟫
Novelbright
Lyrics by
雄大 / 勇太朗⌟
•
⌜ENDING SONG
⟪ Good One ⟫
HIRAIDAI
Lyrics by
EIGO, Dai Hirai⌟
•
•
•
•
— • — • — • —
Next time, on Fairy Adventure
•
Episode 119
•
STUDENT
— • — • — • —
•
•
•
•
TO BE CONTINUED…
Chibi-Luna is at the front of the classroom and calls, "Good day, class!"
"Good day, Teacher!" her students chorus. "What's our Fairy Lesson of the day?"
"Well!" Chibi-Luna haughtily adjusts her glasses before bringing out her pointer. "Today, we'll be learning about…!" She smacks the emboldened word on her whiteboard with her pointer.
Her students read the word aloud, "'One on Ones' and 'annual reviews'?"
"That's right!" Chibi-Luna chirps. "One-on-ones are standing meetings that Fairy Tail, Sabertooth, Lamia Scale, Mount Altana, Blue Pegasus, and Mermaid's Heel have quarterly! Basically, one-on-ones are standing meets between Mages and their Master or a Master's Second-in-Command to discuss about the Wizard's profile, from their missions to their status to training progress and even going over pointers or errors made on missions.
"Annual reviews are done, well, annually!" Chibi-Luna continues. "Master normally likes to do annual reviews before we go into summer. But every year, at the beginning of the year, Mages have to submit their self-reflective review. It's here they can dispute any lodged complaints, explain about missions gone wrong, and other things. Master makes her own review and meets the Wizard to go over their reviews, goals to set, and she gives a lot of good career advice too!"
"Wow!" her students gasp. "Fairy Tail really isn't that disorganized!"
Chibi-Luna giggles. "You can thank Master. When she took over Fairy Tail and saw the mountains of paperwork from former Guild Master Makarov, she was determined to set things in order!" She added in a nervous titter, "Though that's not to say she doesn't get more paperwork to do if we destroy something. But she has her own ways of setting things straight."
The students sweatdrop as they imagine Erza with a red haze of fury around her as she watched Natsu and Gray sit under a waterfall to reflect on their actions. At least she says canon-compliant…
Chibi-Luna snaps down her pointer. "And now, a quick word from the author!"
『 Today's episode showed what is called psychogenic nonepileptic seizure or PNES. These are seizures that do not have a neurologic origin and instead, are psychological manifestations of distress.
PNES remains such a closeted diagnosis since most physicians are trained to scope out epileptic seizures and give seizure medications rather than investigate. Seizure medication can help for a little while, but that treatment is insufficient. Psychological care is imperative to treat PNES. Please do not use this story for self-diagnosis for epilepsy or PNES and always seek professional advice.
I hope you enjoyed the bonus story. Each side story for our spring holiday cour will include a short bonus. 』
"Well! That's all for our episode!" Chibi-Luna winks. "See you next time!"