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!

131. Adventure 131

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.

---

PREVIOUSLY, on Fairy Adventure: the Young Nation concert finished with not a bang but a kiss between the Enchantress and the Prince of the Sea. But that one kiss seems to have unlocked a whole slew of new problems. And with Luna's troubling vision draining her, it looks like Silver and Ena will have some needed time apart. Eros and Octavius speak more about a mysterious and alleged Phoenix saving the Amazone tribes from disaster, but who exactly could it be? Meanwhile, Ena realizes she might be a little more than fond of Silver, but Vos' advice in romance might not be the best one to follow to confess her feelings. Irina's surprised visit isn't met with a warm welcome by her children, and Nora is left not only to deal with burdening expectations but to increase his secret protection on Ena and Silver against the Holy Eye. Ena and Silver's date goes well, but misunderstandings seem to be piling up. Lucky for Ena, Silver speaks her language and realizes what she was trying to say all along.

"I like you."

And to think they were enemies last year! But they say the line between love and hate is thin after all. Still though, even with romance in the air, it looks like Luna isn't out of the woods yet.

---

A simple rock classic played on stage with live musicians, but honest conversation filled the joint. Dress it down or dress it up—the spacious pub welcomed everyone to relax and enjoy their food and drink. A large family tourist party had finally had their table set up, with aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents and grandkids all coming together to enjoy their last night in Caelum together. Two snazzy-dressers had ditched their uppity date to make each other laugh at the bar over from craft beers. A rowdy group of locals cheered when one of their own completed a drinking challenge.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Haleakalā Tavern, a lively pub grub with nightly live music, craft beers tapas, and a patio. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

I'm a fucking idiot.

Akamu nursed his drink as he took a seat in the outdoor section of the bar. He had not tried to dress up, considering the nature of this place, but he had swapped out his leather jacket for a simple black t-shirt and a twisted-back ball cap on his head. On occasion, he glanced over across the street to Hotel Nimbus. People would assume the EarPod he had on was for music, but he knew better.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Haleakalā Tavern

Haleakalā City, Ao's Paradise

Caelum, Ishgar

11:39 PM WIT

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A frustrated sigh left him when he could not find what he wanted and he listened closely to the conversation coming through his earpiece. Dammit. I bugged the lobby of her hotel when I went looking for her there first. But she still hasn't come down yet. He looked at his drink. Maybe that's a good thing.

He took another sip. What the Hell am I doing? I still haven't checked in with Lady Lonza. Carefully, he created a few drops of lava in his palm. I'm not even sure how to explain this—that I'm some freak—a God Slayer. He clenched his hand to snuff out the lava. Either way, it's not good for me to avoid contact. If I don't go back soon, they'll send another Hawk to find me.

Tawnies darkened. And I already know which Deathhawk they would send.

"Hey, stranger."

Akamu glanced over to see a young woman with a saucy smile and interested eyes had approached him. She nodded to the empty seat next to him. "Can I join you?"

He gave a charming grin in return. "Sorry. I'm waiting for my boyfriend to get here. We're celebrating his promotion tonight." He took pleasure in the shock, dismay, and then embarrassment that went across her face in a matter of two seconds. "But if you want to join us—"

He chuckled when she marched away with a chip on her shoulder. Sorry, sweetheart. Any other night, maybe. But you're not my target.

THUD!

"Ow…"

Akamu stiffened hearing Luna's pain. She's outside? He was careful to turn his head and had a clear view of Luna and the drunk who had bumped into her.

"Watch where you're going, bitch," the drunk slur-snapped at her through Akamu's earpiece, wobbling on his feet.

Akamu watched as Luna rubbed her side, flinching from the hurt. "I'm sorry." Her apology came clear through the earpiece. "Are you okay—?"

"Hey!"

Akamu wrestled the urge to jump to his feet when the drunk grabbed onto Luna's wrist. What the fuck is he doing? Glares were thrown to the bystanders who ignored the debacle or felt more comfortable recording. And why isn't anyone helping her? Why are they just standing there?

"Pl-Please let me go—!"

Luna's pleas and the man's mad barking drove Akamu into a rage. Someone help her! It took him a moment to realize lava had covered his hands and he hurriedly snapped it back to his skin. Even so, his leg jittered. She's still on hotel property. What the fuck is the staff doing? I can't hear them calling the police—

Tawnies sharpened. Wait a minute.

He looked at his Compact and pulled up an app to give him access to the current security footage of the lobby. He focused on the concierge desk with his jaw ticked hearing Luna's pleas for release and mercy. However, it made him vibrate with anger when he saw the workers blatantly ignoring the noise and were more focused on greeting worried guests.

None of them are calling the cops. An assault is a huge liability on their property, but they're pretending a grown man assaulting a minor in their front yard isn't happening.

Tawnies halved with molten orange. Which means someone paid them to look the other way. And it wasn't Deathhawk since I didn't ID the girl yet. So who the Hell paid off the employees to ignore this?

"You stupid little bitch! I should teach you a lesson!"

Akamu got up from his stool. Fuck this. I can't sit and watch this. She needs help. He slapped down crowns for his drink—

"If you're really sorry, then—"

"I think that's enough."

Akamu froze when he heard a witnessed a well-deserved blow dished out to the drunk. What the…?

He slipped his Compact back into his pocket, but he brought out his vape pod as an excuse to loiter around the terrace railing. He watched with alert eyes as a young gentleman dressed in a tailored suit had stopped the assault and the drunk man stayed down without anyone sympathetic toward him. Well, well, what a fucking gentleman.

The white-haired man turned to a stunned Luna with a placating smile and his soothe came into Akamu's earpiece, "I'm so sorry you had to endure that, Layla. I'll make sure he never touches you again."

'Layla?' Akamu exhaled smoke. So, this guy knows Luna if he knows her fake name. They don't look related. And he's a little too old to be acquaintances with her. Then again—he flatly remembered a sheepish Aloha and a devious Rai—somehow, she's friends with older men.

"It's all right, miss." The white-haired man kneeled before Luna. "You won't be hurt like that again."

Akamu's brow furrowed. Why did he emphasize 'you'?

His expression shuttered seeing Luna crumble into this white-haired stranger and her sobs agitated him, but it was not aimed towards her. This should have never happened. The staff would have called the cops. I can dismiss bystanders not doing anything, but the staff should've done something towards her. The way she was holding her wrist—I'm sure it'll bruise.

He tched. Dammit.

"There, there," the white-haired stranger calmed. "No one will hurt you like that again, miss, I promise. You're safe with me."

Akamu could not help but be disturbed watching this stranger twirl a lock of Luna's hair. What the Hell? What's his problem? Luna's weeping made him clench his jaw and he took out his EarPod. At least she's safe.

Tawny-molten oranges sharpened. Or…she's been given the illusion she's safe. How convenient someone she knows and at least feels somewhat comfortable with saved her in the middle of her assault. And a suit like that looks like it comes from a lot of money—enough money to have paid the staff to look the other way.

He took another puff. Was this set up? I didn't notice that guy until he intervened. But those words… Him telling her she's safe with him… I don't think he said that to assure her. That sounded like it had a double meaning. But why? What does a guy like him want with her?

His stomach curled in disgust as he watched this white-haired stranger pull back to stroke Luna's cheek. Don't tell me… He took his last angry smoke when the man stood and nudged Luna up the steps. Goddammit. If he really was the one to pay off the staff… Fuck!

He turned off his vape pod to make a quick getaway. You idiot little girl—you need to get away from him!

°•°•°•°

Luna sniffled as she kept her throbbing wrist close to her chest as she re-entered the lobby. She tried to suck in her cries when her arm would shift and so would her wrist. It hurts so much.

Eyes low, she tried to avoid some of the stares and murmurs coming her way. I want to go home.

"Miss Layla."

Luna sniffed again and looked up at Addy's concerned face. "What?" She wiped her cheek with the butt of her wrist. "I'm sorry. I didn't hear you—"

"No, I didn't say a word," Atticus assured her as he pulled them off to the side. "I'm merely worried for you. Why don't we take you to an emergency department for your wrist—?"

"No, please!" Luna begged. "I-I can't go there, I…!" Panic made more tears spring. I can't go there. They'll call Mama and Papa. Her bottom lip quivered as she looked at her wrist. But it hurts. She flinched when a hand slid onto her back.

"It's all right. We don't have to go," Atticus promised her. "But we should treat your wrist. Do you have anyone you can call in the meantime? I don't want to leave you alone. Are you with any family or friends?"

"I'm…with friends," Luna haltingly revealed. Her head swam and all the heightening emotions that warred within her started to bottom out with no warning. But if I call them now, they'll worry. I don't want them to worry. I don't want to ruin everything for everyone. Maybe… She worried her bottom lip, sniffling. Maybe I could heal my wrist. But I've never healed my own body before. What do I do?

"If you don't want to call your friends, would you like me to stay with you?"

Luna looked up at Addy in surprise. "What?"

"It's no trouble at all," Atticus assured. "I told you, you remind me very much of my little sister. And if she was assaulted and hurt like you have been, I'd want to stay with her and make sure she's all right. We can get some ice for your wrist and, when you feel better, we can call your friends. If that's okay with you." He stepped back. "I know you might feel a little uncomfortable with me after the other day—"

"N-No, no, I…" Luna swallowed. "I'm…sorry for the other day. I really a-a-am." More tears cruised down her face as exhaustion and agony mixed in an unwanted combination. "I don't want to"—HIC!—"alone."

"What about your Celestial Spirit?" Atticus reminded. "I'm sure he could stay with you if you feel more comfortable."

Luna shook her head. "I can't summon him until tomorrow," she told him, half-hearted.

"Ah, I see."

Luna flinched when Addy crouched before her and pulled his handkerchief from his pocket to clean her face. "I'm sorry." Her eyes slid to the side. "You shouldn't have to do this. I should've done something—"

"Never blame yourself, miss." Atticus finished wiping her wet cheeks. "You are not at fault. And I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Now." He touched Luna's cheek. "Let's get you some ice and back up to your room. Once you feel better, you can decide what you want to do from there and I'll help you."

Luna bit the inside of her cheek and tried to ignore the dizziness sweeping her. What do I do? It really hurts. I wish I never left my room.

A warm smile. "I think she might feel better with another woman, sir."

Atticus's eyes sharpened onto the intruder, but his smile never lost its luster. "And who might you be?"

"Ah, pardon me for interrupting." Thick bands of black were brushed back as herm multiple bracelets jingled. Take-out from Chef Duke's was in one hand of hers, and she looked like quite the fashion icon where the paparazzi should know who she was. But what was most astounding about her was her whimsical pale blue eyes.

"A driver let me know this food was for the young lady right here." She bent to Luna's level with her eyes soft seeing how shy Luna had become. "Don't worry, sweetie. We'll make sure you're safe and healed. My name's Nalani, but you can call me 'Lani'." Pale blues watched Atticus' hand clenched into a tight-balled fist.

Lani's smile widened. "Let's get you healed and safe."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Tobase STAR TRAIN

Tsuki akari wo se ni FLY AWAY

Mada minu mirai he to kakedase

Yozora wo koete

•

Kimi mo Step Forward

Sono Yuma wo nosete Jump Around

Sekai wo hirogete hashirou

Shuuchakueki ha

Kimi no Wonderful World

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Atticus stepped on the bottom step of Hotel Nimbus. Traffic had picked up outside with conversation and music booming, but he tuned it out to turn around. He caught glimpses of Lani and Luna together. A staff member had rushed out to give Luna an ice pack for her wrist, and Lani kept Luna grounded as strong support.

Grayed yellows flickered. What a pity.

"Sir?"

Atticus turned away and brushed past a young man to see his chauffeur had come into the pickup lane. The driver opened the backdoor for him to duck inside and made sure he was situated before shutting the door.

Atticus looked at his glove finger to see a single blonde strand was in his grasp. What a shame we had to part so soon, my sweet cereus. But I suppose it wouldn't be a good story if the gallant knight won the fair maiden's hands so quickly after meeting.

The driver situated themselves and asked, "To the hotel sir?"

"Yes, please." Atticus rubbed his thumb over the blond lock. "And please make sure I'm undisturbed. Relay any and all messages to my assistant. I'm feeling quite inspired tonight."

"Yes, sir."

Atticus crossed his legs. I'm sure by this time tomorrow, Miss 'Layla Heart' will have already told her friends she met me. And Nora will, of course, try to get an answer out of me. I'm sure Ena and her little servant will want to personally handle the matter and threaten me from approaching her. If only that woman hadn't intervened. Such theatrics really are for the stage.

He twisted the strand. Now, the real story can begin. Of a fair maiden, oblivious to who she met at the ball, and she leaves behind something precious—he brought up his thumb to place a kiss on the strand—and the determined knight so eager to find her again that'll crush every obstacle in his way until he has her in his arms again.

Yellows brightened. What a fitting tale indeed.

°•°•°•°

Akamu watched as the SUV merged with traffic with his ball cap twisted forward to shield him from any curious onlookers. He restrained his agitation and could feel the power thrumming beneath his skin wanting to lash out. All right, creep. He looked at his Compact to see his tracker moving down his map. Let's see who the Hell you really are—and why you're after my target.

"Sweetie, I know you don't want to call your parents, but I think you should call your friends."

Akamu took to leaning against his lamppost and pretended to scroll through his Compact when all he did was pull up the security footage and adjust the volume on his EarPod. He found a camera that had Luna and the mysterious woman. And who are you?

Luna still looked uncertain, shuffling her feet. "I can't. Please, I'm fine—"

"You're shaking," the woman softly pointed out. "I understand you don't want to disturb your friends, but you've been attacked—"

"N-No, I'm… I'm fine." Luna backed away with her ice heavy on her wrist and her foot in her other hand. "I'm sorry. Th-Thank you for everything, but I'm okay, really. I'm sorry." And she darted away.

Tawnies darkened as Akamu pulled out of the main camera to catch Luna blundering through the guests to get to an elevator that was breaking up. Why doesn't she want to call her friends? You idiot. It's a rookie mistake to keep quiet about this. Half of me wants to hunt her friends down, but…

"You dared harm her?"

A seething Ena appeared with her swords and Silver as a Dragon coiled behind her.

Akamu sweatdropped. I'm not in the mood to deal with those psychos. He blinked when a rolled-up piece of parchment paper all tied with ribbon plopped onto his screen. Dismay filled him and he looked up—

Tawnies narrowed seeing a Caelun petrel sail through the sky, all alone. Great. Now what? He untied the ribbon and opened the small scroll to read:

Come back to the nest.

Now.

Akamu clenched his teeth. Dammit. I can't ignore this. He crumbled the note and filled his hand with lava to melt the parchment and ribbon. When all that was left was ash, he opened his hand and let the wind take care of the rest. Pushing off the lamppost, he took out his EarPod and put it back in its case. It's not like it's my problem Goldie Locks has a stalker. But…

Innocent, large browns.

His jaw ticked. This is just because I owe you. He locked his Compact. And I pay my debts. And he blended in with the crowd.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 131

•

Aloha 'Oe

•

またね

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Oh what a beautiful morning.

The curtains blocked out the warmth and light of the sun, but somehow, Silver felt as warm and light as though the sun's eyes were on him. He woke quietly, stirring and blinking until he sleepily saw reality for what it was. "Mmm… What time is it?

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Hotel Nimbus

Haleakalā City, Ao's Paradise

Caelum, Ishgar

8:41 AM WIT

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

GUU… GUU…

Silver blinked when he realized Ena was snoring on his chest with her hair in a braid and her eye mask on. Blues softened as he brushed a few messy red strands from her face. "Good morning, Mistress," he murmured.

Ena's snoring stuttered before she sounded like a motorboat again.

He hummed his laughter and shifted his weight a bit to better situate her. I can't believe it. I can't believe I got to tell you I like you. He smiled as he feathered Ena's cheek. Even though I really wanted to say I love you, I can wait. I'm officially yours now, Mistress. Just like you promised me.

He dropped a kiss on her forehead. So take your time saying those words back. Because once you do…you'll be mine too.

It was hard for him to stop purring and he knew it would become a bad habit whenever he was relaxed and inhaled Ena's rosemary scent.

He frowned when he heard a muted whimper and Luna's hushed voice. "I'm fine, Icarus. It's just a bruise."

That made Silver freeze. What? He was careful in easing away from Ena (and she snorted and rolled over, curling into the comforter) before fumbling out of bed. Maybe he should have had more tact, but hearing Luna's hiss of pain made him hurry. He would have knocked, but worry made him lose his manners as he announced, "Lulu, I'm coming in."

"N-No, wait—!"

Silver opened the door and pivoted—

He froze.

With Icarus curled around her, Luna sat on her bed as she nursed her wrist with an ugly purplish-black bruise on her skin. Red puffed her eyes, but horror slapped her seeing Silver's face. She tried to hide her wrist from him, but it was too late.

"It's nothing," she quickly explained. "Please, Silver, it's not that bad—"

"I'm waking Mistress up."

"No!" Luna whisper-beseeched. "Please, Silver, please, it's not that bad, I promise—!"

"Don't." Blues steeled over in a cold fury as Silver's knuckles turned white. "Stay right there." Anger set him straight. "I'll be back."

°•°•°•°

"You're telling me you didn't see a reason to call the police when she was assaulted in front of your eyes?"

Quiet and humiliated, Luna sat still as Silver worked his Magic over her bruise. The blackish-purple had been exchanged for a nauseating yellow, but the more Silver moved his hands, the lighter the bruise became. Icarus watched with careful eyes as though ready to bite if Silver caused more pain.

An enraged Ena paced with the RCL in her hand before she stopped. "This is unacceptable. You're giving me useless excuses," she snarled. "A drunk man assaulted a young lady on your property. No, I don't want to escalate this to your supervisor. You will hear from my attorney."

She hung up and would have thrown the RCL, but she kept herself from doing so. "Those fools. Those idiots," she seethed. "They told me that the situation didn't warrant external assistance and then they tell me they can't identify the man since he was out of reach of their security cameras. Excuses!"

"It's okay," Luna inserted, quiet. "I'm fine now." She tried to liven the mood and asked, "H-How was your date—?"

"It was fine," Silver said tersely. With one last movement, the bruises had faded. He massaged out his hands and nodded to her wrist. "There. Your wrist might be a little tender, but you'll be okay until we come home and you see Granny Porlyusica or Aunt Wen. Thanks to Saudade, I'm a lot better at combining my Water Magic with Blood Magic to heal, but I'm still learning how to get people back at one-hundred percent."

"Thank you." Luna massaged her wrist. "I feel better now." She cleared her throat. "So did you guys—?"

"Mistress, should I call the Sky Port and see if there are available seats for flights back home today?" Silver asked.

Luna's eyes widened. "What? No, wait, please—!"

"I want it done yesterday," Ena ordered as she messed with her personal Compact. "I'm going to call Genius and then I'm calling my attorney. I don't care what we have to do. There's footage of L's attack and I am going to find that man."

"Wait," Luna pleaded. "Please, we don't—"

"I'll handle our bags and early checkout," Silver disclosed. "And I'll—"

Luna, frustrated, shouted, "Would you both listen to me!" Once she had their attention and their silence, she explained to them, "I'm fine. Really. It was my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going. We can stay just like we planned to. It's really"—her gaze dropped to her lap—"really all right."

Silver and Ena exchanged a look until Ena came onto the bed. "L?" She brushed her hair behind her ears. "I know last night was a lot for you, but the fact of the matter is you were attacked. And we can't let that go. Neither should you. You were hurt by this man and no one did a thing to help you."

"Well…" Luna did not know how to navigate that. "I mean…" She curled her wrist to her stomach. "I-I'm sure they would have. He was just…big and drunk." She fidgeted. "And I ran into him in the first place. I could have done something—"

"Don't blame yourself on this," Silver asked of her, upset. "You didn't do anything wrong. Even if you bumped into him, he could've snapped your wrist, Lulu. We deal with drunks all the time at the guild. That's not normal." He added as an afterthought, "And it's not normal the hotel didn't do anything to help you."

"It wasn't that big of a deal," Luna weakly reasoned.

"No, it was a big deal," Ena stressed. "You were attacked and the staff did nothing to help you. That's serious, L, not just for you but for the hotel itself."

The gears were turning. That's why it doesn't make sense the hotel refused to call the police or deescalate the situation. Any sort of harm and security negligence is grounds for a lawsuit. L's assault is an instant lawsuit. But the staff doesn't sound too concerned.

Browns darkened. Could this have been a set-up? Was someone waiting to attack L the moment Silver, Icarus, and I were all away? But if the man was a drunk who was punched, then that means the person attacking L wasn't after her. But someone else was…

Her eyes shifted to the knowing in Silver's gaze. He's thinking about it too.

"Lulu," Silver started, "what do you remember from the attack?"

"I told you. I bumped into him," Luna explained. "My food delivery was coming in soon, so I wanted to wait on the hotel steps for it when I bumped into that man. He got angry and he grabbed me and—"

Violent rubies. "Don't fucking lie to me!"

Her breath caught. No, don't think about it. I'm over it.

"Lulu?"

Luna hurried through the rest of her description, "And someone punched him and saved me. And a nice lady helped me out afterward. That's it."

"What do you mean?" Ena wanted to know. "Who punched him? And who was the nice lady?"

"Well…" Luna rubbed her arm. "On the first day we came here, I met someone at the park across the street. His name's 'Addy'. He was the one who punched the drunk guy."

Ena's brow furrowed. 'Addy'?

And he gave you that flower, Icarus reminded.

"Right," Luna remembered. "He gave me a flower when I met him. A Sirius something, I think."

Ena went cold. "A cereus flower?"

Luna nodded, puzzled. "Um, yeah, that."

No. Ena could not breathe with her pure rage filling her chest. No. Tell me he didn't. Tell me he didn't orchestrate this just to get to her. But if he did… She gritted her teeth. Atticus… I should've dealt with you and your perversion from the start had I known you would've gone this far.

Luna looked worried when Ena got up. "E?"

"I need to make a call," Ena claimed, stiff. "Stay here." And she left the room.

"I shouldn't have said anything," Luna fretted. "She looked so upset." She rapidly blinked. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I'm ruining everything for you guys—"

"You're not ruining anything," Silver hushed as he embraced her. "Don't even think that for a second. Mistress just has something to take care of." Even if his voice coddled her, his eyes spoke murder. Atticus… How convenient he shows up to save her. His hold tightened. The next time I see him, I will hold nothing back.

"Silver?"

He forcibly relaxed as he pulled away to see the worry in Luna's eyes. How can she be so upset for us? Why can't she value herself more? He swallowed down those words to smile at her. "Everything's going to be okay," he promised her. "We should call your parents—"

"No!" Luna looked at him imploringly. "Please, don't! I'm fine! Promise me you won't say anything to them, please, Silver."

It saddened Silver to smell the desperation reeked from Luna. "I can't promise that," he told her softly. "I'm sorry, Lulu, but you know I can't. You'd do the same for me," he added when he saw the betrayal written across her face. "Your parents need to know."

"We're Mages. We get hurt sometimes," Luna tossed out, desperate for sound reason. "You don't have to tell them anything—"

"Getting hurt on a job is one thing. Getting attacked on the street for no reason is another." Silver held firm. "We need to call your parents about this."

Luna roughly swallowed. "Can't we do it after Inter-Guild?"

"So you can put it off?" Silver shook his head. "No." He softened when immense sadness drenched his nose and he saw Luna's eyes water. "I can talk to them for you if you want me to. I don't mind."

"You shouldn't have to," Luna said, tone watery. "I-I'm fine, I promise. Please don't tell them. They'll worry and this was my fault."

Silver hid the cyan static clacking off one of his hands and had to force down his snarl. "Lulu," he said tightly, "I don't want to force you. If you want to wait until we're home, fine. But this is something they need to know. I know it sucks, but you know how worried your parents are for your safety. It'll make them angry you were attacked, yeah, but they won't be angry at you."

Luna held quiet for a few moments until she said, "But they were upset when I wouldn't get out of bed all those weeks. I just… I don't want to upset them again."

"They weren't upset at you. They were upset for you, just like I was," Silver placated. "You should know by now none of us wants to see anyone they care about hurt or upset. It makes us upset too because we can't do anything to help you. Doesn't mean we don't want you to tell us when you're upset or hurt. We'll just worry about you a little and probably spoil with you a butt-load of milkshakes." He chuckled when Luna smiled a little. "And it helps Igneel's not home, right? He'd go nuclear right about now."

"Yeah…" Luna did not want to think about a wrathful Igneel. Sometimes I worry if Igneel's gone mad with power by now. "And you'll stay with me?"

"If you want, yeah," Silver agreed. "Don't think I won't, all right?" He kissed her forehead. "C'mere."

He rubbed her back when she leaned against him. We promised Aunt Lucy and Uncle Natsu we'd protect her. We still don't know why Lulu can't use her real name or why she was sheltered for so long. But we still made that promise. And we broke it. He closed his eyes. And we'll take responsibility for this. We should've been there for her.

"How'd your date go, by the way?" Luna mumbled into his shoulder.

Silver chuckled. "It was fine. But that's not important right now." He pricked his ears and could hear Ena's quiet hissing. Mistress is talking to Nora. Good. I might not like him, but we're going to need his help against Atticus. He pulled back with a grin. "While Mistress does her thing, how about I order room service? You're hungry, right?"

"N-No—"

PEKO-PEKO!

Luna flushed and tried to hide her stomach. "That was Icarus."

Icarus snorted. My stomach doesn't roar like a lion.

Shut up, Luna mumbled.

Silver pinched her cheek. "Yeah, right, that was your dog. I'll get us some breakfast. Why don't you shower? I'll even put on Poko."

Luna waved his hand off and puffed a cheek while she rubbed the other one. "I'm not a little kid, y'know," she groused. "Just because you're a few months older doesn't mean anything."

Silver raised an eyebrow. "So no Poko then?"

"I didn't say that," Luna hastily said.

Silver snickered. "Right." He poked her forehead. "I'll be right back. And don't worry, I know what you want for breakfast. Basically, the biggest portions they can give you of everything plus ice cream."

"Cookie—"

"Cookie dough ice cream in a bowl, completely plain, unless they have chocolate shavings." Silver snorted. "What do you take me for, an amateur?" He got off the bed.

"And see if—"

"They can give you extra ketchup," Silver drawled before giving her a grin. "Yeah, yeah. Go take a long shower with the new stuff you bought and see if you can do your ballet stretches too. It'll help with your wrist."

Luna sighed as Silver left her alone and she fell back into bed. I ruined everything.

You ruined nothing, Icarus soothed. The fault is mine. I should have postponed what I need to do and stayed at your side. I will ask your mother for retribution in my failings—

You didn't do anything wrong, Luna silenced him. It was my fault for being reckless and leaving the hotel room. She curled into his fur. I was being stupid and now I ruined the last day of our trip.

Icarus lapped the side of her face before nestling her into his stomach like a protective parent. You ruined not a thing. Your friends do not think so, nor do I. They are concerned for you as they should be. I am proud you call them your friends. They are good companions to have.

Yeah. Luna's lashes fell, but she had affection for both Silver and Ena. I know they are.

---

One did not sneak up on Eros Normandy.

That was why Beatrice stopped bothering to try after years' worth of embarrassing attempts.

Eros helped himself to the kitchen with a towel over his neck. He had ditched his shirt with how sweaty he was and decided to make an after-workout shake when Beatrice bustled in. He lifted an eyebrow at how flushed she looked. "Morning."

"Hey," Beatrice said, a bit breathless. "Make me one too."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Saturnus Palace

Akane Beach

Fiore, Ishgar

10:25 AM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Eros sighed, but he added in additional ingredients for Beatrice's share while she sat at the island. "Fine." He turned, but he glimpsed a love bite peeking from her shirt. "Your girlfriend is a territorial one."

Beatrice realized the love bite was showing and adjusted her t-shirt dress. "She's not my girlfriend," she mumbled. "W-We're just…friends." She flushed even more when Eros gave her a flat look. "Shut up." She observed her brother as he went to retrieve another glass. "What time do we need to leave?"

"I've made all the necessary arrangements so you can spend tonight at the main house," Eros told her. "Father misses you, you know."

"I know." Beatrice grimaced as she thought about her lumberjack of a father tearily doting on her again. "Please tell me you're taking me back to college and not him."

Eros' jaw set. "I had planned to. But then"—his face darkened—"that bastard cheated and beat me at rock-paper-scissors." The memory was a dark one of how his father rubbed it in how he won with scissors.

"Great," Beatrice grunted. She placed a cheek in a propped hand. "He's going to embarrass me even more in front of Mari." Wariness grew when Eros gave her a long look. "What?"

"Nothing." Eros put the lid on the blender. "I like her—Marinette. As does Father and Octavius." Soft greens sparked. "And Mother would have too." He added in amusement, "It's certainly entertaining someone so small is overpowering you."

Beatrice, red, gaped. "You—!"

WHRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Her insults were put to bed when Eros started the blender. Asshat. She turned away, neck flushed. It's not like I can resist her anyhow.

It took Eros a few moments until he was certain he had blended the shakes well. As he divvied out the portions, he mentioned, "Since Father is sponsoring you to become a Knight, I hope you won't be offended that I am going through with sponsoring Nora."

"No, it's fine." Beatrice accepted the glass with her fair share of shake. "But are you sure you want to sponsor him? It's like being a godparent, Eros. And especially because Nora's goal is to become a Champion of the Church and the marchioness is close to the Fiore Branch of the Holy Eye, you're going to have to get involved. And I thought you weren't fond of the Holy Eye to begin with."

"I'm not." Eros sipped his shake. "But I'll be Nora's support regardless. I can put up with the Holy Eye."

He took a few more gulps, thinking. And besides, there's a reason Nora wants to become a Champion and it's not because of his devotion to that annoying doctrine. He's going to need all the support he can for his goal.

He finished his swallows to inform, "Also, I'll be deployed for a few months, but I'll be back in time for Mother's death anniversary."

"Let's just hope those stupid interviewers don't try to crash again," muttered Beatrice. "That documentary about the serial arsonist and all they killed—that's fine. But why do these stupid journalists think they have the right to interrupt our personal lives for their whole 'anniversary' specials. They weren't the ones who lost someone."

"Father made sure to take extra precautions," Eros told her. "After the whole incident with the von Hohenheim family, I think everyone is taking better measures."

Beatrice frowned. "What do you mean incident?"

"It was kept quiet from the public," Eros told her. "Last year, some journalist snuck into a charity ball under the guise of a waiter and cornered the von Hohenheim matriarch. They were trying to get confirmation that she excommunicated her grandson and accused her of setting the serial arsonist on his tail. There were always rumors about the von Hohenheim family, but they're secretive and keep to themselves. The matriarch attacked the journalist, apparently, and the entire charity ball turned into a mess."

He shook his head. "From what Octavius says, a lot of journalists for magical gossip columns would give anything to interview that family, the bloodline to start Alchemy. And the rumors around them are vicious. It's not easy being a magical bloodline. I've met Misses Dragneel-Heartfilia once when I was knighted, and it's revolting how much nobility swarmed around her."

"I can't believe she's letting her daughter date a legit magical creature," Beatrice muttered. "I met Nashi Dragneel at the Yule Cotillion last year, and she seemed pretty cool. This year, it was just Mister Dragneel and his one son, so I couldn't ask her anything. And they brought that ballet dancer too. From Saint Layla's?" She swallowed some more shake.

"I heard." Eros swirled the remainder of his shake. I still can't figure out Atticus' interest in her. But if she's a personal friend of Misses Dragneel-Heartfilia and Mister Dragneel, then is it connections he wants? He never approached their daughter, but she's dating Gary Fullbuster. Didn't they have a second daughter though?

One of the flaps to the kitchen thwopped open. "Lady Beatrice!"

Beatrice tried to hide her flush with annoyance when Marinette pounced on her. "I told you to drop the honorifics," Beatrice grumbled.

"But I like calling you that, Lady Beatrice," Marinette chirped before pecking Beatrice's cheek. "And you look so adorable when you get all flustered whenever I call you 'My Lady' in be—"

"My brother is right there!" Beatrice hissed, hiding her face. "Show some tact!"

"Oh." Marinette kept close to Beatrice, but she beamed at Eros. "Morning, Eros!"

Eros chuckled. "Good morning, Miss Marinette. If you'd wait a moment, I'll get started on breakfast for the…" His brow furrowed when he noticed Sylvie had silently come in and gaped at him. "Hello?"

"Why aren't you wearing a shirt?" Sylvie croaked.

"I don't wear one when I work out," Eros answered flatly. He ignored Sylvie in favor of his sister and Marinette. "Is there anything you both would like for breakfast? I can make an everything-omelet for you, Trissy."

"I'm not a child," Beatrice huffed. But after a moment, she mumbled, "But fine." She blocked out Eros' rumbling laughter when she had gooseflesh from Marinette's nuzzling. "Cut it out."

Marinette pouted as she embraced Beatrice's arm. "But I have to soak up all my time with you before we go back to separate colleges. I won't see you until the anniversary." Her pout turned into a frown. "Are you sure you'd like me to come with you, My Lady? I understand if you don't want me there. I can wait until afterward."

Beatrice softened a tad. "No." She closed her eyes when Marinette kissed her jaw. "It's fine. I'd like you there. I want you to meet my mom." Her voice choked on the maternal word. "She… She would have loved you, Mari."

"Then I'll have to thank her for giving me my own knight-in-shining-armor when I meet her," Marinette murmured.

Eros smiled a little when Marinette nudged Beatrice into a chaste kiss. Mother really would have loved her. He got out the remaining ingredients for omelets. It'll be harder on Father if Octavius isn't home. Everyone thinks Father is a recovered widower, but no one ever comments he's only ever worn black since Mother died. Soft greens jaded with sadness. She should be here with us.

His jaw tightened. If only we had begged her to stay when she went to visit her friend… Not a day goes by I wish I could personally find that arsonist and murderer and make him die the same way he killed her and countless others.

"Eros?"

He did not look Sylvie's way as he pulled out the rest of the ingredient's from the chef's refrigerator. "I'm not in the mood for your childish whims, Sylvie," he told her, tone clipped. "Bother Nora. I need to cook."

"But—!" Sylvie was taken aback when Eros sharply turned away from her to continue his prep work. I just…wanted to ask if you were okay…

Hurt and childishly petty, she upturned her nose and snipped, "Whatever, grandpa. Don't bother making me anything." She marched away and opened the kitchen's door—

But she hesitated and glanced back at a tense Eros. Stupid grandpa. You could at least look okay. And she left with no one giving her a backward glance.

---

"Oh, look at this, isn't it pretty?"

"Are you hungry? Thirsty? Why don't we sit a minute?"

"I saw you looking at that—should I buy it for you? It's no trouble!"

"Eh-heh…" Luna's eyebrow twitched with her smile strained as a sparkling Ena and Silver loomed over her while Icarus, Lunagr'an, and Soledia acted like bodyguards. This…isn't what I meant when I said we should go out.

Lily Street was in its busiest time for spring break. Friday had drowned in tourists from every Paradise who came to see the famous street, sweep into shops and galleries and markets, and find something worthy to take home with them.

If only Luna could do that without the calvary.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Lily Street

Haleakalā City, Ao's Paradise

Caelum, Ishgar

1:36 PM WIT

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

It took me so long to convince them to leave the hotel room…

Chibi-Luna looked like a wrapped tortilla, thanks to Chibi-Silver swaddling her. It did not help that Icarus looked the part of pissed-off guard dog and listened to Chibi-Ena's demands to sniff the food the server had brought up for room service (and the poor guy was sweating bullets thanks to Lunagr'an and Soledia showing them their weapons).

And after all that convincing, we finally came outside, but…

Luna sweated internally as everyone gave her outdoor table a wide berth, all because of the overwhelming threatening auras of her friends. This feels like they're guarding me against an assassination attempt. Or even worse…

She wanted to weep remembering how Igneel's presence could clear a street. It's like Igneel's home again. And I worked so hard.

Luna coughed into her fist. "So—"

"Are you sick?"

A tick of alarm throbbed on Luna's temple with how intensely Ena stared at her and grabbed her shoulders. "H-Huh?"

"You coughed. Coughing is a sign of sickness." Ena tightened her grip. "We must get you to a hospital immediately."

You look like you'd put me in a hospital, Luna cried. She patted Ena's hand. "E, I'm fine," she soothed. "But, um… This is a little too much, don't you think? I'm sure Miss Lunagr'an and Miss Soledia have much more important things to do." She smiled at both women. "Isn't that…?"

She sweatdropped seeing Lunagr'an weep and dab her cheeks with a tissue and even the stoic Soledia looked emotional. "…r-right…?"

"She even gave us titles," Lunagr'an sniffled. "She's of higher rank than us and she speaks to us so formally. We'll make sure not a hair on your head is harmed, Princess," she blubbered with Soledia nodding her agreement.

A dreary aura overcame Luna. I'm completely alone, aren't I?

"L."

Luna blinked. "What—?" She panicked when Ena kneeled at her feet. What is going on!

Ena clasped Luna's hand and a flowery aura somehow took over. "Luna Anna Dragneel"—browns shimmered—"I vow to you I will make sure you are unharmed and safe in my presence."

Luna turned to cracked stone. What is she talking about?

"I promise too." Silver kneeled before her and with that same flowery aura. "I promise you, Luna, that we'll make sure you're safe at all times."

Luna was impervious to the shining auras both her friends gave off with her dark aura. Why are you both acting like this? What is wrong with you?

"Oh, look at that!"

Luna started when she overheard two women gossiping and one whispered loudly, "It looks like she's getting proposed to by two people, doesn't it?"

No, don't misunderstand this! Frantic, Luna snatched her hands back. "Y-Y-You know what? I think I am a little hungry—"

Ena straightened. "Silver."

"Yes, Mistress," Silver answered with a bow of his head. "I won't take more than twenty—no, fifteen minutes."

"Fifteen?" A lethal glint warred in Ena's eyes. "Take no more than ten minutes. And if they tell you it's impossible"—she gripped Silver's chin with her bloodlust strong—"give them incentive to hurry quickly before your mistress grows impatient."

"I understand." War glowed in those blues and he flashed his fangs. "They will hurry."

Luna felt a headache coming on from all this murderous intent pressuring her. I was right. My friends are idiots.

"Lulu."

Luna's eye twitched underneath the soft and lovely atmosphere Silver gave off as he looked at her. "I'll be right back, okay? So don't worry."

"I-I wasn't gonna…" Luna wanted to weep at all the attention piled onto them. I'm worried about how people will misunderstand if you don't start acting normal again.

She sighed in relief when Silver darted away. "Phew… Now…" She withered seeing Ena's shiny and serious look. I have to deal with this one. "E?" A brilliant light glowed around Luna as she patted the seat next to her. "Why don't you sit and we can talk for a bit? And Icarus?" She smiled at her Celestial Spirit sitting before her. "you can lie down if you'd like. Please. It'd make me feel bad if I was the only one resting while all of you stood. And that goes for Miss Lunagr'an and Miss Soledia too."

The four were entranced at the divine glow of Luna and could swear they saw white wings and a halo. She's…! She's an Angel!

Ena settled in the seat next to Luna and crossed her legs. "Fine. I will sit. But my swords will not." She shot both ladies a sharp look. "Take perimeter. Make sure no one suspicious dares come close, understand?"

Both women bowed. "As you command, My Lady." And they both disappeared with impeccable speed.

Icarus laid down beside Luna's chair in his Dog Form as well.

Luna gave a quiet sigh of relief. Thank goodness. Now then. Chocolates flashed over to the somber Ena. I have to lighten the mood somehow before Silver comes back. If I can break E, it'll be easier to break him.

Luna innocently smiled. "So, E, how was your date with Silver last night?"

"Fine," Ena answered, short.

"Did you like the restaurant?"

"Yes."

"Did you…enjoy dessert?"

"Yes."

"Did you and Silver kiss under the moonlight?"

"Yes."

Luna's smile twitched with how firm and clipped every answer was. She's…not going to make it easy for me, will she? Her lashes fell as she played with her fingers on the table. What am I going to do? I don't want our trip to end like this because of me. Silver and E were supposed to be happy. And I ruined everything for them.

She sighed. "I bet they won't tell me how they confessed to each other either."

"Wh-Wh-What?"

Luna blinked catching the red burning Ena's ears and the scandalized look across her face. I said that out loud, didn't I?

You did.

Shut up, Icarus.

"H-How did you know about that?" Ena asked, taken aback. "I… H-He…" Her brow twitched as she looked away.

Luna peered closer. Wait a minute. "You both…did confess, right? Is that not what happened?" Because of it isn't… She did not want to think about how she would peacefully drown in Silver's wailed tears and the massive monsoon he would create. Silver is going to kill me.

"I-I…" More red spread upon Ena's cheeks and the bridge of her nose. "He…confessed to me."

"Well, that's great!" Luna cheered, sincere in her enthusiasm. "This is amazing, E! I'm serious! And I'll support you both and…!" Her cheeriness faded when she sensed something. Wait… Her emotions… Something isn't right. She doesn't feel…happy.

Browns widened. Hold on. She only said…Silver confessed to her. Then that means…

She softened looking at Ena. "E," she murmured, "did…you not confess back to him?"

Ena clutched the arms of her chair.

"I see." Luna placed no judgment. "Is there any reason you didn't?"

Ena's knuckles turned white. "I…"

Icy dark oaks. "You can't rely on anyone but yourself."

Ena's shoulders went rigid. "I…wanted to say it back to him so badly. But…"

When Ena failed to go on, Luna prompted, "'But'?"

"I…" Ena pressed her lips together. Mystogan doesn't even see me as his sister. So why—her heart throbbed—am I letting him affect me this much?

Gritted teeth. "I hate him."

That jolted Ena and it surprised her more seeing pure anger flush across Luna's face. L…

"I thought Misty would change because of Luke for so long," Luna revealed. "But I know now he won't ever change." Her hands clenched into fists. "I can't forgive him for everything he's said to you. I don't care if he's Luke's teacher. He doesn't deserve it. And he doesn't deserve to be your brother either. Brothers don't do this to their sisters."

Her hands shook. It's all because of him that E's unsure of himself. If he won't acknowledge E, then I won't acknowledge him. Chocolates darkened in malice. He doesn't deserve forgiveness.

Ena blinked when Icarus whined shaking his head. What's going on? Abrupt shouting came from the street and caught Ena's attention. Two furious women glared as they argued in their native tongue. What is…? It was then she realized others who littered the street had become irate with those around them. Muttered insults escalated to snarls and snaps and scathing retorts. A shove turned into a punch. What is happening?

Her fingers trembled. It's like…I can feel everyone's rage. She covered her mouth as that vengeful essence converged around her. I can feel it trying to take me too. What is this?

Lunagr'an called, My Lady, look!

Ena looked up at Luna—

—and she was taken aback seeing shadows swirl around Luna. L? She's…doing this? When could she do this? She's never done this before. It clicked. But I've never seen her angry like this before. It's not like she's enchanting anyone to be upset. So she's doing this subconsciously?

What gave him the right to hurt E? Luna seethed. Why did he break her heart like this? I hate him. Chocolates threatened to turn black. I hate him!

"Erg." Ena covered her mouth with both hands. I…feel sick. Trying to keep her eyes open, all the aggression that had leaked onto the street had slammed into violence. Holding punches was no longer an option as the shouting from the pedestrians grew into an angry chorus. I can't…let this go on. Her star flicked down to see Icarus shaking his head, whining. I have to stop this.

She pulled her hands away with a deep breath. I just need to figure out how.

Brown and black warred to consume Luna's eyes as the black essence waved off her being. Why does everyone I love keep getting hurt? Why am I so useless to protect them from this? I hate them. Black slowly drowned those browns. I want it to stop.

Make a wish, came an echoed whisper. Make a wish.

Luna's jaw ticked. I… The browns of her eyes were losing the battle to a malevolent black. I wish…

Make a wish, the whispered encouraged, excited. Make a wish.

It felt like the switch was slowly being pushed upwards. I wish—

"It's okay."

Scarlet hair fluttered.

Luna froze when Ena hugged her.

She patted Luna's back with closed eyes and a smile. "You know what? It doesn't even hurt anymore. Because he was never my brother. But you have always been a sister to me." That's right.

Hard oaks.

I can't keep focusing on him and letting his words control me. Her eyes cracked open, bitter. How can I when he never showed me an ounce of respect? When he refused to even see me as his sister?

• — • — •

"What do you want?"

The focus looked up at a teenaged Mystogan as he stood in the open doorway. "There's no use in crying over that man. He never loved us." He gave her his back. "And he never loved you. So stop crying over him."

One dark oak eye filled with hatred. "He'll never cry over someone so weak."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

'But…I had someone who treated me like I was their sister…'

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"E!"

The focus looked at a beaming little Luna. "Let's have fun today, okay? I really missed you while you were training!"

She took hold of Ena's hand and pulled her forward. "C'mon! Let's go play!"

• — • — •

DRIP.

A magenta tear shed.

DROP.

It faded into Ethernano.

Ena held onto Luna tightly. For the longest time…I've had you with me to be all the support I needed. Why should I listen to someone who thought I was nothing more than weak…when I can embrace the person who treated me better and wanted me around?

"I know you're angry because of how I was treated," she murmured to Luna, "but it's okay. There's no need for that anymore. Don't waste another emotion on it. Because I won't either. And it's simply not in your nature to hate anyone." She pulled back to search Luna's watery browns. "You're just…not that type of person."

No. You're pure and good. And I want to protect that for as long as I can. You were the second person to love me for me, after my mother. You made me feel…found. You're the kind princess in this fairy tale.

She could imagine Luna as the blessed saintess in a world full of war and blood trying to dirty her. But there Ena stood in her armor with her dual blades as she took on this blood-stained battle to protect the virtue of the kind maiden.

And I am your knight, who will protect you.

Luna sniffled and swiped under her nose. "I still don't like him for hurting you," she mumbled, petulant.

Ena laughed behind a fist. "You're such a kid."

Luna puffed a cheek, fuming. "I am not. Just because you're a few months older doesn't mean I—!" she paused when she felt Ena's hand on her head and her stare tenderly sparkled. "E?"

"Never change," Ena told her. "Keep being you. And I'm going to protect you until the end, okay?" Yes. That is what I desire to do with my power. To protect the ones I love. She took a lock of Luna's golden hair and kissed it. I will be both your friend and your knight. I swear this on my name.

Her Fairy Tail insignia glowed.

Soledia watched from the rooftop of a story with her solar eyes softening. So then… It starts all over again. She sighed. I suppose things don't change, even after all these years, do they? She smiled a little. You will be proud of your successor for following your path—she watched the sky as a glowing magenta butterfly passed by before disintegrating into Magic—Your Majesty.

"H-Hey! Wait a minute!" Luna flushed, but she tried to cover it with her arm. "You can't just say things like that!" She rapidly blinked, but she could not look at Ena without blushing. "P-People might get the wrong idea about things, and I really don't want Silver to misunderstand things and…!"

Ena pulled back with a fond smile as Luna rambled. My. She really is adorable. I think I understand Igneel a lot more for setting all her admirers on fire. But if he's not here… Bloodlust reeked from her and it was a stark contrast from her smile and Luna's innocent flush. Then I guess it's my turn to put those unworthy pigs in their place.

A fangy smile. "Mistress, you're being reckless again."

Ena had no time to react when Silver turned her head and—

CHU!

He swept her into a kiss.

Luna, Lunagr'an, and Soledia were gawking, stunned and both Lunagr'an and Luna panicked, She's going to kill him for that!

He was gentle in his release of her, but he stayed close. "And I told you I would kiss if you became reckless again, remember?"

"I…" Rather than rising to anger, a shy flush crossed Ena and heated her ears. She looked away and murmured, "I…remember…"

Soledia quietly sighed her relief while Lunagr'an and Luna were crying on the inside. He's still alive! She didn't kill him!

"Good." Silver nuzzled her cheek before he kissed it. "As long as you remember. So please don't act reckless."

"I…won't," Ena mumbled as more red palmed her neck.

Silver hummed before pulling away to show both girls and Icarus all the food he had purchased from a mom-and-pop restaurant. "I got us some lunch! So why don't we all eat?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

So then…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"You got so much!"

Luna was in heaven with the bountiful array displayed for lunch and a little drool dragged down from the corner of her mouth. "H-How did you get all this food so quickly?"

"Well…" Silver recalled how his intense aura had frightened the staff into a hurried submission and his sharp smile had the owners begging for their lives. If I told her how, she'd scold me. Better to lie from now. An innocent sparkle came around him. "I just told them my cute best friend was hungry; that's all!"

You are such a liar, Ena and Icarus muttered.

Luna salivated as she took in every delight before pointing a shaky finger at herself. "And… And I can eat all of this?"

"Sure!" Silver chirped. "I made sure to get something separate for Mistress and me, so this is all yours. Eat however much you want."

"Ha…" Luna looked possessed as she licked her lips. All of this…is mine… Shakily, she took hold of one of the sandwiches and had a hearty bite. It was as though an angelic chorus sang about her from the taste. And it's so good!

Silver smiled as he watched Luna look like she had ascended from the pure joy of having a table full of food at her disposal. She's so easy to please. A tick mark bombarded his skull when he remembered Rai trying to tempt Luna into being his pet with promises of food. Which is really concerning.

He passed Ena her takeout container. "Here you go, Mistress. This is yours."

"Thank you." Ena took the container from him, brushing his fingers—

LUB-DUB-LUB-DUB-LUB-DUB!

A pretty pink sprinkled Ena's ears as she set her food down. My heart races even when we touch like this. How am I supposed to control this feeling?

Browns flicked up to Silver as he laughed at Luna's expense when she bit off more she could chew and looked like a chipmunk. The blush on Ena's ears increased, and she looked away. Just looking at him makes me think dangerous things. Is it supposed to be like this? Is it natural to think about your boyfriend like this?

A crashing thought came to her. Are we even in a relationship? She was spiraling on the inside. Come to think of it, we never even talked about it last night.

No, because last night's event entailed them kissing under the tree and her embarrassment making her too shy to speak for the rest of their evening and too susceptible to Silver's tempting touches.

And then this morning…

This morning came back to her with a vengeance as she remembered Luna trying and failing to calm her and Silver's rage.

A dreary aura hung around Ena. We…haven't spoken about anything after his confession and that kiss. He said he would explain everything, but we had more important and pressing matters to attend to. But now…

She peeked as Silver started mother-henning an ungrateful Luna when he tried to wipe sauce from her cheek. When…will we talk about everything? I want to ask him, but I don't want to seem foolish. This is so strange to me and confusing.

Her gaze lowered to her food. Is this…really what it's like to like someone? Feeling this confused?

Silver noticed Ena's fallen gaze and frowned. Mistress… He turned back to his food. Does she regret what happened last night? Fear took over. Is she doing to reject me? No, don't think like that. He forced himself to calm down. I can't jump to conclusions like that. I know how she feels about me. So then… Oh. Realization dawned. My explanation. We didn't really talk after I confessed?

"Mistress, just one more kiss?"

Silver heatedly blushed with his eyebrow twitching as he remembered all the kisses they exchanged last night with very few words between them. I couldn't control myself at all. I promised to explain things to her, but I kept getting so distracted.

He grimaced, internally sweating. She probably thinks I'm some pervert who only confessed just so I could kiss her. I just…couldn't help it…

A dark aura loomed over Silver. I really am a pervert.

Luna sweatdropped seeing both Ena and Silver. Their thoughts and emotions are so loud. She tapped her chin. Well, there's no point in me making things awkward. I just need to switch topics.

She cleared her throat. "We never really spoke about it since everything was pretty crazy, but… What exactly happened to you both at Kohala?" She panicked when the mood darkened further. Oh, no, I made things worse!

"It wasn't pretty," Ena warned her. "When you left, I wanted to search for you. However"—her eyes darkened—"we had some trouble." She cast a spell with a flutter of her finger and a heatwave rolled down until the spell took effect. "As you remember, Akamu came to kidnap you and brought Aloha at gunpoint. Silver and I split up to find you. He would face Akamu while I took Aloha to look for you. But what you didn't know was that Akamu didn't naturally unlock his powers. An Enhancer potion triggered his abilities."

"'An Enhancer potion'?" Luna echoed. "But…I thought those were extremely illegal?"

Ena nodded. "Yes, they are. But considering Akamu is part of Deathhawk, it's not a surprise he had such a potion on his person. Our guess is it was to be used in encountering myself and Silver. He brought a gun, a common Spiritless mistake. Bullets might work on those without Ether, but those of us with it can easily counter that sort of fire if we're smart."

"Okay…" Luna's brow furrowed. "So then… He knew I was with you two and that's why he had that potion, to give him false abilities to be able to fight you both. But how did he know who I am? Even on all my social media stuff, I'm careful to hide my face, or at least my eyes. And no one can tag me in anything. I was being so careful…"

"Which is why it's worrisome he could recognize you even with my enchantment on you." Ena sat back, crossing her arms. "Someone had to have known I was traveling with you." But even in that theory, it makes no sense. Her parents agreed to let Luna be my muse on the condition I hid her face. Is this the result of a few public outings?

"But…Akamu didn't know who I was."

Ena blinked up at the puzzled Luna. "What did you say?"

"He didn't know who I was," Luna repeated. "I gave him my fake name and everything. He told me that when he woke up. And I could tell he wasn't lying about that. So he didn't know my real name."

"That doesn't make sense," Silver thought aloud. "So he didn't know your name or your actual face, but he still came to kidnap you? But why? Why would Deathhawk want you so badly to send someone like him?"

All three thought hard, but it was difficult to get find a feasible answer.

"Well… What happened next?" Luna wondered.

"Akamu turned into that lava monster you saw," Silver filled in. Even though…it was because of what I put him through. "He had zero control over his abilities in that state. And my Magic as a human couldn't do any sort of damage, so…"

"That's when…you turned into a Dragon," Luna softly finished for him.

"Yeah." Silver's appetite waned. "That's when I turned."

Ena continued: "And while Silver and Akamu fought, Aloha and I went after you, but we ran into trouble. These…shadow beasts spawned themselves. I've never seen anything like them. They could attack me, but I couldn't attack them with my normal armor. I plan to ask Penelope about them once we get home. But in my Phantom Armor, I was able to fend them off."

Her cheek twinged. "I wasn't able to sustain my armor for long, but then—"

Luna frowned a little at the bewildered look on Ena's face. "'But then'…?"

"Well…" Ena blinked twice. "It just… It felt like a dream, this next part. I'm still not sure what happened exactly, but… There was this light…and it hit me." Her eyes sparked at the memory. "And then this power took over. My swords came to life and…I was given new armor and a new weapon."

"Right. It looked different from your normal armor," Luna recounted. "And it had some sort of strange star on it, I think."

A glowing sandalwood six-pointed star tilted on its axis.

"Yes," Ena agreed in a breath. "That star…" I don't understand why such a symbol feels significant. She broke from her reverie. "I'm still not sure about the properties of the armor, so I'll have Genius scan it before I wear it again. I don't want to take any chances."

"That sounds like a good call," Luna decided.

"Yeah." Silver nodded. "As helpful as that armor might've been, even though it showed up at the right place at the right time, we don't want to make any assumptions on anything." He rubbed his neck. "Did the armor feel positive, at least?"

"It…did," Ena answered. "Strange, but it was in a positive way." She shook her head. "And using it and my battle-ax helped in fighting those shadow beasts to get to L." And come to think of it… She turned to Luna. "What exactly happened to you in Kohala as well?"

"Me?" Luna wished she had the answer. "Um, well…" With great effort, she tried to bring about her memories. "I remember…falling asleep. But when I woke up, I was away from you all. I had Icarus with me and Miss Kāne was there too, but I can't remember how I got to where I was in the first place."

Ena narrowed her eyes. I knew it.

Glowing white eyes.

I knew it couldn't have been L that had looked at me, or if it was, she was entranced. Ena's browns swept down to Icarus, who feigned dozing. So why did Icarus and the Guardian Spirit take her away? I don't want to have any doubts about L's Celestial Spirit. But I need to know he will always have her best interest at heart.

Luna went on: "Miss Kāne showed me this tunnel that had the painted history of Caelum. It wasn't just about the five Gods and Ao. But it was also about—"

Her eyes widened when the memories settled in. "That's right. Mister Amare." She looked between her friends. "Everything he told us about—those legends—everything about it was true. There was a people who lived in Kohala called the menehune, just like he said. And that secret monolith—it belonged to them too."

Both Ena and Silver were shocked. "Seriously?"

"Mm. It's true." Luna tried to recall the story as best as she could, "Silver, we saw it when we saw Miss Kapa's troupe. The Gods and the menehune did have peace between them. But on the night they celebrated, one of the tribespeople used the opportunity to sneak into Kohala and find the stone. They were the ones who summoned all those Demons and creatures to Kohala. They're the traitor. And they were the reason Caelum was constantly raided."

"A Warlock." Ena said this with serious intent. "The traitor must have been a Warlock."

Silver did not understand. "A what?"

"A Warlock is someone who enters a contract with a Demon," Ena informed him. "Mother told me about them. Apparently, during the Festival of Gratitude, Warlocks were behind the Guardians going mad. Warlocks are given Curses in exchange for serving a Demon for eternity. From what she told me of what Misses Redfox uncovered, Warlocks were thought to be gone a thousand years ago."

"But…" Silver's brow knitted together. "People still have Curses, don't they?"

Ena told him, "That's different. Casting a Curse and obtaining a Curse or even being born with a Curse is not necessarily due to demonic interference. Cursed objects existed. Gods, Dragons, Sorcerers—they all could Curse others back in the day. I'm sure in the dark parts of the LacriNet are uncovered and olden curse incantations. When 'covens' were around, White Witches had the power to Curse bloodlines, but they also had great power to break Curses as well, something that was a very rare skill to have.

"But for as dangerous as those Curses are, a Demon's Curse is much stronger," she went on. "Demons are made solely of Curse Power, not just harnessing one simple Curse. Their existence is a Curse. That's why Warlocks are born. They want that sort of power from the source. But in exchange for that power, they are given eternal damnation upon their death. And the more they rely on their Curse given, the greater the madness will spread until there is nothing left but a damaged soul only fit for a Demon to eat."

Luna swallowed. I want to say that Warlocks and Demons are different than Celestial Spirit Mages and our Celestial Spirits, but…

• — • — •

"So why make contracts with them?"

The focus was Aamon, the blue anthropomorphic owl dressed in a suit like he was having tea with the queen.

"In the event I require a service done." Aamon's head shifted to the other side. "Warlocks become assets the same way some view their children. I provide them with power. They provide a service in return. A fair trade. What they desire from using the power I give them is of little importance. All that matters to me is they diligently work any task I give them."

"If you're so powerful, why would you need them to do things for you?"

Aamon blinked. "Why do you have a Celestial Spirit?"

"What?"

"Why do you have a Celestial Spirit?" Aamon repeated. "Why do beings form connections, breed offspring? Why the need for such things if you have power? Why ask another being to do something for you?"

She remembered answering, "I ask for help when I can't do something…"

"Even a Demon has limitations on their power," Aamon said. "That is our balance. To exist, to sustain, to venture—we must create contracts with lesser beings. Like a Spirit, unless someone summons us to a realm, we cannot freely roam and, therefore, are stuck in our own realm. Some Demons are reclusive and prefer isolation. I am not one of them.

"As I said before, my Warlocks do not reflect my personal beliefs. Their affairs, vengeance, ethics—none is of importance for my own interests. If they fight amongst themselves, commit massive slaughter, or use their power to wake the dead, I have no care. What other Demons do is of little matter to me as well."

"Wait," Luna stopped him. "You're not…working with the other Demons?"

Aamon blinked. "You live amongst humans, but you do not work alongside every human. Am I correct to say this?" When Luna nodded, Aamon went on: "Demons are not so different and neither are our counterparts, Agents. We may belong to a specific race, but our needs are not a collective. We have individual thoughts, morals, and interests. And, as with humans, Demons can band together under a joint cause or fight amongst each other due to conflict. Your father is a Demon King, but he does not adhere to my practice."

• — • — •

It's not like he's wrong, Luna thoughts. Demons are a race just like humans. And they can have their own interests and dislikes. I mean… Papa's a Demon and Luke's a Demon and, well…

She sweatdropped seeing her father's hobby of childishly picking fights while Luke was more interested in staying indoors to play lacrimagames. They don't act like vicious Demons at all.

Her thoughts faded for a darker one. Still, though… Even if Nashi, Igneel, and I are half Demon…and Papa and Luke are full-Demons… How are we supposed to change people's minds when almost every Demon we encountered has done something horrible or contracted to a horrible Warlock? And there's still something Aamon said that I don't understand.

• — • — •

"May I ask a question now, Your Highness?"

"O-Oh." The focus blinked. "Sure. Yes, of course."

Aamon cocked his head again. "Why did you not use your full power against those who aggressed you?"

"I couldn't if I didn't want Luke and Nashi to get hurt," Luna said.

"But your power exceeds boundaries and limits," Aamon pointed out. "By using your full potential, any worries of harm befalling your loved ones would become nonexistent."

"I was using my full power," Luna explained, "but I overused my Magic, and that's why I got sick."

Aamon hummed. "You're still in your state of mortality. Interesting. Most are not born with that. Perhaps that is why I take such fascination to you. You truly are a rarity. You intrigue me, Your Highness, and I wish to see you at your full potential. Not only that, but it is common knowledge that change is upon the mortals."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Tell me, Your Highness, what normally incites severe preparation amongst mortals?"

"When something bad happens to them," Luna answered. "A fight, maybe, or a battle."

"Yes, but you are still thinking far too small," Aamon said. "An individual changes after a fight. A collective changes after battle. But a worldprepares for war."

• — • — •

I still don't understand what he meant by all of that, Luna thought. I don't understand why he said that about my powers or why he was trying to give me that warning. A war… But…what kind of war did he mean?

Ena spoke again. "What else was in that tunnel? What did the Warlock do afterward?"

"I…" Luna ditched her thoughts on Aamon's words for her recent memories. "Um, I don't remember seeing the Warlock after that, but the tribespeople, the Gods, and the menehune all banded together to fight against the demonic creatures in Kohala. There was…so much blood."

Black and blue streaked the tunneled walls in such disastrous strokes and splatters that they could be mistaken as the work of a mad artist.

"And…so many bodies…"

Eyes agape, it was easy to see who was beast and who was warrior. Ugly creatures birthed from decrepit sin and darkness had their fangs and claws stolen from them. But someone dishonorably disemboweled the warriors who had fought with their heart and soul of their hearts, their tongues—their wings.

Silver noticed when Ena touched her temple, pained. Mistress?

Luna continued: "The fight was never-ending, but Ao came to help the last of those standing. And he brought Kāne with him, like he knew what he had to do was take the people away from Caelum's mainland. The menehune sacrificed themselves, and Kāne was left to take care of Kohala while Ao took the Gods and their people. Kāne saved Kohala and healed the mainland and then… Well, the rest is history, I guess."

"A history no one knew about," muttered Ena. That's strange. Why did my head hurt like that? She dismissed the thought. "If Kāne was the one to have shown you it, then the entire legend is true. Those menehune existed. But if their entire race was eradicated, I'm sure the Gods and the people were either sworn to secrecy or the story was told, but in the Current Era, the legend seemed too far-fetched to believe and became an old wives' tale."

"But what were the menehune in the first place?" Silver asked Luna.

But to that, she had no clear answer. "I don't know," she said, honest in her uncertainty. "But they lived in the tunnels of Kohala and they protected that stone in the pond." That place… I feel like I know its name. It was called… It was called… "Ale… Ale…" Her mouth moved before her mind could catch up. "Alekoko."

LUB-DUB!

Ena restrained her pained grunt when her heart throbbed over the name. What is happening to me? Why do I feel so much pain?

Silver's ear twitched as he looked at Ena. Her heart beat a little harder when Lulu said that name, but… Why? He hoped Luna did not notice what had transpired, and he said to her, "At least you're safe, right? That's what matters most, that we all got out of there okay."

"Yeah, but how did the other God Slayers find us?" She gasped. "And the horses! What happened to the horses!"

Silver awkwardly laughed. "Yeah, about that. Rai took care of it. As for how they got there, I'm not sure about that either. But Rai was the one to handle things with the conversancy center and made sure Ariel and Tricky got back there. He even canceled the search party the center sent out for us." His smile twinged. Which means…

Ena's cheek twinged. Which means…

Luna had question marks around her when both had dark auras around them. We're indebted to that bastard.

CLAP!

Both looked up to see Luna's smile. "Well, we'd had a pretty rough couple of days. But E still successfully got that business deal with Sky Adze and we got to see Young Nation with each other. Plus we have the luau tonight. So we should celebrate properly." She raised her drink. "All in favor?"

Silver grinned while Ena breathed a laugh into a smile.

And all three drinks clinked. "Aye, sir!"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

HYU...

DON-DON-DON!

As fireworks pierced the night sky, the true spectacle was on the ground.

Tiki torches lit, and leis and Caelun pūpūs (gifts) to go around, hundreds of tourists and locals had traveled all over to experience the luau. Within a palm tree oasis came cabanas and pavilions with traditionally-dressed servers coming by with drinks and complimentary desserts and treats. Guests had come in their Caelun print apparel and some had their own plastic grass skirts and headdresses, but all had their guest leis on. The bar was a hot commodity tonight, as was the two buffets. Now that the main dinner had gone without a hitch, the buffets were open for anyone to take with them seconds or thirds or a dessert. The large stage had a band set up with a few dancers. Children and adults alike had taken to the laid-out dancer floor to dance along.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Paradise Cove at Kohala Village and Resort, one of the most popular resorts in all of Caelum thanks to its water park and amenities. Paradise Cove hosts the Dawn of the Sky Voyagers luau every Saturday, but this luau is special due to it being the stapled end of spring holiday. It costs around 130 Caelun Crowns per adult, but it includes pre-show entertainment, an imu ceremony with the kalua pua'a (roast pig), arts and crafts demonstrations, hula classes, and a fire knife dance finale. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The private cabana Rai had reserved carried an excellent view of the stage and a good distance to one of the two bars and the buffets. Rai fanned himself as he sat at the traditional mat-seated table, each cushion with its own little backrest. He had come with part of his tunic exposing his tattooed arm and pectoral, but he kept on his ceremonial lei.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Paradise Cove

Kohala Village and Resort, Ao's Paradise

Caelum, Ishgar

7:47 PM WIT

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Ugh. Those businessmen are like vultures," he swore. "That one lady looked like she wanted to swallow me whole." He blew Kalua a kiss. "But thanks to my knight in shining grass skirt, I was saved by all her advances."

"Yes, sir." Though Kalua had a stormy aura about him. "I'm happy to be of service to you."

Rai smirked at a shirtless Holland who nursed his cocktail. "Not wearing your kilt this time?"

"Y'know, keep takin' a crack at my culture, little god, and I'll remind you why Suerts aren't to be fought," Holland darkly grunted.

Rai chuckled. "And my dear little sister would be awfully mad at you if you did that, wouldn't she?" He took immense pleasure in Holland's scowl. Such a tamed pet. His eyes sought the crowd with blue reticles in his deep browns. In a matter of moments, he found Luna in her halter bikini top and sarong as she smiled at a local boy her age. Though that smile exchanged for dread when Ena intervened while Icarus growled at the paling boy. There you are. My newest potential pet.

He sipped his cocktail as he watched Luna. You are awfully cute. If circumstances were different—his lips quirked upwards—I wouldn't have the heart to let you go.

°•°•°•°

Luna sighed as Ena chased off another person. "E, you know I'm okay talking to people, right?" She scowled at Icarus. "And you too. Bad dog."

Icarus flattened his ears with a half-hearted whine.

Ena flicked her hair over her shoulder. "You're free to mingle with people, just not young men more interested in your body than your mind," she conditioned. "You need to be more cognizant of the difference, L. If you don't you…"

Luna's eyebrow twitched as she blocked out Ena's lecture. And I'm back to being treated as a child…

"Hey! Look who I found!"

Ena, Icarus, and Luna looked over to see Silver coming over with cocktails with Gianni, Vos, and Vydia in tow, all three dressed in theme with the luau. Gianni looked irritated Vos clung to him, and Vydia followed them like an oblivious puppy.

Ena smiled. "Gigi!"

Gianni broke into his own smile and accepted Ena's hug. "Hello, darling. So glad you could make it here." He pulled back as they gave cheek kisses. "Did you brave the imu ceremony?"

Ena looked sick while Silver laughed, "Nope! She couldn't last a second!" He handed Luna her cocktail. "She nearly drew blood with the way she was clinging to me the entire time."

Ena flushed as she accepted her own cocktail and said in her defensive, "No one said anything about unearthing a roast pig. All you said was that it was a kalua pua'a. How was I supposed to know what it was?"

"Aw, don't be mad, Mistress!" Silver nudged her with a grin. "C'mon, stop pouting."

"I told you to refrain from calling me that in public," Ena muttered, even as her ears reddened. "And I am not pouting. I do not pout." She harrumphed when Silver hugged her from the side. "Unhand me."

"But you're pouting," Silver teased her. "If you keep pouting, I'm just going to kiss it away."

Ena colored. "I-I told you I'm not…!" But her arguments faded when Silver turned her cheek to seal her in a breath-stealing kiss.

Gianni's eyebrows flew up while Vos gasped, "Oh, my!" And he covered a clueless Vydia's eyes.

Silver pulled away slightly so there were a few centimeters of space between him and Ena. "I told you so, Mistress," he murmured. "When you look cute like that, I can't help it."

Ena swallowed. "I… I see…" She averted his eyes, timid and warm. "I told you not to call me that here."

"But you forgive me much quicker when I do." Silver nuzzled her and—

TICK!

A tick mark twitched on Ena's cheek when she heard a happy purr. "Silver…"

BAKI!

Silver sweated in fear when a murderous Ena loomed over him. "I told you to control yourself and your incessant urges," she hissed at him. "If you continue to fail in doing so, I will have no choice but to keep you away from me."

Chibi-Silver sobbed. No! Anything but that!

Thoroughly chastised, Silver squeaked, "Y-Yes, Mistress."

TICK!

"I told you not to call me that!"

"Y-Yes, Miss—! I-I-I mean, yes, Ena!" Silver fidgeted, head low, and sniffled. "I'm sorry."

Another tick mark thumbed Ena's temple when she saw a teary-eyed Silver sniffling before her and she could have sworn she saw flat puppy ears and a tail. Am I really okay with this person liking me? She forced out an exhale. "It's fine." She rubbed his head. "Try not to do it again, okay?"

"Y-Yes, M—mm, Ena."

Luna was impervious to the power of romance shining from those (and she ignored her hallucination of Silver's wagging tail). So. This is what it feels like to be single around a couple, huh? Well, if I'm a third wheel—she snuck out her Compact—the least I can do is be a photographer.

BASHA-BASHA!

Ena froze before glaring at a sweating Luna, who hid her Compact. "Did you just take a photo?"

Luna hid behind Gianni for safety. "N-No?"

Enna burned with a wrathful aura as her glare intensified onto Luna, but Vos loudly cut in, "Well, now. That was quite the show. I see all my romance advice worked." He puffed his chest. "I told you I knew what I was doing!"

Silver blinked. "What do you mean 'advice'?"

"Oh, I'm the one who told Ena, love, to be the better option between you and your 'other woman'," Vos boasted. "If I hadn't given my amazing relationship advice, you'd still be single."

Wait. Silver's eye twitched. He's the one who told her to say that stuff? Then that means…

Gianni and Silver had shadows over their eyes while Vos prided himself on his triumph. This man is a complete and utter idiot.

Kapa appeared with her ceremonial headdress and skirt. She beamed seeing Luna and signed to her, You're here! Are you ready?

Luna beamed back. "Yeah! I'm ready!" She shoved back her sipped cocktail to Silver and handed him her Compact. "Sorry! I need to go!" And she took Kapa's hand before they both dashed away.

Silver pocketed Luna's Compact. Well, I'm glad I'm her personal mule now.

Gianni asked Silver and Ena, "So then, based upon that kiss, I take it the both of you had a rather romantic night last night and talked it out?" He grew startled then sweatdropped when a dreary aura loomed over the couple. Or…maybe I spoke too soon based on this atmosphere…

We still haven't talked after last night, Silver lamented.

Ena fidgeted a little. And we did try to talk a little today before the luau, but…

CHU! CHU! CHU!

Both turned red remembering what happened in the hotel room. We've…been getting distracted…

"Oh, Gigi, don't butt in too much," Vos teased. "They're young, healthy teens. I'm sure talking was the last thing on their minds!" He laughed when steam puffed from Ena and Silver. "See? They'll get there at their own pace."

Gianni frowned a little. I suppose so. But I hope they talk it out soon.

"And why are you focusing on their relationship when you should focus on your future husband?"

TICK!

Gianni shook with agitation. "Vos," he gritted, "you are not my future husband."

"Don't be so coy, Gigi, after all this work I did for us," Vos pouted as he nuzzled Gianni. "You told me you took me back, remember?"

Gianni flushed as he failed in unsticking Vos to his person. "I didn't say that!" he snapped. "I told you! This week was a moment of weakness!"

"Then have a lifetime of those moments with me," Vos purred. His hand slipped down Gianni's waist. "And I'll make every moment count."

TICK!

Gianni was in a battle with Vos' wandering hand and seethed, "I'd believe that if your hand wasn't moving south."

"Was it?" Vos had an air of forced innocence about him. "I had no idea about that!"

That's what you said last time! Gianni wanted to shout.

An announcement came on. "Aloha ahiahi, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for joining us at Paradise Cove at the Kohala Resort. In just a few short moments, we'll be proud to introduce your evening entertainment."

"We'd better get back to our table," Silver supposed. He offered his hand to Ena. "Ready?"

"Ah…" Ena hesitated for a moment before slipping her hand in his. "Yeah." She smiled at Gianni, Vos, and Vydia. "I hope to find you all later?"

Vos chirped, "Not too much later. I'll already be carrying my future hubby back to our hotel room—Nnngh!"

Gianni looked a lot brighter after stomping on Vos' foot (and ignoring his wounded puppy look). "Take your time, darling. We'll be here."

Ena nodded. "Okay." She flushed a little when Silver guided her forward, though whatever he spoke to her resulted in a snappish hiss that had him smiling shakily.

Gianni watched them, soft. Ena…

Waves of scarlet. Tamed blue. Matching loving smiles. Light reflecting off the edge of a wing.

Dark eyes tendered. I hope you find happiness in him, darling.

°•°•°•°

Everyone had settled in their seats and some of the little kids had seated themselves on the dance floor as the stage was set with traditional musicians and props. Cameras and Compacts were up and out to record the nightly entertainment, and Silver was no exception.

The tiki torches were blown out and some had gasped in shock such a thing had done until a hush went over the crowd.

A Caelun introduction was given, but Minstrish was spoken to translate. "Tonight, we will celebrate our Guardian Spirits who voyaged the Caelun people from land to sky and protect this land from generations that were to generations that are to come. We give our blessings and our gratitude to be descendants of the Sky Voyagers and the people of the Sky. Please enjoy our celebrations."

Torches had lit the stage to show a feminine silhouette.

The drums beat and the basses of the chorus throatily hummed their notes. Rattles went off as the dancer drew herself up with her hips shaking her skirt and her headdress intricate.

Holland looked fixated on her.

Kapa's flowing dance allowed her to create art in motion. She painted the sea and her feet moved to make the grass. With a shake of her hips, she made the trees and the leaves on the trees, just as Ao had been rumored to have done to create a home for the ones he would come to protect. The audience became entranced when illusions of creatures, both magical and animal, walked among them. A jaguar prowled through the children. Propellant otter-creatures zipped through the air. Caelun petrels came by the spades. They all swirled around to meet their Guardian Spirit.

The dancers who joined Kapa were the first tribespeople to have voyaged to this land and came with a respect for the beauty and abundance of all provided for them. Their hula showed the intricacies and nuances of culminating a village from the ground up, from fishing to hunting and gathering to building homes as a community. The men and women worked together as a unit to provide for their new home. Children dancers had been encouraged to come out to dance in front of their seniors with their own skirts and grass anklets.

Kapa twirled as the music increased. In her creations, she crafted replicates of the five gods that had spearheaded the voyage to the sky. The "thinker" Tagaloa, the "artist" Taema, the "tempest" Fa'atiu, the "foundation" Mafu'ie, and the "healer" Elo. Each god had their own people and their own traditional dance to honor them.

But as the music intensified with the beats of the drums and the Caelun chorus, Kapa and moved aside—

Silver smiled as he captured Luna stepping out in her headdress and skirt as she paid homage to Kāne.

Kapa and Luna's intimate dance wove such a tale with their hip and arm movements. With the rise and fall of their hands and swift sweeps of their feet, they spoke about how they were responsible for the ground and the sky, how they gifted their wards with their powers of Magic. Against the different dances the five split tribes did to honor the god they followed, Kapa and Luna were the catalysts for the different styles and incorporated them into their hula.

The drums beat and the winds and strings serenaded in harmony into the next key change.

Everyone fell into step with the final arc of the religious dance to honor those who voyaged to the sky and the healing of their old home. Kapa had drawn on her powers to craft animals and creatures of sea, land, and sky all harmonizing together while Ao and Kāne pranced in the sky only to combine into the national flag of Caelum until—

HYU…

DON-DON-DON!

Applause happened in spades as fireworks pierced the sky on the final note, and a standing ovation was an absolute must. The dancers gave each group their own time to shine. The children had their own cute bows to do. And Kapa and Luna held hands and received the most applause as they bowed together. The troupe paid tribute to the musicians, to the announcer, and to the audience before giving their final bows.

The announcer came on to translate over the Caelun: "Thank you for joining us in the celebration of our Guardian Spirits and the first Sky Voyagers. We will now take a brief intermission before welcoming our final acts of the night."

Luna giggled, exhilarated, as Kapa helped her backstage. She said and signed, "Thank you, Miss Kapa, for everything! Are you sure I did it right?"

You did it perfectly, Kapa complimented before embracing Luna. When she pulled back, she signed, You will always be welcome to become a part of my troupe. You are a talented dancer and have a natural way with hula…

Luna gave a puzzled smile when she tried to read Kapa's last sign. "I'm sorry. I don't think I understand that last sign." She said and signed, "Could you spell it out for me?"

Kapa smiled. This sign means you, Luna. In CSL, I combined the signs for 'smile' and 'aloha'. This…—she repeated the sign—is my sign for you.

Luna's eyes clouded. "Miss Kapa…"

Kapa laughed when Luna hugged her taut. She kissed Luna's brow before pulling away to sign, I'll make sure to say my goodbyes before we leave. But this is my gift to you. Her eyes softened. I see you have come so far. But you still have so much to go. I hope we will meet again soon someday, Luna.

Luna sniffed and signed back, I hope so too.

Kapa kissed Luna's brow again before helping Luna out of her headdress. And in turn, she brushed her hands over Luna's gold tresses to craft a flower crown of origami plumerias. I have…one more surprise for you, she signed.

Luna frowned. "What do you—? Oh!" She had no say in the matter when Kapa nudged her away. "Am…? Am I supposed to walk to it?" She followed where Kapa pointed and saw a dimly light path that led to a stone-fenced outlook. "My…surprise is there? But Miss Kapa—Oh goodness!"

She stumbled a little and puffed a cheek when Kapa gave her a shooing motion. Why does everyone shove me into walking? First, a wind shoves me—wind!—and then Miss Kāne and now this. Straightening her hula skirt, her bare feet crossed onto the paved path.

A laughing wind tickled her ear.

Luna felt it swirl around her. Oh, so you're back, huh? She fumbled when the laughing wind slapped against her legs as though trying to get her to walk faster. Huffy, she got control of her skirt. Geez! I'm walking, I'm walking!

She made it to the outlook (thanks to the insistence of that darn giggling gale) and leaned against the stone. The rest of the property slopped a little to show the edge of the Paradise. A sea of sky waited for her with the ocean below and the twinkling lights of adjacent Paradise floating above. Even so, the stars stole the show with the misbehaving lights thrown into the sky.

Luna simpered when the laughing wind swirled around her and brought with it the tang of the ocean. "Oh, so, you're trying to get on my good side now, aren't you?" She giggled when the laughing wind combed through her hair. "And just what exactly are you, huh? What are…?"

Her question faltered when a feather landed on her hand. Curious, she inspected the light brown plume. A feather… But why would…? Brown widened. Wait. Her lips moved. "Ao?"

The laughing wind blustered around her before carrying the feather away from her grasp.

Luna went to reach for it only to pause. A small smile lit her face as she watch the laughing wind swish the feather from side to side and out of reach. So then… That was you back in that grotto… Ao… She closed her eyes to feel a light breeze prick her skin and give her gooseflesh. This world really is a mysterious place.

She froze when a jacket was placed on her shoulders. Her powers readied to warp her away—

"You're really shitty at sensing people, y'know that?"

That voice. Luna turned around to see— "Akamu."

He looked irritated to be near her and out of place in the festivities with his ball cap and tank top, but his uhi showed clear as day on his arms, shoulders, and clavicle. "You need to be a lot more careful," he grunted. "Someone could've run off with you just now. And you're still my target." He scowled seeing her smile and ignored the heat on his face. "What the Hell are you smiling for?"

"I just…thought I wouldn't see you again before I left," Luna supposed with her smile widening as starlight twinkled in her eyes. "I'm glad I did. It's good to see you again, Akamu."

Akamu rubbed his mouth, neck fleshed. What the Hell is wrong with this girl? Smiling because she wanted to see the person meant to kidnap her?

He grumbled toward her, "Quit it with the cute and naïve shit. You shouldn't be happy to see me when I tried to kidnap you."

"But you didn't," Luna pointed out simply. "And you won't."

"What makes you so sure about that?" Akamu threatened.

Luna cocked her head. "Well, Miss Kapa wouldn't have let you meet me if she didn't trust you." She smiled again. "So I think it's okay." And Miss Soledia and Icarus are hiding out of his range, but I'm not about to tell him that.

Akamu ticked his jaw. It's not like I had a choice when that psycho mistress and her pet Dragon were too on-guard the entire day. Until I get a better grip on these powers, I'm not about to get myself killed by those two brats. Chibi-Kapa smiled at him with a dark-auraed Chibi-Holland behind her. And Kapa seemed like the only non-crazy one I could tolerate.

He coughed into a fist. "Whatever. The point is…"

"Yes?"

He hesitated, almost blinded by Luna's innocent aura. Dammit. Doesn't she realize looking like that towards a stranger is asking to be kidnapped?

He averted his eyes. "Look, I came to repay my debt and that's it, so listen up. That guy who saved you. He a friend of yours?" Tawnies halved with molten orange. "Stay away from him. I mean it."

Luna blinked, perplexed. "How did you—?" Oh. That's right. If he was sent to kidnap me, I'm sure he would've been watching me to see when I was alone. Her gaze fell as she rubbed her arm. "Thanks, but I don't think I'll see him again," she said, voice small.

"Good," Akamu said, gruff. His stare flickered to her arm. "How's your wrist? It looks healed."

"Silver healed it," Luna told him. She smiled at her healed wrist, but her sadness tainted her. "They were really worried about me today. I didn't mean to make them worry, but…" Strays threads of her hair brushed across her face. "It seems all I do is make people worry about me like this. It's a little annoying really, being this helpless. I'm sure it's annoying for them too."

Browns sparked with dismay. I'm sure they're tired of protecting someone weak like me. I can't do a single thing to protect them or myself. All that talk about wanting to protect myself and the people I care for…Training myself to fight back… Browns shimmered. Have I…really done any of that?

KAN… KAN…

"Stop looking like you're about to cry."

Luna blinked when Akamu stole back her attention when he came close and brushed the loose strands of her hair behind her ear.

"It's pissing me off when you look all pitiful like that," Akamu groused, half-heartedly glowering at her. "Keep talkin' like that and I will kidnap you this time." Tawnies won against molten orange and sparked an unreadable emotion. "You don't worry about people because you're helpless. You're not helpless. You make people worry by worrying like this."

Luna had question marks around her.

Akamu tussled with his hair. Shit. How the Hell do I explain this?

The laughing wind came back around with its light brown feather catching Akamu's eyes. A feather…

A black hawk with eyes like the galaxy. A phantom stranger with the trench coat and the hair of an Angel.

Tawnies gleamed. I see.

He looked down at Luna and murmured, "It makes people worry about you when they see all you're worried about is being weak and helpless. It makes them anxious when you don't have confidence in yourself. Because then they feel helpless too. So don't worry about things like this. Worry about things pretty girls like you normally worry about."

"Like what?"

Akamu flushed and rubbed his neck, irritated. "I don't know. What else? Make-up and shit and boyfriends and pillow fights—"

Luna laughed.

"Hey!" Akamu barked, annoyed and embarrassed. "What the Hell are you laughing at?"

"You." She curbed her laughter to an amused smile and gentle eyes. "You just…really remind me of someone is all. He said the same thing as you."

'He'? That made Akamu's eyebrow twitch. "I bet I'm better looking than that guy," he muttered.

"No." Luna gave him a serious look and a thumbs-up. "In terms of looks, you're both a nine."

TICK!

Akamu crossed his arm as a tick mark tweaked his temple. I will not give in. I will not give in. I will not give in—

"What the Hell do you mean I'm a nine?" Akamu pointed at his face. "I'm a ten at least, more like an eleven! You don't get this good-looking without having work done, but I'm a genetic lotto win!"

Yes, but the reason you're both nines…—Luna tried not to wither as she remembered Gale's cocky attitude and his quick-to-anger attitude—…is because you both have massive egos and tempers.

Akamu huffed. "Whatever." He turned away. "Look, I came to settle my debt to you. That's it. Now we're even. And you better hope we don't ever see each other again."

He started walking away with his hands shoved into his pockets. Let her get kidnapped from some other person—see if I care. She's just some girl—

He froze.

Luna had wrapped her arms around him for a hug with her cheek pressed onto his back. She mumbled, "Thank you, Akamu. I'm glad to see you're doing okay."

Akamu fisted his hands. "It takes a lot to kill a Hawk," he told her as though in a dark warning.

But Luna did not take the bait. "Even if you're part of Deathhawk…you're still a person who can bleed and get hurt like the rest of us," she quietly reminded. "So please don't push yourself too hard. And take care of yourself."

Akamu's jaw locked. What is wrong with her? I tried to kill her friends. I was sent to capture her under any means necessary as long as she was alive. And here she is, talking to me like this. Doesn't she know how stupid and naïve she's being? I could just be luring her in to get the job done. She's still my target.

"If you want to protect them in return"—resolved mayan blues—"then you should learn everything you can about your power."

Akamu's knuckles whitened, strained, until he relaxed his hands.

Luna pulled away from Akamu when she felt him slacken. "Akamu?"

"You said…you didn't have a boyfriend, right?"

That bewildered Luna. "Well, yes. I-I mean, no, no, I don't have one, but why do you—?" Her breath hitched when Akamu turned around and bent to place a kiss close to the corner of her lips. Stark red flared up on her face. What is he—?

He pulled back after a moment with clear tawnies satisfied at the stupefied look on Luna's face. Well, if I can't capture you. I guess I don't have that much a choice outside protecting you…Luna.

His eyes strayed to her lips for a moment before he murmured aloud, "You should get one then."

Still scandalized and reeling, Luna did not know what he meant. "Wait. Wh-What?" She panicked a little when Akamu about-faced and walked away like nothing happened. "H-H-Hey! Wait a minute! What did you mean by that!"

"Just that it'd be better for you to have a boyfriend, Blondie," Akamu drawled without turning around to face her.

"B-But I said I didn't want one!" Luna called. When she moved, she panicked even more when she realized she still had Akamu's jacket on her shoulders. "Wait! Your jacket!"

"I have others. And it's pretty stupid to go walkin' around in an outfit like that! You should cover up!"

TICK!

Luna puffed her cheek, furious. This little, son of a… "I'm not chasing after you to give this back!"

"It looks pathetic if a girl chases after a guy!" Akamu hollered. "You can have it. I don't need it anyway. Who knows? Maybe it'll help you out."

Tawnies lit in mischief. I'm sure whoever the Hell this guy is will be pretty pissed off about this. But if he's anything like me…maybe it'll give his ass incentive to protective her a little closer before I do capture her.

"How is this supposed to help me? Hey! Hey, are you listening to me? Akamu? Akamu!"

He stopped. "Yo, Blondie."

Luna was taken aback and a little wary he had halted. "Yes?"

"If we do meet next time"—he turned to show one molten-orange eye—"I'm not going to miss on purpose. "I'll do it for real." And he walked away.

Luna's mind ticked as she tried to decipher what such cryptic words meant. He's not…going to miss on purpose? She touched her cheek in thought. But what does he…?

BEEP.

BEEP.

BEEP.

BONG!

Luna's mind reeled as she realized it. Y-You mean he's going to…! She covered her mouth, floored, with her eyes swirling. What did I do to deserve this? I never asked for this. I told the universe I didn't want any more boy drama and this is what I get? More of it?

She looked up to Akamu's retreating back. But still… Akamu… I know you're not a bad person. So let's not say 'goodbye' just yet.

She cupped her hands around her mouth. "Hey, Akamu!"

Akamu stopped again.

Luna smiled. "Aloha!"

He went rigid for a moment. Then he started walking again. But his hand raised, but rather than a wave, he made the shaking shaka sign (a pinky and thumb salute).

Browns widened before they sparkled. Akamu… The laughing wind danced around Luna as she kept his jacket secure on her shoulders. Until we meet again.

°•°•°•°

Ena was left dealing with a drunk and flushed Silver snoozing on her lap. She threaded through his hair with her lashes low. I told him he could drink since I had wanted him to enjoy himself after I cut off my drinks, but I hadn't expected him to get drunk, especially since all the Dragon Slayers I've seen such high tolerance. Then again…

She sweatdropped remembering all the large cocktails Silver had sucked down. I'm concerned to let him near a tiki torch with all the alcohol he drank.

"You know, I'm so happy you two are a couple, and it's all thanks to me."

Shadows covered Ena's eyes. On top of everything… Her baleful aura warred with Rai's sweet and smug one. Why the Hell is he still here?

"I knew one kiss was all it would take," Rai preened, complacent. "And look at you now, all coupled up, Mistress. How refreshing it is to see the youth of today so deeply in love."

Browns widened. 'Love'?

Rai opened his mouth—

"You're wrong."

He frowned. "What?"

"We don't love each other," murmured Ena as she watched Silver. "We just…like each other is all. Nothing more."

Rai's frown deepened. Is that what she thinks? From all the pheromones I caught from them, I'd say differently. Or perhaps she doesn't see it yet. I suppose I could tell her, but that doesn't benefit me.

He sighed. "If you say so. Have you both—what is it you kids say?—defined the relationship?" He withered catching Ena's awkwardness. Oh, this is just pitiful. "Well, if you'd like relationship advice—"

"No."

Rai's eyebrow twitched at the instant rejection. "If you'd let me finish, I don't give just anyone relationship advice for free, but if you ask me nicely—"

"No, thank you."

TICK!

Rai's smirk twitched. This little… He gave a dramatic breath. "Fine. Have it your way with that beast. But you're always going to be a pet to him." Dark browns peered over at the sleeping Silver. "Not even a Dragon for all its power is capable of romance. In the end, he's only listening to his animal instincts." Browns flickered. "And that will kill you in the end."

Gods, Dragons, Demons—we aren't so different in that aspect, he supposed. It was said Gods had lovers and their pets, but they couldn't love. Demons only sought a convenient release. And Dragons only mated for offspring. He might be human now, but he's still a beast all in the same. Distaste filled those deep browns. And he'll consume her just like a Dragon would.

"That's just not true."

Rai raised an eyebrow at Ena's simplistic rebuttal. "Oh? And what makes you say that?"

"That's quite easy." Adoration sparked Ena's gaze as she looked at Silver. "That's just…not the kind of person he is."

Deep browns flashed. What?

"For all you may know about us, you still know so little too," Ena told him. "I understand there are difficulties with him being what he is. I'm not going to delude myself into thinking otherwise. But I'm also not going to think he's one or the other. He's both at the same time. And in both of those forms, all I remember is that he treats me extremely well." Her fingers feathered his cheek. "He's clumsy, easy to tease, he wears his heart on his sleeve, he cries over the smallest of things—that won't change in whichever form he takes because that's who he is. And that's why you're wrong."

Clear dark chocolates matched somber deep browns.

"Because he's not a human or a beast or a Dragon. He's simply…Silver." Her thumb grazed Silver's lips. "And that's all he's required to be with me."

Rai took the moment to observe Ena. She's a lot stronger than I thought, and I don't mean that mentally. Her magical aura is concealed, but it grew a little in Kohala. But in other aspects, she remains unshaken. Considering all the discourse around the Ice Devil having a lover, I assumed a child like her would be disgusted a beast had any interest in her. Kalua told me it was rare for Dragons to seek out humans for breeding season mates, but they did for pleasure pets before killing them for food. There was that one tale of a successful mating between a Dragon and a human woman…

He clutched his glass. But that 'success' came from the Dragon imprisoning her and forcing her against his will. If I told her such a thing, would she listen to my warning?

His lips twisted. Probably not. The beast chose a stubborn pet. She might be bright, but she seems to have a one-tracked mind when it comes to him. I suppose that's a good thing.

Blue reticles gleamed in his eyes. Let's hope that it doesn't get her killed.

He swirled his glass. "Then, I'll toast to you both for a long-lasting relationship. A first relationship can be the hardest one you have. You rarely forget your first true relationship." He raised his cocktail. "So I'll drink to you. May you and your beast have a successful first together."

That word made Ena's ministrations pause. 'First'? Browns sparkled. I…like the sound of that. First… Her fingers pulled back—

Silver reached a sleepy hand to tuck her palm back onto his cheek. "Mistress?"

"Did I wake you? I'm sorry." Ena cupped his cheek. "You can keep resting."

Silver shook his head. "No. I'm fine." Still woozy thanks to the drinks, he peeked up at her with that drunken flush and dazzling blues. "Can we go home now, Mistress?" He brought her hand over to kiss her fingertips. "I wanna go home with you…"

'Home'… Ena surprised him when she grasped his hand to bring his fingers to her lips. Yes. She pressed a delicate kiss onto his pads and breathed, "Let's go home together."

The night felt like a blur of farewells and see-you-later promises. Lunagr'an had been gracious enough to carry a sleepy Luna to the Sky Taxi, but Silver had been awake enough to only need Ena's support to stumble into the cabbie. Once they were in the air, Ena had Silver and Luna on either shoulder and the moon's wide gaze peeked inside the cabbie.

I am grateful for this trip, Ena thought. For you…I have become your knight.

Luna sighed.

And for you…I have become your first.

Silver mumbled something unintelligibly.

Ena looked out the window with only the moon to see her closed-mouth smile and twinkling eyes. And for me…I have become…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Come on now, dance tonight

We can boogie till the morning

There's no plans tonight

Gonna have a good one

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Getting Luna to bed was the easy part. Ena had taken the task of getting Luna into her pajamas and left her in Icarus' care before turning off the light. She crossed the communal room and peeked into the other bedroom to see a knocked-out Silver curled up and reaching for her side of the bed.

She thought she was making short work of her nightly routine. Her silk pajamas were down and she had gone down the list of her facial routine to get to her moisturizer when Silver slummed against her, purring and sleepy. She continued her routine in the bathroom, mildly entertained. "Go to bed if you're tired," she instructed as she tried to move onto her lip mask.

"But you're not there," he mumbled between purrs. "I can't sleep without you, Mistress." He rubbed his cheek over her.

Ena hummed her laughter. "And what are you going now?"

"You smell like too many people." He nuzzled her neck. "Now you smell like me."

Ena sighed and gave up trying to do her lip mask. Her eyes softened as she watched Silver through the mirror. What am I going to do with you? I'm fond of you now.

Silver kissed her cheek. "Are you done now?"

"Well, technically no, but—Oh!" Maybe some women would swoon being swept off her feet, but Ena had a moment of annoyance for it. "I can walk perfectly fine."

"You take too long." He was delicate to set her on the bed before staggering around to cut the lights. He even grabbed her eye mask and helped her put it on like she was a child before he flopped onto the bed. "Mmm… Tired…"

"That's because you're drunk," Ena chastised him not unkindly. "Lay on your side." She sighed when Silver took her order as lay on his side and strong-arm her into a cuddle. "I didn't say for you to take me with you," she said, dry. "If you wretch on me, I'm going to gut you in the morning."

"I won't throw up," Silver promised in a sleepy slur.

Ena hmphed. Of course he says that. He's drunk. She suppressed her sigh. But it can't be helped. There's no point in fighting him now. I might as well get some sleep. And as she said that, a yawn and a bout of exhaustion carried through her. The purring vibrating Silver's chest relaxed her like the push and pull of the tides.

"Mistress?"

"Mmm?"

Six beats.

"Don't…fall for the knight, okay?"

That caught Ena's attention. What?

"Don't fall for him," Silver breathed. "Please don't fall for him."

Ena blinked when she felt wetness. Is he…crying? She pushed up her eye mask and pulled herself up to witness a flushed and tipsy Silver shedding silent tears that twinkled in the moonlight. Oh, Silver… She thumbed away his tears. "Why are you crying this time?"

"I don't want you to fall for him," Silver tried to tell her, but his mind was muddled and his sentence strung together like it was one word. "Don't fall for him, please." More silent tears trailed down. "I know….I'm not a knight like him. I'm a nobody to a queen like you. But I can be useful too. I can cook. And I promise I won't cry as much."

Ena could hear her heart beat. This man… He can be so unreasonably adorable. "I don't care that you cry a lot. And I know for every flaw you have, you have twice as many talents. You're not a nobody to me. And I'm certainly not a queen. And there is no 'knight' for you to compete with."

"There isn't? You promise?"

"Yes." Browns softened. "I promise."

Silver closed his eyes with a half-smile as more silent tears fell. "That makes me happy, Mistress."

"Then why are you still crying?"

"Because I'm happy Mistress won't fall for the knight in the fairy tale anymore. Because that means"—lashes half-mast, crystaled blues gazed up at her—"you can fall in love with a nobody like me. That makes me really happy."

Her lips parted only to close. 'Love'… I… I can't… Her lips twisted downwards. I can't… "You…should go to sleep," was all she said, voice toneless and light. "You're drunk. You most likely won't remember this in the morning." I hope that you don't. Because I can't… Her lips trembled. I can't…

"I'll remember. So please…" His fingers touched her cheek. "Don't cry, Mistress."

Ena blinked when she realized it herself. I'm crying?

"Don't worry. I know you won't love me right now." He flashed his pearly fangs. "But…I know you can. And as long as you can, I can wait. So don't cry anymore, okay? You're not going to fall in love with the knight. You can fall in love with me, if you'd like. Because you said you're mine. Remember?"

That threw Ena off. What? When did I say…?

"Mistress?"

Ena had been too caught up in her thoughts to realize Silver had bartered enough strength to overtake her. He looked down at her with teary yet loving blues that crystaled in that lunar light. "Please remember this time," he requested of her. "Because I'll remember. And if you don't remember, I'll have to keep reminding you…"—he lowered his head—"like this."

Ena's eyes closed without a thought when Silver kissed her. Unhurried and with no purpose, it felt so different from the other kisses they shared where passion and commitment and interest were at the forefront to be communicated. This felt clumsy and imperfect and raw and found.

Silver… You're not a nobody in this fairy tale of mine… And I'm not a queen, but…

Her fingers threaded his hair.

Maybe instead of the lone villainess… I can be a princess… And you would be more than a knight. A tear shed. You could be my…

A magenta butterfly passed by the window of the bedroom to glimpse the blossoming romance between and realized prince and an aspiring princess before fluttering into the wind.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Seaside no bijo

She's like an illusion

Pinku iro no neon

utsushidasu vision

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The butterfly flew through the Paradises to catch a fleeting look at some of the scenery. Aloha and Jean had taken to a late-night second date with Aloha hot all over and soft-hearted as Jean snuggled into his arm. Akamu had his hood up as he went down one of the red-light districts of the city, filled with sex and drugs. Kapa and Holland had gotten alone time together to share a drink and a kiss. Kalua concealed how much he wanted to kill a man when he witnessed Rai's flirting with two susceptible young ladies with hearts in their eyes.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Himitsu no location (location)

Mabushii refection (reflection)

Hikitsukero attention yoru no nuke dasou

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

KAN-KAN-KAN.

Her footsteps stopped.

Pedestrians walked on by, the traffic kept surging, the constellations shifted, but she stopped in the middle of it all to watch the magenta butterfly flitter by. Tagaloa… Whimsical pale blues caught the moon as Lani stood strong. I hope I'm going the right thing.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

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

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Amare nested like a big cat in his home as his mattress compiled down feathers and Sherpa blankets he could knead in to put himself to sleep. The rest of Kāne's Island had come to peace as nocturnal animals came out at night while daytime animals had found a comfortable burrow for the evening. The pair of propellant minks had anchored onto seaweed with their floating pouches holding them steady for a comfortable night's sleep. Ariel had been set free to roam about under the water.

Kāne curled up in her burrow with her Caelun petrel companion sleeping in the bonsai tree that kept them safe. Kohala was all safe and well. Kāne's ear flicked when the magenta butterfly flew past, but it was a friend not a foe. And the laughing wind carrying brown feathers came back to sleep beside her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Come on now, dance tonight

We can boogie till the morning

There's no plans tonight

We gonna have a Good One

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The magenta butterfly appeared in the grotto. The moonlight had touched such a beauteous place and made the empty pond in the center glow. But it was funny, you see. The pond that rejected reflections no longer had a motive to do so. It let the magenta butterfly cast its shadow as it circled in for its landing.

A gloved finger extended, and the butterfly landed, flapping its glowing wings.

A feminine smirk with scarlet lips. "Hm. This is all you had to show me?"

The magenta butterfly slowly expanded its wings once.

"I see. Very well. You may go."

The butterfly fluttered off.

Footsteps quietly came closer to the pond. Well now. It would seem she's getting quite close to the little Prince of the Sea. And she managed to absorb a primary ley line. Impressive. She's still not strong enough for me just yet. But she's very interesting to watch—her, her lover, and that Heartfilia maiden.

The footsteps stopped at the edge of the pond. I still have some time on my hands. She's at the strength I was ay when I was her age. I've waited this long. I can wait a little longer.

Red lips pulled into a genuine smile. Now I understand what you meant, Anna. This era truly is exciting.

A sleek finger touched the pond to make a ripple. Scarlet hair reflected into the water.

Red lips widened to show canines. Shall we see if you grow strong enough to meet me, my sweet little granddaughter?

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

SLAM!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Parting was always such sweet sorrow.

Silver and Ena had a system in place making sure they all checked out on time and had plenty to spare for their flight back home. Luna had lingered once Silver and Ena were out, taking one last sweep of the room to commit to memory before she closed the door.

The entire ride to the Sky Port did not take long, but Luna felt embarrassed having to mail home a good portion of her keepsakes. Security had stopped Ena because of her swords, but no more questions were asked when Lunagr'an and Soledia showed their human forms.

They waited in the premiere lounge for the wealthy and business tycoons. Silver scrolled through the latest chapter of one of his favorite Webtoons. Ena frowned a little when she caught the news about Alvarez and Shamballa. Luna was content to scroll through her pictures and mark the ones she had wanted to edit. One picture caught her eyes and made her heart sigh a little.

It was the selfie she had taken during the Lyrid shower. An unhappy Icarus was at the bottom with her smooshed in the middle of Silver and Ena. They all smiled for the camera and, as fate would have it, a falling star had photobombed in the background with its hypnotic glow.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

GA!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The flight back home was served in the luxurious first class. Ena listened to a podcast with her eyes closed while Luna had fallen asleep after two minutes of being in the air. Silver stayed up to read more when a text pinged in from Julia.

« Hey. Wanna talk later? »

« I love you »

Blues flickered at the messages before Silver deleted them both.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Aimaina reaction

Iranai hesitation

Red cup de 1 shot

2 shots, 3 shots and let's go!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The Jaborosa-Crocus International Sky Port was in organized chaos as the last waves of spring breakers breezed in and out of its doors, but it felt good stepping back onto Fiore soil. And also…

"Baby girl!"

Luna beamed when she saw her parents at baggage claim with her father waving his sign for her. Ena and Silver shared amused looks when Luna abandoned everything to rush over to her parents and giggle when Natsu picked her up and swung her around. "Papa!"

"Argh, I missed you, baby girl!" Natsu put her down, eyes shining. "How was your trip? Did you eat a lot of good food? Take a lot of pictures—?"

"Let her breathe a little, Natsu," Lucy chuckled. She hugged her daughter. "Welcome back, baby. We really did miss you."

"But you guys were on vacation!" Luna laughed. She pulled back to give her mother a grin. "How could you miss me when you guys were on another honeymoon?"

"That doesn't make us miss you any less." Lucy kissed her forehead. "We're happy you're home." She looked up to see Silver hesitant to join them, and she could read his flicker of sadness from not seeing his parents. "We're happy to see both of you." And she extended her arm.

Flustered, Silver still stepped in to embrace his aunt. "Thank you," he said, his gratitude muffled by her dress.

Lucy smiled. "You're family to us too, Silver. You're practically our nephew. You're always welcome here. Don't forget that, okay?"

Silver blinked back tears and only nodded. He stepped out of Lucy's embrace to face Natsu. He harshly swallowed when Natsu assessed him with the Wild in his greens. But his fears were for not when Natsu blinked and his eyes were a kind onyx again. He ruffled Silver's hair. "Welcome home, kid."

Relief hit Silver so hard he could fall to his knees. "Thanks, Uncle Natsu." His voice caught as he asked, "My… My mom and dad…"

"Don't worry about 'em. We let 'em know you're with us and we're picking you up," Natsu assured. He added in a low voice for only Silver's ears, "And I have a bunch of trashy stories to tell you about your shitty dad, all right? Just don't tell him I said anything or else Lucy won't give me any Lucy-Time for a week. Deal?"

Silver laughed. "Right." He smiled, sincere. "Deal."

As Luna and Silver reunited with Luna's parents, Ena hung back, a little forlorn. It must be nice…

"Ena?"

Browns widened.

Ena pivoted only just to see her mother waiting for her, hopeful and uncertain, a combination only the closest friends of Fairy Tail's Titania had ever seen. But it was enough for Ena's heart to leap. "Mother?"

"I know you told me you had a driver to bring you home," Erza started, coming closer. "I didn't want to impose. I know…it may not be my place to ask this, but I—" Her words caught when Ena hugged her.

Happy tears crowded Ena's lashes. "I missed you, Mom." She tightened her embrace. "I really missed you."

Kobichas crystaled. Ena… She swept her daughter into a reciprocate hug full of warmth. Her own happy tears pressed against the corners of her eyes. "I missed you so much, my little fairy."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Come on now, dance tonight

We can boogie till the morning

There's no plans tonight

We gonna have a Good One

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Even though it was morning, there was so much to be done.

From Ena and Erza's point of view, tea and cake were necessary for them to have a good time. They had dropped off Ena's things to go to their favorite cake shop to two large cakes for themselves and while it started awkward, conversation dished out between them. A text from Nora had come in while Erza had gone to get them a refill of tea, but Ena's elation did not dim as she messaged for them to reschedule.

From Luna and Silver's point of view, the craziness of the Dragneel Residence never seemed to end. Lelantos and Actaeon had bowled them over the moment they stepped foot inside the house, and Icarus had summoned himself so the dogs could run amuck and play. With Luke home, he had swept Luna up into a hug and laughed when she chastised him how she was not a child. Food was on everyone's minds, and Lucy was stuck trying to carve out her own portions amongst five others with beastly appetites and would battle it out for the last piece of food rock-paper-scissors style.

Even with the days stretching, somehow it felt like night had come all too quickly.

Denver watched from inside the house as Nora snuck in late-night sword training with faithful butler Richard standing guard. And from Denver's experience, Nora was safer with Richard than with any guard stationed around the estate.

With their chess game complete, Erza scooped a snoring Ena up and deposited her back in her bed to tuck her in and kiss her on the forehead.

Silver and Luna slept like the dead, tangled together in sheets and limbs. All three of the dogs plus Plue had decided to stay in Luna's bedroom in a pile on the floor. Natsu glanced at his daughter and let his stare linger over Silver before he walked away and pulled the door closed. He checked on Luke and had no issue in taking off Luke's glasses to set them on his nightstand. It was just like Luke to fall asleep reading. He bookmarked the page Luke was on before making sure his son was comfortable and leaving him for the night.

In a satin nightdress, Luna busied herself with some light reading, but she smiled when Natsu came onto the bed and laid his head in her lap. "Kids asleep?"

Natsu hummed.

Lucy knew what was on his mind. "He smells different, doesn't he?"

"He smells like Igneel and Gale now," Natsu mumbled into Lucy's stomach. "He needs to train."

"And you need to let him be ready for it."

Natsu tensed. "Gale and Igneel—"

"They had their issues, yes, but that was more because of their personalities," Lucy reminded him. "They'd always been stubborn and brash in everything they did. There were bound to be problems. I'm not saying Silver won't have his fair share, but he isn't like those two. You have to be gentler with him."

Natsu could not counter that. "I just keep thinking what my dad would do—if I'm doing what he would've done."

"You might not be doing everything he would've done, but times are different," Lucy soothed him. "What you're going right now would make him happy and proud of you, Natsu. Just like I'm happy and proud of you and of everything you're doing."

Natsu peeked up at her. "Yeah?"

"Yes." She marked her place in the book before setting it aside. "I really am." She closed her eyes when Natsu lifted to give her a kiss, though it left her simpering when he tried to deepen it. "We're back to having two boys in the house with sensitive ears."

"And they sleep like they're buried six feet under," Natsu breathed against her throat. "We're still on vacation until tomorrow. And we will have that Mute Lacrima." He pulled back for half-lidded onyx to meet swirling chocolate flecked with gold.

Pink flushing her cheeks, Lucy gave a nod. And she offered no protest when Natsu pulled her in for a deeper kiss.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

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!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

It would take until the morning for Ena to notice.

KIRA-KIRA…

Because she had not once gone into her room awake today, she had never noticed the Rainbow Roses had budded in spades to outgrow their glass cage. The rare blossoms gleamed and branched out, spawning more buds and other flowers mature and ready to live for years to come. The flowers had taken hold of the two queens Ena had wone in her chess game against the Marquis.

And maybe because she would notice the overgrowth of her roses, she would never notice her misbehaving roses were hiding something within their leaves and stems.

She would never notice the tattered first edition book that had followed her home from the library in Caelum, a book she had never borrowed in the first place, a book with a mischievous mind of its own.

LOST IN TIME: FAE EDITION

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

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!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Akamu – Tom Aglio

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Atticus Gosling – Steve Cannon

Nalani "Lani" Pelekai -

Silver Fullbuster – Yuri Lowenthal

Ena Fernandes – Xanthe Huynh

Icarus – Christopher Sabot

Eros Normandy – Travis Willingham

Beatrice Normandy – Faye Mata

Marinette "Mari" Witenagemot – Cassandra Lee Morris

Sylvie Gosling – Leah Clark

Lunagr'an – Ariel Graham

Soledia – Skyler McIntosh

Mystogan Fernandes – J, Michael Tatum

Aamon – Héctor Elizondo

Raimana "Rai" Kalupe – Christ Hackney

Kalua – Christ Burnett

Holland – Thomas Doherty

Gianni "Gigi" Gieves – Billy Porter

Vos Summeur – Caldwell Tidicue (Bob the Drag Queen)

Irene Belserion – Cindy Robinson

Natsu Dragneel – Todd Haberkorn

Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel – Cherami Leigh

Erza Fernandes – Colleen Clinkenbeard

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING SONG

⟪ Star Train ⟫

Hi-Fi CAMP

Lyrics by

Hi-Fi CAMP⌟

•

⌜ENDING THEME

⟪ Good One ⟫

HIRAIDAI

Lyrics by

EIGO, Dai Hirai ⌟

---

•

•

•

•

— • — • — • —

Next time, on Fairy Adventure

•

Episode 132

•

SPRING HOLIDAY SIDE STORY

LONELY SOLDIER BOY

— • — • — • —

•

•

•

•

A HUI HOU KĀKOU