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!

135. Adventure 135

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

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

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LAST TIME, on Fairy Adventure: Luke begins his journey to Galuna Island with his first stop: Hargeon Town. After meeting the friendly Prospero and being saved by a cloaked stranger, he sets sail with his escort Didi to the isle of Demons. But not everything goes as planned with Dark Guild Siren Song, a band of pirates, hijacks their route to try and get the location of Galuna Island out from Didi. With Cullen and mysterious King's help, Luke is able to break free from his drugging and save Didi, only for Siren Song's enemies to fire. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Luke is forced to summon Demons Forneus and Zagan to help them escape unscathed and not followed. Looks like getting to Galuna Island was the hardest part of this trip, but even with their escape back to sea, there's still so many questions left unanswered.

"I'm sorry. Minn hjerta."

Luke just can't catch a break, can he? Let's hope his time on Galuna Island gives him all the relaxation and answers he was looking for.

---

"Minn hjerta."

Luke cracked his open with his lips parted, but he had no words to say. A soft groan left him as he scarcely moved his body and felt fading aches. "Nnngh…" He rubbed down his face. "Where am I?"

Cullen handed his glasses over, and Luke slipped them on. The Shadower helped him sit up, and Luke gave a half-smile. "Good morning, Cullen," he helloed before stretching out. When he looked around, a bedroom with no personal touches became his new domicile. A comfy accent chair sat with an ottoman and reading lamp, but it was obvious this was a master suite with the doorway to the en-suite bathroom.

He fanned his mouth as he yawned. "So then…" He looked at Cullen for confirmation. "We're here? On Galuna Island?"

Cullen nodded.

"I see." Lashes drew halfway over honeyed-ambers. Galuna Island… He got off the bed and walked to the curtained window. So then… I've made it. He opened the curtains—

BA…

An open view showed the radiant sky and the glittering sea with a barrage of tropical trees between this home and the beach.

I'm here. Luke looked resolutely out the window. I've made it to the island of Demons.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

"Ame no youna kaze no youna

Dareka no koto jama suru youna

Hito ni nante naritaku wanai kara?

Hare no youna hikari no youna

Dareka no koto teraseru youna

Hito ni naritai!"

nante itai tte dareka no koe ga?

Kikoetara nanda

Nagutte kowashite sayonara DILEMMA!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Showered and dressed up in a tank top and some boho harem-like capris joggers, Luke came into the main portion of the house while towel-drying his hair—

"Good morning, Your Highness."

Luke nearly choked when he saw Zagan looking like a house guest in a loose shirt that showed his chest and comfortable capris as he drank coffee and ate breakfast at the high-rise dining table. "Y-You're still here?"

"I said I would be," Zagan reminded. He refilled his chalice with coffee like it was nothing. "Did you think I would go back on my word?"

"No, he didn't."

Luke was spooked when someone spoke at his shoulder, but his jaw dropped when he saw another broad-shouldered man with reptilian eyes that could hypnotize and quite the green-blue set of tattoos over his admittedly half-naked body and his nipple piercings (and that was barring the orange mohawk apart from the rest of his blue hair). "Wh-Who are you!"

The man raised an eyebrow. "You don't recognize me, Your Highnesssssssss?"

Seeing the forked tongue put Luke's brain on ice.

BEEP… BEEP… BEEP… BONG!

Luke backed into the wall as he gawked. "Forneus?"

"Yes." Forneus bowed his head. "And as you commanded, I didn't kill one of those useless Terrans." He muttered, "That damned Shenlong wouldn't even let me eat one of the already-dead humans. Killjoy."

You shouldn't think eating dead people is a fun time! Luke tried to quell his panicking heart and straightened his glasses. "Why do you look human? Why do you both look human? From how you were described, neither of you looked…"—he rummaged for a better word, but he only had one lame adjective—"human."

Forneus tilted his head. "We can take whatever form we need to. And as His Highness is in his human form, it is only natural we as well look human out of respect."

"O-Oh. I… I see." Luke cleared his throat as he made his way to the table. Cullen gave him a light breakfast of toast, beans, and eggs with some orange juice. "Thanks, Cullen." He gauchely invited Forneus. "Do you…want to eat breakfast?"

As Forneus came, Zagan frowned at Luke's plate. "You don't eat meat?"

"Uh, no." Luke divvied up his portions. "I'm a vegetarian." He grew self-conscious when Forneus and Zagan stared at him. "What?"

Forneus peered at Luke closer. "Are you really our future king?"

TICK!

"I'm allowed to be a vegetarian!" Luke spluttered, irritated and embarrassed. "And it's not like I disapprove of any of you eating meat. I respect your way of life, so you should respect mine, okay?" He huffily tucked in his eggs and beans on toast.

Zagan brought up, thoughtful, "And from how you smelled the other day, you didn't smell like you had lain with another human. Are you a virgin as well?"

Luke coughed, red-faced, and Cullen came over to give him water. Once Luke took a few sips, he shakily inhaled. "S-So what if I am?" he dared challenge. "I'm not allowed to be a virgin? I'm fifteen! It's very natural for me not to have"—he reddened further—"been…intimate with someone like that."

Zagan bounced his foot. "When I was your age, I already had three orgies."

"Bael had some great orgies," Forneus fondly remembered. "He knew how to throw a party." He grunted. "Orias was dick-crazy though."

"She was," Zagan remembered. "She could never match Sitri." He sipped his coffee. "What a shame Sitri became monogamous. They were such a beautiful little slut."

Forneus agreed. "I know, right?" He took a grape from the fruit tray. "I would've slept with them more if I knew they'd do something diabolic and fall in love. They even rubbed it in our faces when their wife got pregnant. Jackass. He's not special. Anyone can get someone pregnant."

"And she's a fertility goddess," Zagan murmured. "Looking at her could get her pregnant."

Luke wanted to bash his head into a wall with his eyes spiraling. What kind of conversation is this? Why do I have to put up with this!

He loudly coughed. "Excuse me," he diplomatically pardoned, "but you're both getting off-topic."

Forneus quirked an eyebrow. "We were speaking of your virginity, Your Highness, were we not? If you wish to get rid of it, I have plenty of Succubae whores at my disposable—"

"No!" Luke trembled and tried to keep his voice steady. "No, thank you, Forneus. And please don't call them…that."

Forneus blinked. "But they like being called that, especially when you pull their hair."

"A-Ah…" Luke's eye twitched. "Well… As long as it's…consensual, then I can't really say much." He veered into a different topic. "Anyway, onto other things." He mounted both Demons with hard looks. "Don't think I haven't forgotten you've both committed atrocities. Because I haven't." He rested his hands on the table. "I summoned you both the alternatives wouldn't have been in my favor. And I don't regret my choice. I let your crimes slide once because I needed your help. That means nothing now. So then."

Red glittered in his eyes. "What are your explanations for your crimes?"

Forneus and Zagan exchanged a look.

Zagan lead the charge as he put down his chalice. "There aren't any excuses for our actions," he explained. "We can't say bribery, manipulation, or coercion worked on us. But if you're asking if our partner asked us to do those things, that's a different story." A few beats. "I collected humans to be experimented on. I won't deny that. But you seem to be mistaken that I did so to watch them suffer."

Luke did not dismantle his firmness. "And what do you mean by that?"

"It means what it means. Those people might have suffered in the end, but that was not the initial reaction they had to my appearance." Zagan knuckled a coin and watched it flip from a horned and griffin-winged silhouette of himself to a human picture of himself. "Your Highness, are you are of how Demons are summoned by now? If not, allow me to enlighten you. We can't summon ourselves to a realm on a whim."

"I know that." Luke frowned as the threads of understanding weaved together. "Unlike the made-Demons of this land and the Galuna Demons, almost every Demon or dark creature…" His eyes widened. "You…require summoning and a fair contract…"

"That's right." Zagan tossed his coin in the air. "Then you understand that neither Forneus nor I were there because we wanted to be." The coin landed in his palm. "We were there"—he flipped the coin on the back of his hand to reveal his demonic silhouette—"because someone had summoned us to be."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 135

•

Galuna Island

Part III

I Feel…

•

ガルナ島

下篇

感じる…

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The realizations hurt Luke's head. "So then… You're telling me those people you made suffer… They had summoned you?"

"They had," Zagan affirmed. "Normally, I can't denote the terms of the contract to anyone, but as you are my prince, I can. The village summoned me because of an enemy who they told me threatened their town. Local Wizards had done note a thing to aid them. The Guard wouldn't listen. But they managed to find my sigil thanks to all their desperate research and digging. They summoned me and wanted the power to stop their enemy."

"And…" Luke swallowed. "Who were their enemies?"

"I believe in this realm… You call them Chimaera?"

Luke could not believe it. "Chimaera threatened then? But that's…!" He rooted around for the words. "That's…improbable. Chimaera have so much prejudice against them already in the world, even with Aberrants. More often than not, people accused Chimaera of being monsters and those Chimaera driven out of—!" It all clicked as he dropped the last word, "Town…"

He looked at his breakfast, stunned. I don't want to think it, but… Those villagers more than likely say the Chimaera as a threat. In remote parts of Fiore, Chimaera are also hit with civil suits from the agricultural community and Traditionalist communities even though all they want is to settle down away from cities. The most likely scenario was that the Chimaera wanted a place to live, but the villagers shunned them. No wonder Wizards and the Guards didn't step in. It's illegal for Chimaera to be harmed given the sensitive nature and politics around their race—or at least, legal organizations can't touch them, but…

He felt sick. Those villagers… Oh gods…

Zagan continued: "I gave a fair warning to the villagers that my power can't always take root. It would require experimentation. I even let them know not all of them would live. I told them they might want to die and could be treated like cattle. None of my warnings mattered. They wanted power to kill their enemy. And I accepted the contract to them. What you saw was the end result. And the ends don't justify the means…"

"Yes, well…" Luke felt parched. "Y-You attacked my friends… You tried to kidnap my sister."

"Would it not be strange for me to welcome people attacking me?" Zagan asked him. "As for your sister…" He paused and arranged his words. "I recognize now that it was my error to attack her. An error I will not make again, Your Highness. You have my word about that and my…apology for my mistake."

He sipped his coffee as he remembered Luna's power. I originally thought her to be unique, but remembering more of the last moments with her… I need to get close to her again to confirm what I suspect.

Luke looked over at Forneus. "And you? You possessed my friend. You almost killed my brother, my sister, and my friend. You can't justify that."

"I can't." Forneus did not look apologetic for his actions. "But as Zagan said, I was summoned. Different offerings mean different things. Not every summoning requires a blood ritual, but when blood activates a sigil, it triggers certain things for us to know why we are being summoned." He wrinkled his nose. "Personally, I'm not fond of blood being used to summon me. But I can't ignore the Call."

"But you still possessed my friend," Luke shot in a tight voice.

"I did, but I didn't do it against his own volition."

"You're lying," Luke instantly shot down. "Lance would never ask for a Demon to possess him—"

"Are you certain, Your Highness?"

Surprised honeyed-ambers clashed with steady yellows.

"Are you certain he would never ask for such a thing?" Forneus questioned. "You should know by now that a contract with a Demon must be fair. We cannot deceive those who summon us. If we do, then we lose the chance of having a summoner."

"But…" Luke could not wrap his head around it. "No… No, no, Lance would never ask for something like that." But his words tried to soothe him more than argue with the Sea Demon. "H-H-He's Sensei's best friend. He's good. I know him. He would… He would never…"

"Your Highness," Forneus softly called. "Would you like me to tell you why he asked for possession? Why your brother was harmed?"

Luke tensed. Moments passed by until he whispered, "Yes."

"It would seem your brother was not an innocent party in the mortal's lifetime," Forneus recounted. "He harbored ill-will towards your brother for a wrong done when he was small. From his memories, it would seem your brother played a part in the mortal's sister's life when they were children. You accused me of harming your brother. I'm not going to apologize for that. But it wasn't just me who harmed your brother. It was also—"

Gritted teeth. "You're wrong."

But when for all the rage Luke wanted to hold, for all the fury he wanted to seethe, his body chilled and numbed and he could not stop how blank he felt. "You're lying. You're lying." The harsh insistence fettered into a cracked breath. "He wouldn't do that. He… He wouldn't… He wouldn't. He wouldn't hurt Igneel like that. He wouldn't do that. He... He wouldn't…"

DRIP.

A warm tear cradled his cheek.

DROP.

No… That's impossible, Luke whispered. He wouldn't blame Igneel after all this time. I know he wouldn't. Lance is a good person. He knew it wasn't Igneel's fault. I know he knew it. He wouldn't hurt him. But through all his self-assurances, doubt and despair had room to grow. Igneel never deserved anyone's hatred. Not like that. Not like that. Lance wouldn't hurt him like that. Igneel… Mary Jane… His fingers dragged to make a fist. Why is Igneel still be punished after everything he suffered through?

Cullen touched Luke's shoulder in consolation.

Luke sniffed and swiped under his glasses. "U-Um…" He sniffed again and bucked up to keep himself from caving to the pressure of anxiety and stress. "Can you tell me…? Was Lance the one who made your sigil?"

"I don't know." Forneus was honest in that. "We don't know who made the sigil. All we know is who activated the sigil." A thought crossed him. "However, there would be one Demon who would know much more bout sigil creation—"

"Who?" Luke demanded to know.

"The Librarian." Zagan answered this. "The Library is a vast expanse that exists beyond this universe's logic. The Librarian operates it and still should to this day. From what I understand, he often collects intergalactic mortals who share his passion for knowledge and gifts them powers to be his Seekers, mortals who seek out knowledge and return to the Library with it." He shook his head. "But talking to him would be difficult."

"And why is that?" Luke asked.

Forneus crossed his arms. "He's a hopeless recluse and horribly introverted," he explained. "Some say he's the first Demon created. But other lifeforms accused him of being monstrous and tortured him, he built the Library as a way to see the cosmos without leaving his home and being persecuted. There might've been a time he accepted visitors, but I don't think he has in quite some time."

"He does have a direct younger brother," Zagan recalled. "But I doubt the brother would help you either. No one has seen him in some time. But the Librarian would know how to unravel sigils and understand who made them—if he allows you passage into his home."

Luke considered this. "But I'm the Demon Prince. Wouldn't that mean he has to let me in?"

"You could give him a Command," Forneus suggested. "He would have no choice but to submit to your words. Is that what you want?"

Luke opened his mouth, but he hesitated. His eyes swept back to his plate. "I…" His knuckles whitened. "No," he finally said. "I wouldn't want that. And if he's that uncomfortable, I don't want to put any more stress on him. I'd rather he let me come into his home on his own terms, not mine."

Forneus examined Luke. He's comfortable giving me a Command not to murder, but he cares more for our general consent. He even demanded an explanation from us rather than forcing us back into imprisonment. Other Demons would consider him soft of heart. But with his power level… He will not be a meek prince. He met Zagan's stare. Perhaps…we were on the wrong side.

Luke left his thoughts to ask Forneus, "Oh, right. What happened between you and Shenlong? Did he let you go?"

Forneus made a face. "No. He dragged me back to his kingdom for sentencing." He tapped his necklace made of teal-turquoise gems. "These are his scales. Each Sea King can produce scales and give them to their people for various purposes. For me, this is similar to Terran handcuffs. As long as I'm in his waters, he'll be watching me." He grimaced. "But at least I won't have to meet with the High King of the Sea…for now."

"For now?" Luke hawked up an eyebrow. "How many kings are there?"

"There are seven current kings," Forneus informed. "Technically eight, if you count the banished one. But above them is the High King of the Sea who rules over all, from the tiniest pond to the bottom of the ocean. Had I met with him…" Even he looked a little uneasy. "It wouldn't have ended well for me."

Although, that Sea King Shenlong informed me there is a Prince of the Sea…and the threat against him. And if I don't want that High King of the Sea to kill me, I'll need to accept his offer. The eighth king of the sea… He touched his necklace. How long has it been since I last saw you?

"Ruling all the sea…" Luke frowned. "What about ocean gods and stuff?"

Forneus chuckled, but it was not a pleasant sound. "Ah, yes. Terrans and their gods." He shook his head. "The people of the sea could worship their deities all they wanted to, but where religion is divided, their High King is not. And as you will be king to our race, it will be a matter of time until you meet the High King as well."

"Me?" Luke echoed. "But why?"

"For diplomatic relations," Zagan said as though it were simple. "Isn't that what mortals do? Establish diplomatic relations with other world leaders? Or have things changed in all these centuries?"

"No, no, they haven't changed, but…" Luke thought hard on Zagan and Forneus' words. They aren't wrong. As prince of Demons, I guess that would be my duty to meet with other leaders like the King of the Sea. But then… How would I even do that? Would Dad know or—? He blinked. Wait… Does Dad…know the King of the Sea?

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

Cullen went to get the door while Luke rubbed his forehead. "All right, let's just…table this for now," he decided. "I don't need any more stress and give myself an ulcer. I don't think I brought enough gum-gum potion for all these shocks." He laid down a hand. "Look, let's just…" He frowned when Cullen gestured to him. "Hold that thought." He got up and hurried to Cullen. "What's going on—?"

"Glad to see you're awake, Your Highness."

Luke could not help how relieved he looked when he saw Didi waiting for him in his shorts and tank top with nary a scar or scab on him. "Didi…" He came over to the doorway with a smile. "You looked all healed now."

"I am healed," Didi told him. "A Healer here fixed me up. It hurt and stung for the most part, but my body took care of the rest, so I'm all good." He wound up his arm. "I could do it all over again if I have to, Your Highness!"

"Ah-ha…" Luke gave a twitchy smile as he held up his hands. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."

He frowned as he remembered all that happened the day before. Still… He risked his life in defending his home from people who think Demons are nothing more than marauders and animals…

Honeyed-ambers glinted in sadness. This place… My people… To them, this is routine, but… It shouldn't have to be. What have I been doing? How can I be a prince to these people?

"Luke, look at me."

Upset honeyed-ambers connected with tender light blues.

"Don't beat yourself up over what you heard the other day," Didi murmured. "I don't care what people that vile think of me. Some of us might, but a majority of us couldn't care less about what our enemies thought of it. We know we're good. And that's all that matters."

"Right…" Luke shied his stare away. "I know, but…" He flinched when Didi poked his forehead and a pink flush burned his cheeks and ears when Didi leaned closer. "What are you—!"

"Don't look so down, Your Highness," Didi told him with quite a grin. "Didn't anyone ever tell you smiles are a lot cuter than frowns? And you looked a lot cuter yesterday."

DING!

Red covered Luke's face. 'C-Cute'? And then it all hit him when he remembered how he most likely looked and sounded under the influence. He backed away and covered his forehead with his body flushed. "I wasn't of sound mind! Th-That's not how I normally act! You can't use that against me!" All his anxieties made him give noncommittal splutters. This is going to haunt me for the rest of my life! I can't believe I did that! I'm not worthy of being Sensei's student!

"Isn't that the Demon yesterday?" Zagan questioned as he and Forneus spied from the end of the hall. "He looked cozy with His Highness."

"And look at how he's reacting," Forneus muttered. "Maybe he'll help His Highness to lose all that purity. First times are difficult."

"You remember your first time? I think mine was with a sheep."

"You had a sheep for your first time? That's something you do when you're bored."

"Well, at least I don't bleed out my ears with Sirens."

"Maybe not, but I'm not pathetic enough to screw a sheep for my first fuck."

Luke whirled around, a steaming mess, and shook a fist at the gossiping Demons. "Don't you two have anything better to do!" he snapped. "Stop saying such indecent things! We're in public!" He angrily slammed the door shut, chest heaving, before he buried his head in his hands. Why me? he miserable thought. Why can't I have a normal life?

Didi's chuckle pulled Luke out of his comical despair. "I can see you got to know them."

"Yeah, well, it's not like I can let them run free," Luke muttered as he turned around. "I'm sorry for them. I'll have to train them to behave." And also stomp out their psychopathic tendencies.

"It's fine." Didi cocked his head as he examined Luke.

Luke, self-conscious, crossed his arms and asked, "What? What is it?" His eyes widened when he flattened against the door when Didi leaned in. "W-Wait! I think you got the wrong idea about me! I'm…! I'm not…!" He shut his eyes as he shouted, "I'm not gay!"

Silence.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Wow ~

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Pfft."

Luke opened his eyes to see Didi hunched over with his shoulders shaking, but Didi threw back his head as he guffawed. "Oh man!" He wiped away an imaginary tear of mirth. "You're as funny as you are cute, Your Highness!"

PIKA-PIKA!

It was like lightning struck Luke. What…? What have I done? He tried to rectify his mistake, "N-N-No, it's just…! I mean, obviously, there's nothing wrong with being gay or bi or pan or anything, but I just…! Well, yesterday and what they were saying…! I'm not…! I mean, I didn't mean to assume anything. I just want you to know—"

Didi pressed a finger to Luke's lips to quiet him, light blues dancing in amusement. "I got it, Your Highness. You're not gay. And neither am I."

Relief and abashment made Luke's body slacken. "Oh. Good. Good," he stiltedly responded when Didi took his finger away. "Sorry, it's just…" He scratched his cheek with a sheepish smile. "Well, on a past mission, someone made an assumption about me and my partner…basically implied she was right and she called me a"—his cheeks colored—"'femboy'."

Didi did not mean to snort, but it happened anyway.

"H-Hey, this is serious!" Luke insisted. "Do you know how embarrassing it was when she called me that? And how mortifying it was to try and convince her I wasn't that?"

• — • — •

"Misses Benson, I'm really not gay! My partner was just joking at the time because he's a horrible person!"

Norma-Jean smiled at Luke as they met on the destroyed track field (with Gale working to repair it under the heated glares of the PTSA moms). "Oh, of course you're not, Luke, dear," she indulged him with a big wink. "I understand. Your partner. Uh-huh."

"No, I'm really not and my assignment partner, not a romantic partner!" Luke stressed. "I'm not in the closet! I am not feminine! I am not gay!" He looked at a cackling Justin and begged him, "Justin, please tell her the truth!"

Justin schooled his expression into a mock-serious one. "Grandmama NJ, Luke, here, is right." He wrapped an arm around Norma-Jean and clasped her hand to his heart. "Luke isn't in the closet."

Luke sighed in relief. "Thank you—"

"Because he's out of the closet and dating Gale!" Justin cheerily added.

"Oh, my!" A flowery aura bloomed around Norma-Jean as she beamed (all while Luke looked like he had been possessed and Gale had stopped his work to look horrified). "Such young boy's love! This is even better than those novels I read!" She patted Luke's hand, all misty-eyed. "I knew there was chemistry between you and Gale when you showed up at my door. How exciting for you! Congratulations and bless you both."

"I-I…" Luke's jaw creaked. "N-No, that's… That's not…" He hunched over, dreary, and miserably mumbled all while Norma-Jean extended her support to the happy new couple (and Ace facepalmed at his scheming boyfriend), 'I… I give up.'

• — • — •

Luke felt a headache coming on. I should've begged Liberty to bless me with Luck. Instead, I'm being cursed with all this misfortune. This is why I should stay in my room and pretend reality is an illusion.

"DIDI!"

Luke looked on the cusp of an attack and gaped when a fist struck Didi's head. Oh my god!

"You brat! I told you not to run off and disturb His Highness!" A dark-skinned man seethed this with a thick beard and mustache as he shook a fist at Didi. "How dare you treat His Highness with such disrespect! I didn't raise you like this and I know your mother didn't either!"

Didi rubbed his head with a pained grin. "Sorry, Dad."

His father huffed and grunted, "Darned kid…" He shook his head before flashing Luke a pleasant smile. "Your Royal Highness Prince Luke." He bowed. "It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness, and I wish you good morning. I'm Chieftain Bobo of Galuna Island and my disrespectful son's regretful father."

⌜GALUNA ISLAND

Name: Bobo

Ability: Transformation

Occupation: Chieftain

Likes: spending time on the water Dislikes: paying his daughter's Com bill

Special Note: Bobo is the son of the previous chieftain Moka and the first Galuna Demon Team Natsu encountered on their mission to save "break the curse" on the island in X784! ⌟

"Oh, ah, thank you!" Luke smiled back, a little awkward. "But please, there's no need to bow. And call me 'Luke' too. Didi wasn't being disrespectful towards me, I promise. I already consider you both friends."

Didi muttered, "I told you so." He wisely shut up when Bobo glared at him.

"You…" Bobo sighed out his frustrations towards his son. "Even so, I apologize for any reckless of his that caused you trouble. His old brother Boho would have been the one to greet you and escort you to Galuna Island, but he remains on the mainland for his education. I apologize for his absence."

Luke noticed Didi's expression faltered at the mention of his older brother, but he addressed Bobo. "No, no, that's fine. I'm the one who's sorry. I dropped all this on you last minute, so thank you for being so accommodating to me and my, uh…guests."

"Yes. Your guests." Bobo looked guarded as his gaze flicked to the closed door. "Will they be joining us this morning? They are free to roam around the island, but the other residents might be wary of them, considering their unknown status…"

"They're with me." Luke was certain in his declaration. "Tell them they're my…uncles?" I guess that could work. He sweatdropped as he remembered his uncle Ignia and tales of his uncle Zeref. I already have two insane uncles anyway…

Bobo nodded his agreement to the plan. "That will put the hearts of the residents at ease. Your uncles can go anywhere they would like in the territory. If they'd like and if you would like, they can join me on a tour of the entire residential area."

"Ah, no, that won't be necessary for them," Luke decided. "But yes, I'd love a tour, thank you. I'll just, um…go get ready for it. What time should the tour begin?"

"I'll wait in the lobby downstairs for you, Your Highness." Bobo pinched his son's ear with a sharp-teethed smile. "And my careless son will as well. Please take your time and when you're ready, come downstairs." And he dragged a whining Didi away.

Luke sighed before shooting the door a glare. Without preamble, he opened it to see Zagan, Forneus, and Cullen waiting for him. "You all eavesdropped, didn't you?" he accused as he came inside and closed the door behind him.

"We'll pass on the tour," Zagan told him, owning up to the eavesdropping. "I'd rather not associate with such…low level of Demons."

"I guess I'll stay here too," Forneus muttered sulkily. "I can't go back into the ocean without that Sea King hounding me." He nudged Zagan. "Wanna fuck? I'm bored."

Zagan gave him a look of disdain. "Unlike you, I have standards."

Forneus narrowed his eyes. "Sayssssss the one who got his dick wet in a sheep for his first time. You think you're choossssssey?"

"Touché," Zagan murmured.

Luke facepalmed. Keep your temper under control. Don't have another panic attack. Keep it in check. With that placating him, he told both Demons, "It's fine if you both want to stay here, but I'm asking you not to give into…that sort of desire, please. And not with anyone else on this island. That's disrespectful of my trip here—"

"But what if they ask for it?" Forneus challenged. He quickly scrambled to add upon Luke's glare, "Your Highness."

Luke hesitated. "W-Well…" He coughed into a fist, ears warm. "I can't argue against consent…"

Forneus showed his shark teeth in a smirk. "Then I think I'll head out for a bit with your permission, Your Highness."

"I'm going to regret this," Luke lamented. He pushed past everyone to head back into the suite. "Both of you can do what you want on the island as long as it is all consensual and nothing to do with murder, brutality, blood, injuring, or maiming others."

Zagan and Forneus stared at him before huddling together.

"Is he really our king?" Forneus whispered.

"You felt his power," Zagan pointed out. "No one can fake that. He's been living with Terran fragilities all his life."

"Makes sense he's still a virgin," Forneus muttered.

Luke has grown progressively more irate and red the more both Demons spoke until he burst, "There is nothing wrong with being a virgin!" He skewered both Demons with a hot glare. "If you're both going out, then make yourself decent and show some common courtesy to these people, understand? And you!" He pointed at Forneus. "You have to wear a shirt!"

Forneus huffed and grumbled, "Yes, Your Highness."

Luke watched as Forneus muttered how clothes felt restricting while Zagan followed him out with a drink in his hand. Alone in the hall, he rubbed his forehead, drained. This is going to be a nightmare.

His hand came down to grasp his chin. But still, I can't forget what they've told me. Being summoned… Lance… A High King of the Sea… And this Library and Librarian… I need to find out more about all of it and tell Mom, Dad, and Master.

Honeyed-ambers darkened. Because it's starting to sound like Demons aren't the problem.

"That's… That's not true." Henry kneeled in a prison of earth, in a cage of fire. "You're lying. He made me. H-H-He made me kill her. He made me kill all of them. I didn't do it. It was an accident."

Luke ticked his jaw. The problem…is the human summoners.

°•°•°•°

"Be careful with that!"

"Make sure to go to the post office!"

"Don't run so fast!"

Cars and carriages hustled down the paved streets with civilians out and about on such a fine spring day. The Healer's Ward had a few patients in for routine scans and check-ups, but an expectant mother could not help her happy tears her baby looked healthy in the sonogram. A couple of teenagers skateboarded down the sidewalk, much to an elderly man's ire and his caregiver's amusement. A grocery store manager looked relieved the fishers had come in with a new haul of cleaned and cut fish and seafood. A humble library part of Fiore's chain of libraries advertised the 100 books in a year campaign.

Luke felt a little silly being so amazed as he walked down the street with Bobo and Didi, but his elation would not go down. "Wow… This… This is an actual city. It's so big."

Bobo smiled, pleased. "Thank you, Your Highness—Ah, yes." His smile turned rueful upon Luke's pout. "Luke. My apologies. It'll take some getting used to." He stopped them at a crosswalk. "I never anticipated for our small village to turn into this either, but don't give us islanders credit. All of these expansions and improvements could not be possible without the help of Fairy Tail."

BONG!

An announcer called: "You may now walk."

Luke looked around as they crossed the street. A three-story apartment building showed signs of life as an aunt dried out her comforter and sheet on linen lines on her balcony. A next-door sweets shop had a worker give a farewell to a few loyal customers. This atmosphere feels so much like home. This place is beautiful.

As they went down another street, Luke questioned, "And everyone here is a Demon?"

"No." Bobo shook his head. "A majority of the residents are Demons, yes, but we also are home to Aberrants, Chimaera, and those who were born with Curses and Black Magic." He waved to a store owner who bowed to him. "Spiritless had driven many of them out, some who were their own friends and family. And without money to go to the Sanctuary, they had little options outside homelessness. His Majesty and Mister Fullbuster approached my father Moka and I about opening our island to other outsiders. And as you can see, we've all thrived with the change."

"I can see," Luke agreed. He smiled when he saw an older brother put his baby sister on his shoulders while she ate ice cream. "You gave them a home when no one else would. You gave them community."

Bobo hummed. "My father was warier about accepting outsiders. He resisted the idea for a while. Outsiders could still bring harm to our people. But I strongly argued this was the step in the right direction to show humans we weren't as bad as their entertainment portrayed. We're just as humane as they are. And I've never regretted that choice." He softened seeing the daycare center with little ones running rampant, much to their teachers' playful exasperation. "And now…we all have a place to feel like ourselves. That's what I always want for us—a place where we could belong."

Luke blinked before a strange half-smile came over him. "I see." A place to belong, huh?

Didi noticed something off with Luke's expression, but he kept his comment to himself.

°•°•°•°

A lush park with a cleared-out pavilion, a children's playground, and even a basketball court was popular today. A central fountain tied it all together, and it showed the demonic Moka with his staff and wise eyes in loving memory. For a day like today when the grass felt greener and the flowers smelled pretty, many had stopped into the park for play or lunch.

"Didi! Didi! Push me next!"

"Sure!"

Bobo and Luke sat on a bench near the central fountain, but they had a perfect view as Didi attended to the children at the playground. He was a hot commodity as he pushed twin girls on the swing while another child tugged at his shorts to ask him to take him to the slide.

Fondness touched Luke's eyes. "He seems popular."

"He's always been a bit of a kid himself," Bobo sighed, both in slight frustration and amusement. "Many times, I find him shirking his duties, but in his defense, he is helping out with our younger residents. I can't fault him for that."

"You said you had an older son?"

"Boho." Bobo nodded. "Yes. And as I said before, he's attending university on the mainland. The town looks a little more full since the residents on the mainland flocked back home once word spread of your arrival. More will be making it back in time for your welcome reception—"

Luke tripped over himself to soothe, "Oh, please, I don't want to trouble you—"

"It's no trouble at all, Your Highness," Bobo vowed to him. "We're honored to have you." He rubbed his neck with a sheepish grin. "Although we're a little hopeful your appetite isn't the same as your father's."

"Yeah…" Luke sweatdropped as he imagine his father eating the entire island out of house and home and the residence too respectful to say anything. "He certainly eats a lot." He hesitated to say it, but he mentioned, "If my dad didn't let you know, I'm a—"

"A vegetarian, yes." Bobo bobbed his head. "He alerted us, Your Highness, and our vegan and vegetarian residents are more than happy to impress you with their selections tonight."

That shocked Luke. "There are Demons here who don't eat meat?"

Bobo chuckled, eyes twinkling. "Did you think we all ate meat because we're rumored to be gluttonous hunters?"

"Well, I…!" Luke flushed and realized how foolish his presumptions were. "I shouldn't have," he admitted guiltily. "If I'm a vegetarian, there's no reason for other Demons to not be vegetarians or vegans. I'm sorry."

Bobo sighed out his mirth. "It's all right, Your Highness. From how His Majesty explained it, you only recently learned about your demonic origins and your body is now completely of a Demon. It's natural for you to have assumptions."

"Still, that doesn't give me the right to stereotype my own people," Luke acknowledged. "So for that, please forgive me."

A hint of fatherly pride and approval glinted in Bobo's eyes. "There's nothing to forgive, but if you want it, you have it." He watched over his son as the children roped him into more games. "My father worried when I wanted Demons to strike out onto the mainland. We had trapped ourselves on our island for far too long. We couldn't sustain life with how limited our knowledge was of the Current Era. He worried our secret would be discovered. He had been alive for all the propaganda against our kind and those related to us. He saw how Black Mages abused their powers and fed into the assumptions that preceded history. People drove even innocent Aberrants and Chimaera from their homes. And he didn't want any more of our people to die just because we wanted to live. I argued we weren't living being this recluse from society."

He sighed. "We fought. Some days, we didn't speak to each other. We were both so stubborn—I inherited that from him." He looked at the statue of his father with hints of grief. "After his death, I took matters into my own hands. I worked hard with Chairman Draculos and His Majesty to develop plans to let us go to the mainland, and the first phase of the transition had been successful. But… I lost my resolve when we received word the Ice Devil had been taken."

Luke blinked. Gary's kidnapping?

"My father's words came true. The Devil had been young and innocent, but people crucified him as a pure monster without ever acknowledging his personality. They based their assumptions on what he was, not who he was," Bobo continued. "I thought to cancel our plans. How could I send my people to the mainland on the possibility they would die if their true selves were revealed?"

Luke asked, "So what did you do?"

"Well, I didn't do anything. Mister Fullbuster spoke to me."

"My uncle Gray did?" Luke echoed.

Bobo nodded. "My father had told me of Devils. Even h was leery of him and I admit, that fed into my own wariness of a natural Devil. Still, upon hearing the news, I offered my support and let him know I wouldn't go through with our plans to begin mainland transitioning. But Mister Fullbuster didn't like that one bit. And he said to me…"

• — • — •

"Don't you dare."

The focus looked at a haggard Gray with hard dark eyes staring the focus down. The pair shared a glass of whiskey on a night like this in Bobo's study. But Gray had drained his glass in one go and needed to speak.

"Don't you dare make an example out of my son," he growled. "He wasn't kidnapped to prove a point to anyone. He was kidnapped because I was too weak of a father to tell him what he truly was. It was my fault. It was…my fault."

He clenched a hand. "I thought I was doing the right thing in letting him think he was human. But I was dead fucking wrong, and it cost me one of the most precious things in my life. I should've told him. I should've trained him. But I don't have the luxury of bashing my head in for all the things I didn't do when he's out there, waiting for me to get him."

His dark eyes showed true winter. "Don't make the mistake I made. Don't keep your people in the dark. They need to learn how to live in this unfair world of ours, no matter the cost." His rage and grief showed as he raked his bangs. "Because living a lie isn't living at all. I taught my son to live a life and he's gone. Don't do that to your people. Teach them how to live in this world"—he gritted his teeth as an ice tear dripped off his jaw—"before it's too late for them to live at all."

• — • — •

Luke opened his mouth, but he thought the better of it. Uncle Gray… Gary… He murmured, "I never knew…how much Uncle Gray regretted not telling Gary. I just…" But he had nothing more to say.

"Being a parent doesn't make us perfect," Bobo said. "We make mistakes. But what those mistakes are and how critical those mistakes are? Those are the questions we can't answer. We don't make sacrifices. We make choices for our children. And some of those choices can lead to some of the biggest regrets in our life. And the damage can last a lifetime." He added, "But Gary… That young man has grown into quite the person, hasn't he?"

Luke looked at Bobo with wide eyes. "Have you met him?"

"Of course," Bobo chuckled. "He's a big benefactor of Galuna and he's come to visit several times over the years. He's helped some of our residence interested in liberal arts get into performance and magnet schools and liberal arts universities. And his trial in December certainly inspired Didi and many of us here on the island." He gave a tense Luke a sidelong glance. "I take it you're not on good terms with him?"

"Ah, well…" Luke blew out a breath as he clenched his capris. "No…" He glumly looked away. "Not really."

Bobo leveled Luke a probing stare before looking up at the sky. "It must be difficult for you to accept your sister dating a Devil, considering Devils are lethal creatures. You must be worried he might harm here."

Luke tensed even more.

Bobo murmured, "Your Highness, if I may offer a piece of advice… If not, then forgive this old Demon for speaking out of turn."

Luke shook his head. "No, please. Go ahead."

"I understand you have much more access to your sister and the Devil, and you are well within your right to harbor ill-will towards him," Bobo validated. "But given how the media paints the happy couple… Do you think your sister's happiness with her partner is all a lie?"

Luke went to speak only to press his lips together. After a few moments, he confided, "He hurt her."

"I'm sure he did," Bobo agreed with a grave nod. "But I'm also sure he had no intention of hurting her. Then again, you know him more than me. Do you think it's in his nature to intentionally hurt all those who he cherishes with all his heart?"

Luke's fingers curled more into his capris. "What if he hurts her again?"

"Does that 'what if' seem so plausible?"

"Yes!" Luke blurted. "Because he's a—!"

"Because he's a Devil, a creature presumed to be part of a race of mass-murdering, silver-tongued criminals," Bobo said gently, "just as us Demons are assumed the same?"

A hot shame burned Luke's neck and ears as he whipped up his head to Bobo. "I'm sorry," he quickly apologized. "I-I-I didn't mean—!"

"It's all right, Your Highness," Bobo pardoned. "I understand your concerns. As I said before, even as a Demon, I had prejudice against him due to my father's stories of Devils. And I was ashamed for thinking the worst about him when the entire world thinks the worst about Demons. You are the future of not just Demons but for all those born with Curses and Black Magic, which includes Devils. He is of your kingdom as well. If he's not worthy in trusting him to love your sister or trusting him as a friend…will you not give him a chance as one of your own people?"

Disgrace pricked Luke's skin. "I think…I have an apology to give when I go home," he concluded. "And an apology to give to you again. I'm not really acting very princely, and you've been so kind and considerate…"

"I would be impressed if you acted like a wise ruler at your age, yes, but you are still growing and learning and recognizing your own prejudice and mistakes," Bobo commented, "That impresses me more and makes me even more certain you will be a great king." He gave a slight bow of his head. "Your Royal Highness."

Luke blushed a little. "Thank you, Mister Bobo."

Bobo went to comment when someone approached him and whispered in his ear. "Ah." He gave Luke an apologetic look. "Excuse me, Your Highness, but there's a matter I need to attend to—"

"Please, don't worry about it, go ahead," Luke urged. "I'll be fine right here."

"I'll be right back then."

Luke looked at Moka's statue as Bobo abandoned him. A deep exhale slackened his shoulders. It seems there's a lot I have to learn. Gary's a Devil…so I guess he really is one of my people too. It's not like he would willingly hurt Nashi. It's the opposite. He would risk everything for her safety. And here I am, still blaming him. Honeyed-ambers dimmed. I really am…the worst prince.

"Ice cream?"

Luke blinked when Didi re-joined him. "Oh. Hey." He glanced to see an ice cream truck had come along, and children and adults lined up to by some. "Ah, no thank you." He adjusted his glasses. "I try not to eat sweets too much."

"A health-conscious prince," Didi teased as he spooned his ice cream. "I could get used to that."

Luke flushed. "It's not like I don't respect people with a sweet tooth—!"

"I'm joking," Didi ribbed. "You're already a great prince in my book with the way you saved me the other day."

Four beats.

"Am I…really a great prince?"

Didi frowned seeing the sadness on Luke's face.

"I feel like I'm not doing enough or…I'm not doing things right," Luke admitted in full confidence. "There's so much I have to learn and do—it's a little overwhelming. I'm not sure when I'll turn into the prince my people need me to be. I'm just…not sure if my dad's powers chose right in choosing me to be the heir. My brother's the better option."

"Why do you say that?"

Luke gave a mirthless chuckle. "Have you met Igneel? He's so…outgoing and honest and strong. He's endured so much, but through it all, he has such a powerful will to keep moving forward that it borders admiration and foolishness. If he were the prince, he'd—" He sighed as his gaze swept to his moccasins. "He wouldn't be making all these mistakes like me."

"I disagree."

Luke closed his eyes. "You don't know my brother."

"Maybe not," Didi conceded. "But people make mistakes all the time. No one is perfect. My dad is the chieftain and he readily acknowledges he makes mistakes." He looked up at the immortalized statue of his grandfather. "I understand where you're coming from, though. Sometimes, I think about that with my older brother."

Luke opened his eyes to peek at Didi. "What's he like?"

"Boho?" Didi snorted. "Perfect." He scooped up more ice cream. "I have two older siblings, Boho and Cici. Cici will be back home by the time your reception starts, but she doesn't have much interest in politics as she does about fashion and boys. But Boho's always been the 'perfect child'," he recounted. "He's at university for political science, after all. He's even graduating early. He's always been respected for all his manners and smarts and everything. He comes home and the town goes wild. He's the beloved golden child. He's just"—a dim smile—"perfect."

Luke glanced away for a moment. "I never thought Igneel was perfect. He has his flaws; I won't deny that. He's impulsive and hot-headed. And for as nice as people says he is, I know how scheming and aggressive he can get. But I still admired him for his strength and the way he could command attention. Growing up, he was always the one people respected. I was just the twin with my head in a book. I got bullied if Igneel wasn't there next to me. And I was always too embarrassed to tell my parents or Sensei. I'm the son of Natsu Dragneel and Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel. There're expectations."

"Your parents are pretty big deals," Didi conceded. "But… Are those expectations something they tell you or something you made up? I know there're times I might think my dad has expectations for me, but in reality, I'm stressing myself out more."

Luke, a little raw, mumbled, "Which of us is the prince again?"

Didi chortled. "I'm just saying I get it, Your Highness." He offered a spoonful of ice cream. "You sure you don't want any? It's pretty good…!"

A little red on the ears, Luke opened his mouth and accepted the spoonful. When he swallowed it, he asked, "You said your siblings were off-island. And from what I understand, it's normal to be off-island."

"Right." Didi spooned another mouthful. "Residents under the age of sixteen still have to follow that compulsory-education thing. But we have a few options. We can do online learning, and a few residents offer private tutoring, or we can head to the mainland for school. But if we do that, we have to be approved by my dad and Lord Magic Speaker Draculos to head onto the island and be able to prove we can conceal our identities and abilities."

"How do you do that?" Luke questioned, curious.

"With this." Didi showed off his simple bracelet. "Galuna Demons can shift into human form at will, but not everyone has that ability and our transformations can revert if we have an accidental trigger. There's this really old Enchanter called The Forge who commissions jewelry for us to wear as a precaution. We teach transformation here on the island, but we still have to wear our jewelry."

"Huh." Luke tucked that away for later. "I see." In his thoughts, he absently accepted Didi's next spoonful. "So do you go to school on the mainland?"

"I do," Didi chirped as he sat his ankle on his knee.

"How does that work with your identities and everything?"

"It's not as complicated as you think," Didi let him know. "Lord Draculos and my father will have us meet with some special attorney. We talk about our cover story and background and settle on a name, if we want to be a foreign exchange student or native—that sort of thing. We can even select a host family or get our own apartment. If we don't already have some form of savings or income, they'll talk to us about employment or getting financial assistance. And then we're out into the world.

"We do check-ins and we still come home, but we can live our lives. Only anyone over twenty-one can travel internationally for education at the moment, considering how the world is right now. And they even set up those with Curses or Black Magic to attend institutions with a Black Arts program to help them learn about their powers. Even the kids get sent, if their parents consent."

Luke turned his head in the direction of the children. "And so these children are…?"

"Demons or half-demon or human—take your pick."

"Incredible," Luke breathed. "I never knew there were more like me… This all so surreal." He blinked when he realized the children saw him and looked awestruck. He turned his head and saw more had glanced over at him only to quickly look away, shy and smiling. "Um…" He whispered to Didi, "Why is everyone looking at me?"

Didi grinned. "You might be concealing your abilities, but everyone here knows you're their prince. They don't need to feel your aura to know that. They're all curious about the type of person you are and can't wait to meet you."

"I thought my dad was exaggerating about that," Luke confessed. "I didn't think people were actually excited to meet me. I-I mean…" He flubbed for words. "I'm just… I'm just me."

"And to them, you're much more."

Luke shook his head. "I'm not better than anyone else here. I still have so much to learn." He rubbed his wrist as he ducked his head. "I'm lacking in a lot of ways, to be honest… I'm not even done with my own magical studies. I don't…really deserve this much admiration."

Honeyed-ambers glinted. "I really haven't done anything to deserve any of their respect. They admire me because of my title, but… Do they really want me as their prince? Me as a person? They don't even know me." His hand tightened on his wrist. I'm not…worthy of any of this.

"You know, you're a lot cuter when you smile, Your Highness."

Flustered, Luke stammered, "Wh-What does that have to do with anything—!" His words halted when a hand was in his face. He looked up to see a grinning Didi before him with his hand extended. What is he…?

"If you think these people don't know you, then get to know them," Didi told him like it was that simple. "You worried we only like you because you're the heir, and I doubt anything I say will convince you. So take the time to get to know them. And then you'll know the truth, yeah?"

Luke hesitated about the idea. "Yeah, but… I… Oh!" He stumbled when Didi grabbed his wrist and ran off with him. "H-Hey! Wait a minute!"

"Sorry for this, Your Highness, but there's no time to think about it!" Didi declared with a sunny smile. "It's time for you to meet your people and let them get to know Luke Dragneel!"

For a split second, Igneel was the one pulling him along with that fangy grin. "Come on, Luke!" his brother urged him with a laugh. "Let's grab Lu and go on an adventure, okay?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Itsu datte kimi no sono te wa

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Honeyed-ambers shone before Luke blinked away the gleam. Okay. He let Didi pull him. I want to go on an adventure.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Itsu demo sekai wo kaereru yo!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Playing with children had never been Luke's strong suit, if he was being honest. Sure, he had interacted with Liberty Justine, but he did not do…children.

Didi had let him go to sweep over to the kids, who all beamed up at him and giggled when he ruffled their hair. But their smiles dropped for fascination when Didi introduced them to an awkward Luke hanging on the outskirts. He had meant to give a mustered smile and hope for the best, so it was a complete surprise to him when the children swarmed him with questions galore and honest curiosity in their eyes. Never had children given him this much attention—Igneel was much more child-friendly than him—and he had no idea what to do with his newfound popularity.

And Didi was more than happy to step in.

Even though Luke was unsure the plan would work, he let the children grab his hands and guide him to the playground. Swing-pushing was something he fondly recalled Luna asking him for all the time, and he was more than happy to do so when a little girl with blonde hair asked him for a push. A little toddler still getting his bearings with walking had Luke carry him to the slide and clapped his hands in glee when they reached the bottom.

Games were different with children as well. Blame Luke's intense studies that he fell out of touch with certain hand-clapping games. But it surprised him to see a few children with MagiSwitches. He surprised them back when he helped a few of them with Magimon GO! with catching Magimon and helping them evolve. Once he defeated a gym leader, he got a round of high five from the children and they egged him on to teach them his ways.

More adults had rounded into the park, edging close with their curiosity towards the Prince of Demons and his playing with the children. But they refused to sit on the sidelines for much longer when Luke had accidentally stumbled into a rather well-endowed young lady. Blushing like crazy, he tumbled backward and found himself in the hands of a few handsy older women.

And no, Didi was not going to rescue him when the old women started fawning over the prince.

More adults wanted to chance their luck. Perhaps they could meet their prince face-to-face before the celebration tonight!

For all of Luke's worries and anxiety, everyone who approached him was eager to greet him. Most had known about his popularity and him as the sacred student of future Sorcerer Supreme Mystogan Fernandes, and they were all for conversing about his interest and studies. It was embarrassing to hear about his accomplishments boasted about, but he did his best to be sincere in every conversation and handshake.

Too bad some residents gunned for more than a handshake.

Poor Cullen had to reveal himself and fan Luke after a bold and brazen young lady had kittenishly purred and touched his chest. It did not help he was certain one of the elderly ladies had gotten a squeeze of his backside, and he came out scathed from a group of teenaged girls with lipstick kisses all over him.

He should have stolen Lord Black the Shadow Cat as his emotional support cat.

Bobo approached Didi and father and son watched as a panicking Luke tried to stop a verbose and proud residence from trying to kiss his feet to show their loyalty (or maybe a fetish by the look in their eye). "He's having a good time," Bobo mused.

Didi had a faint smile as Cullen gave Luke his water to sip between sentences. "Yeah, he is." He covered his mouth with a blush on his ears. He really is kinda cute.

Bobo boomed with laugher. "And you're having a good time looking at him, aren't you, boy?"

DOKI-DOKI!

A reddened Didi growled at his cackling father, "I'm not staring at him!" He huffed and crossed his arms, but he snuck a peek back at Luke. A little old blind woman had come to thank him. He had gotten to her level, soft, and guided her hands for her to touch his face. Something within her triggered tears and it was clear she whispered her gratitude to him in reverence the more she felt his face.

Didi softened a little. "Y'know, when you told me the prince was coming, I thought I'd meet…someone not like him," he admitted to his father. "He immediately told me he wasn't above me and didn't deserve his title."

"Whereas His Majesty revels in his title," Bobo said dryly. More than a few times he was ready to knock a cackling-like-a-villain Natsu down a peg, only for Lucy to do it for him and apologize for her husband's boasting. "If you told me Luke was Natsu's son, I wouldn't believe you at first. But I see it now, how similar they are. They both care much for their people. Natsu has laid down the groundwork for his people. I think Luke will finish it."

Didi's light blues sparked in fondness as Luke kissed the blind woman's hands and said something in kind back to her. I think he will too. His eyes darkened. But before that… He turned to his father and murmured, "About Siren Song, Dad—"

"I know." Bobo lifted his chin as he watched the crowd. "We have a traitor in our midst who has been feeding Siren Song our movements."

Didi tensed. "Then you know what we have to do—!" He crushed his snarl and swallowed it when Bobo raised a hand for silence.

"We have to be careful," Bobo warned his son, low. "Right now, we can't move too suddenly to alert the traitor we're aware of them. Thanks to our leaks, we can confirm the traitor isn't anyone in our inner circle. They're a traitor nonetheless." He hid his hands beneath his robes. "Once your brother is home, we'll speak with His Majesty."

"So we're supposed to sit on our asses while the traitor gets away with it?" Didi challenged. "I thought you were the chieftain, not a coward—!"

Bobo's eyes darkened into their demonic blacks. "Didi."

Flushed with anger, Didi quieted himself.

Bobo's eyes reverted to human. "We'll discuss this for another time. There's much that you don't know and don't understand." He nodded to Luke. "We'll continue the tour before I have to confer with the committee. Entertain His Highness with a lay of the land. I'm sure he'll enjoy that. But not – one – word about the traitor to him."

Didi had many words of disagreement to snap, but he muttered, "Right." He fisted his hands. Still… Having a traitor among us means we could be exposed. And if they expose us… His light blues caught Luke engaging in another conversation. His Highness goes down with us.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Galuna Island's forestry was something for the nature books.

Tough vines and leaves and bushes made it impossible for even the most experienced hiker to get through without magical assistance. Norma animal and magical beasts swamped the island unrestricted, but they did not scatter at the sound of human footsteps as though used to people going into the thick of it constantly. A fox had hunted down a field mouse for dinner. A Lux Cat—a Light Cat with bright eyes and luminescent fur—prowled down from a tree to dig up its buried kill and gave a light snack. The beetles were out and gossiping with their chirps and clicks.

Didi had gotten to the ledge first, but he turned around and helped Luke up as well. Luke clasped his arms and scrambled up with a smile. "Thank you." He looked at the view—

Honeyed-ambers sparkled. Whoa…

The orange skies and the burning sun brought out the sleepy blues of the ocean. No passing ships or Sky Boats or green horizon sullied such a peaceful view. Seeing the endless sea and bleeding sky made it clear Galuna Island was as much of a withdrawn oasis as it was a sanctuary.

"This island is so beautiful," Luke breathed. "You have a gorgeous home."

Didi hummed his amusement as he sat with his legs dangling over the edge. "Thank you." He gave a slight grin when Luke sat with him, but he curled his knees to his chest. "You don't want to live a little, Your Highness?"

Luke huffed, but he daintily removed his moccasins before letting his legs hang over the edge of the ledge. "There. Happy now?"

Didi snickered. "Should I add prickly prince to your title now?"

"You seem to have no trouble speaking more informally to me now," Luke sniffed. He pointed and flexed his toes absently as he looked out to the sea. "Thanks, though. You know, for the park and everything." Honeyed-ambers glinted. "It was nice to meet my people…and to let them meet me too."

Didi murmured, "We might all respect you, but don't think it's just because of your status among us." He smirked at Luke's deadpan. "All right, maybe that's part of it. But after meeting you, you can be sure their respect and admiration for you are genuine."

Luke sighed. "Now I just need to live up to being their prince." He kicked his feet. "I really hope I can be a prince people can be proud of. And I know—I know—no one is giving me expectations, but still, it's… I just… I don't want to fail."

Didi nudged him. "I'm guessing you're one of those high IQ students with perfect grades and everything, right? Is that why you keep talking about 'failing'?"

Luke pinkened a little and muttered, "There's nothing wrong with getting good grades and maintaining a high academic standing." He flushed even more when Didi chortled. "Don't laugh at me! Th-That's…! That's a royal order!"

"Forgive me for treason then, Your Highness," Didi jested him. "You definitely wouldn't like me if we went to the same school. I pretty much coast by on all the easy classes and if I'm not working my part-time job, I'm doing other things."

Luke's brow furrowed. "Like what?"

Didi waggled his eyebrows.

Luke's face screwed up, but he forced out, "I…see."

Didi cackled. "Your face says you're not all that approving, Your Highness."

"I'm not judging," Luke was quick to assure. "I'm not," he insisted with Didi raising an eyebrow. "I might not party, but I'm not doing to condemn everyone else for partying. We have other interests. I don't care about that." He looked to see the sea as he brought up his legs to curl his knees to his chest and wrap his arms around them. Pink lashes lowered half-mast. "Honestly, there was a time I thought I wasn't all that normal since I didn't like…what everyone else did."

Didi frowned a little. "What do you mean?"

Luke sighed. "You know… Partying, drinking"—his ears burned—"physical intimacy… All of that sort of thing. I had crushes before, sure, but I didn't really feel…that way about them. I thought I was weird." He snorted softly. "Asking Sensei was out of the question. We talk about a lot of things, but I just couldn't ask him. And it was embarrassing to ask my dad since I know he's a very, uh, enthusiastic person when it comes to my mom."

A tick mark twinged his temple as he remembered how often his father shamelessly got carried away and caught red-handed trying to needle Lucy into a quick tryst or make-out session. Too enthusiastic to the point where I'm concerned for Mom's safety.

He wiggled his toes. "But my mom… I could tell her anything. She told me there wasn't anything wrong with me, and she'd still love me if I never felt that way towards people. And it's not like I don't want to do all that you guys do, I just don't really think about my crushes or anyone like that, so…" He shrugged, unsure and shy. "Red Jîn is supposed to make the consumer feel desire. Sensei says it's the equivalent of being ridiculously hungry that you'll eat whatever you see in front of you. But all I felt… Well, it wasn't that." A hapless smile. "Some Demon I turned out to be, huh?"

"Demons aren't horny one-hundred percent of the time, y'know."

Luke colored and spluttered in his defense, "I-I know that! I just didn't—!" He puffed a cheek when he realized Didi was laughing, and he tucked his head into his knees. "Thanks for laughing at me again."

"I'm not. I promise." Didi settled his amusement into a smile. "My older sister gets around. I used to tease her she was a Succubus in a past life. But my older brother was always hands-off with sex stuff unless he was deeply connected with someone."

"And you?" Luke asked, peeking an eye.

Didi lazily grinned as he spread out his hands. "I'm not choosey with who I spread my love."

Luke's face dropped. "But you said—"

"I said I'm not gay," Didi reminded him. "And I'm not." He snickered when Luke gave him the look of an alert wild animal about to be hunted. "Don't look at me like that. I know where you stand." He could not resist teasing, "But your lure scent was pretty attractive…"

"I was drugged!" Luke buried his head into his knees. "Those pirates were insane for drugging me with Red Jîn," he lamented. "I could practically taste that entire room was seconds away from going into some lust-driven frenzy."

"I think you mean 'orgy'."

"That's what I said."

Didi chuckled when he saw Luke's red ears. He really is adorable. He kicked his legs a little as he positioned his hands at his sides and a little behind him.

Luke lifted his gaze to the water. "I can't recognize if the captain's plot to drug me was incredibly impressive or incredibly foolish." His timbre lowered, contemplative. "I scented more dark creatures than humans. And looking back on the delirium now, even the creatures outside my cell were excited scenting me. And considering the captain herself was human and a Warlock and willingly took in Inhumans for crew members, she had to recognize what would happen if she tempted them with lust."

That's what doesn't make sense to me. I could tell everyone around me was affected when my scent changed, he analyzed. But in an alternate universe where she let them do things to me, those creatures would have gone into a frenzy. And especially with Red Jîn heightening my scent, that frenzy would've gotten bloody. So why risk such a thing? How was she going to control them if things became too aggressive—?

Honeyed-ambers stormed. Is that why she had Holy Water? To keep her Inhuman crew members under control if they started acting up? If they're that unstable, why employ them at all? What's her game?

That ticked off a thought. Speaking of…

Luke turned to Didi and questioned, "You mentioned you tipped off that fleet in the event Siren Song tried to kidnap you. But for Siren Song to have known your location, either they were constantly patrolling or someone tipped them off about your travel route. So tell me honestly." His stare darkened. "What gave you a reason to think Siren Song would know your route?"

Didi blinked before sighing. "I guess there's no hiding things from you, Your Highness." He confided, "We've had a few incidents when it came to Siren Song. At first, we thought they were coincidences since Siren Song is a notorious pirate crew and a Dark Guild. But things started getting too specific for us to write it off."

"And that's when you thought you had a traitor among you."

Didi rubbed his jaw. "My dad doesn't want me to speak about this…" He sweatdropped when Luke stared at him through narrowed eyes. But I doubt he'll let me change the subject now. He caved. "Yeah. That's when we thought about a traitor among us. But we haven't found any commonalities with the traitor, so flushing them out has been a bit of an experiment."

Luke slowly nodded. "I understand." A handful of beats. "I'd ask you if your dad revealed the traitor status to anyone you trust, but I'll predict that you haven't."

"And why is that?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Luke theorized, "Galuna Island opened its borders to outsiders—Chimaera, Aberrants, and people born with Curses and Black Magic who were chased out of their homes. But that plan had pushback from your grandfather. But since I saw other elderly Demons, I don't think your grandfather was the only one wary about opening up the island to outsiders and going onto the mainland. And if elders are respected here, then they'd be the people your father would speak to about any sort of politics. Revealing the island has a traitor would put everyone in a state of descent and false allegations towards outsiders, causing a divide. It's simple."

He blinked when Didi gave him a wide-eyed gape. "What?"

"Ah… Nothing." Didi looked away, deeply impressed. He figured all that out after a minute? Our race really is in good hands.

"So, was I right?" Luke pressed to know.

Didi sighed. "Yeah, for the most part. I'm not involved as much with my dad's decisioning and thought process as Boho is since he'll be the next chieftain, but…yeah, that's pretty much it."

Luke nodded. "Trust your father. Flushing out traitors isn't as easy as people think, especially because they are never working alone." He shifted. "Sensei would randomly test me and give me files from fallen organizations and kingdoms and empires to see if I could understand how they built themselves up and got themselves destroyed."

Didi withered seeing the sparkling aura around Luke. Should I be concerned he sounds happy being randomly tested on such heavy topics?

Luke went on, "Avatar was the latest test I did. They were a large international cult for the Black Wizard." And my uncle. "They had gained a mass following in their beliefs because the Black Wizard's ideology and the Wizard himself were so thought-provoking and easy comfort to blind followers. The Black Wizard is the reason for the potential Holy War in Alakitasia, even now. But it fell because of traitors to the creed. Even so, it didn't fail all the way."

Didi did not understand. "If it's defunct, how is that not failing?"

"Because the people in charge of Avatar were smart to put in a failsafe in the event of betrayal," Luke explained. "Sworn in cultists had inadvertently been Cursed to not reveal secrets of Avatar. Interrogations against them were useless. Even if an Avatar cultist wanted to betray their cult, they would die. To this day, no one knows who founded Avatar. And since being a religious cultist can't be a psychological disorder, a lot of cultists evaded asylums and jail time or were given lesser sentences."

He took in the wind. "Treachery is hard to pin-point. I'm not saying that the traitor here has that level of failsafe on them, but there are too many possibilities of what could happen if you catch them too quickly. Unknown motives, unknown benefactor—I'm sure your dad is considering this. If he catches this traitor too quickly, you don't know if there will be a second or some unknown sleeper agent who will awaken once the 'initial traitor' used as a scapegoat is caught."

Didi let out a loud exhale into a simper. "Your Highness, has anyone told you hearing you speak makes them feel dumber than a rock?"

"What?" Luke sputtered, distraught, "That's not what I was trying to do—!"

"I know, I know." Didi pushed up Luke's glasses for him. "It's good to know my prince and future king is crazy smart. Are you graduating early too?"

Luke sulked. "No. I'll still be seventeen when I finish my bachelor's degree."

Didi blinked twice. "You're in university already?"

Luke nodded. "Mm-hmm." He added in a mutter, "I would've started sooner, but my parents were worried I'd get bullied. The Society helped a lot and so did Sensei. But it would've been nice to finish my degree a little sooner."

'The Society'? Didi gaped. Isn't that the place for geniuses? Smile twitchy, he asked Luke, "How old were you when you joined The Society?"

Luke thought about it. "I was around seven. That's when I became Sensei's student. He was a former Society member and told my parents I'd do well at The Society."

"A"—Didi's eyebrow twitched—"former Society member?"

Luke nodded, oblivious to Didi's mood. "He said the Society wasn't challenging enough for him. That's why he joined the Tower of Learning."

He frowned as he remembered the Tower. And if I go there this summer… If I join the Tower… What would I find there? Is that really the best option for me?

When his attention went back to Didi, his brow scrunched seeing Didi's creaking gawk. "What? What's wrong?"

"I'm just realizing I live in a world with some amazing people," Didi said, shaking his head. I heard he was smart, but… He and his teacher are geniuses. And he says it so casually like it's nothing to be impressed about it. He sighed as he lay on his back. "You really are amazing, Your Highness."

"I wouldn't say that," Luke disagreed. "I'm not more than anyone else, really."

Didi's light blues softened. No… You're a lot more than you think. You just don't see it yet.

Dark hair with silver streaks. "I'm a friend." A faint psychedelic pulse. "That's all you need to know."

Didi lazily focused on Luke's backside ad he starkly remembered last night. And that woman… She's a lot more than she said too. But what's her connection to His Highness? I'd ask him, but she forced a Vow on me to not speak about her. But why?

"C-Can…?"

Didi blinked when he saw Luke's red nape.

"Can you please stop that?" Luke asked tightly.

Didi blinked. "Stop what?"

"Staring." Luke ducked his head, a little redder, and fixed his glasses. "I'm really not much to stare at."

Didi sat up with a faint chortle. "Well, you'll have to get used to the stares for tonight." He got to his feet and offered Luke a hand. "Because all eyes are going to be on you, Your Highness, no matter what you do."

"Great," Luke muttered. He accepted Didi's hand and hauled himself up. "I don't do that well with crowds. I feel like Cullen's going to have to save me from having another panic attack." He dusted off his pants. "But it shouldn't be that long of celebration, right?"

Didi's grin meant nothing good. "About that…"

Luke had a bad feeling. "What?" He cowered back when Didi's grin broadened. "What exactly kind of welcome reception is this?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

HYU!

DON-DON-DON!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luke's eyebrow twitched. I think I'd like to go home now.

Screw everything he said about Demons being like him. These Demons were nothing like him.

Night had broken out and with the moon high in the sky, the reception had begun in the town's central park. Everyone had pitched in with dishes and sides and drinks and desserts from all different walks of light. They were cognizant to even have little ingredient cards to help those with allergies or intolerances. Live musicians performed to honor such a celebratory evening, and those more well-versed in controlling their gifts provided entertainment, from bubbles to balloons.

That was not the issue.

It was how everyone dressed.

Half-nudity was commonplace and there were no blushing brides or shyness from showing their bodies. Traditional skirts and harem pants were all around. Women and some men wore intricate bra-like tops while most men had done shirtless. Everyone had a piece of jewelry, whether it be their armbands or necklaces, some made from the teeth and claws and generationally passed down, and others made from gemstones.

Luke had been bestowed his own necklace and had reluctantly gone along with tradition, forgoing his shirt and donning harem pants gifted to him. He had wanted to be respectful, but…

"Oh, Your Highness, you're so toned!"

"You have such a gorgeous physique, Your Highness!"

"Those pants look amazing on you, Your Highness!"

"Ah-ha-ha…" Luke's pasted-on smile twitched a little from the glowing praise and eager eyes. "Th-Thank you. You all look lovely too. I'm very honored to see your traditions." He tried not to fidget when the ladies broke into a fit of flirty giggles. Can I please go back to my room now?

"Your Royal Highness."

Luke turned his head—

—and he promptly choked. "What are you guys doing here!"

Once the girls scattered, Forneus and Zagan joined him, both giving into the traditions of Galuna Island. Now, it felt natural to see Zagan with a chalice in hand, but it still weirded Luke out to see his hairy chest, let alone Forneus and a pretty young thing tucked into his side and absolutely smitten, especially with his nipple rings.

Zagan sipped his drink. "You didn't think we would miss your welcome reception, did you, Your Highness? Your uncles would never do such a thing."

Luke flinched and awkwardly laughed. "Right… My uncles…" His smile twitched. I can tell he's not happy being called my uncle, but I can't just say you're a Demon with questionable allegiances.

Forneus gave a bored sweep of all the dancing and frivolity. "This is pretty tame for a party with Demons." He showed all those shark teeth with his grin. "I can take us to a party much more suited for you, Your Highness."

"No!" Luke coughed and calmed himself down. "No, thank you. I'm perfectly fine here." And your parties probably get much raunchier. I don't need to lose any more of my dignity. He waved at both Demons. "Please enjoy yourself." He peeked at the woman Forneus had picked up and stressed to him, "Consensually."

Forneus made a face. "Demons are consensual. We're not animals, Your Highness. It's much better to have a live and willing thing between your legs than—"

"I don't want to hear it!" Luke pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just… Please have a good, clean, fun time, okay?"

Forneus cackled and teased his partner as he whisked her away, "I don't think we'll stay clean for long."

Luke forcibly took a cleansing breath and ignored Forneus' partner for the night's giggling. I'm not going to freak out. I'm calm. Everything's fine. He glanced at the lingering Zagan and frowned. "Something wrong?"

Zagan stirred his drink. "You seem to think us Demons aren't a consensual race," he slowly concluded. "I can't speak on behalf of our entire race. I know very well there are Demons who don't care for consent in the same way there are humans who bypass consent for their selfish pleasures. Demons might be much more at ease in expressing our desire, but we do prefer our pleasure reciprocated. These Demons certainly do, do they not?"

That made Luke hot with shame. "Right. I'm sorry for offending you and everyone here." He looked out to the cheerful crowd. "I guess for so long, I always imagined over Demons to be…well, not like this. The Warlocks we've encountered were bad people and with all the stories about Demons…" He sighed again. "But that's no excuse to typecast my own people. I really have a lot of thinking to undo."

"I'm not offended." Zagan meant that. "I'd be surprised if you welcomed all Demons with open arms. Mortal prejudice against Demons and Curses and the Black Arts dates back to the earliest years of existence."

"It didn't help our race started both Black Wars," Luke said with a bit of an edge.

But Zagan to not match his annoyance. "Did we really?"

Luke's frown deepened. "Yeah, we did. That's what all our history books say. Demons, Black Mages, the Accursed—we were the cause for both Black Wars. And because of that, people hate us to this day and think the worst of us."

"I see."

Something in Zagan's tone made Luke suspicious. "What? Do you have something to say?" With Zagan's silence, Luke turned to him and murmured, "Are you trying to tell me Demons weren't responsible or involved with either war?"

Zagan shook his head. "No. Demons were involved with the war," he conceded. "But you constantly forget something when it comes to Demons."

"And what's that?"

Zagan glanced at him. "Demons can only come to a realm when their sigil has been activated. We provide fair and concise contracts, an exchange of power for services." He sipped his drink. "Think about that." And he walked away.

Luke huffed. Well, thanks for being so vague and cryptic about it. Even so, he thought about Zagan's words. But still… He's right in saying Demons like him can't simply come to a planet outside their realm. And from what Luna said about Aamon, some Demons aren't that picky with the purpose they're summoned for as long as they receive something back. Warlocks could do whatever they wanted with their powers. And if they couldn't control their powers and gave into madness…

Honeyed-ambers widened. Wait… So then—

"Your Highness!"

Luke blinked from his thoughts to smile when a few more islanders had approached him with formal bows. The ring leader—an older gentleman—smiled at Luke and said, "We greet His Royal Highness, the rising sun of our race."

"Thank you," Luke appreciated. He extended a hand. "It's an honor to meet you as well. Thank you for hosting me in your beautiful home."

As the conversation started up, Luke could not help getting distracted as he glanced over at Zagan, who caught the attention of a mature gentleman hopeful for a night with him. I think I need to look into the Black War more. Zagan didn't sound like he was lying to me. In fact, it sounded like he was testing me. From what Nashi and Luna told me, all of Alakitasia skewed their history to separate Zeref and Black Wizard's identities. Even in Fiore, history has been modified. And if the Alvarez War had details changed…

He clenched his hands behind his back. Then who is to say other parts of history haven't been truthful?

°•°•°•°

Didi stood apart from the crowd with his harem pants and a traditional necklace of claws he had won from a hunt long ago. He watched with a little smile when the older adults had made their move to introduce their prince to their grandchildren in the hopes of currying favor. It was all for naught, however, with how forward the grandchildren were in not hiding their attraction and Luke's flustered response.

"Why are you watching him like some creep?"

Didi rolled his eyes. "Glad to see you too, Cici."

"Ha. Yeah, right." Cici came to stand beside her brother with the same mixed skin, but she tucked her lengthy black hair into a thick braid and a floral headband brushed back her bangs. Her handmade sarong and woven bralette showed off the tattoos she had gotten in her human form. But her inherited light blue eyes made her even more striking.

⌜GALUNA ISLAND

Name: Cici

Age: 17

Ability: Transformation

Occupation: Year 13 Student

Likes: manicures Dislikes: greasy hair

Special Note: Thanks to Cici's mainland friends at her college, she's always caught up on the latest trends and celebrity gossip! ⌟

Cici tipped her head to the side as she studied Luke. The poor prince had resigned to accept a dance with one of the older women of Galuna Island, but it pleased her he turned out to be quite the dancer. "He's pretty cute," she acknowledged. "I've seen him on LV. He doesn't do a lot of appearances, but some of my friends go nuts about him."

"Really?" Didi drawled.

Cici simpered. "Some bloggers are saying he's dating another Fairy Tail Mage, Geo-Dragon. But I don't buy it for a second. He looks so…pure." She snorted when Luke looked ready to faint when a busty Demon latched onto him for a dance. "And definitely delicate."

"Yeah." Didi remembered Luke's flush and teary eyes combined with the temptation of his lure scent. He's definitely pure. He became wary of his older sister's growing grin. "What?"

"I can smell your interest in His Highness," Cici ragged him. "I can't believe you have a crush on him when he's so out of our league, loser."

"Shut up," Didi grumbled, cheeks a little pink. "And it's not a crush." Still, he could not resist a glance at Luke. He indulged in another dance with another presented granddaughter, although he looked more and more on the cusp of an anxiety attack when she tried closing the distance between them. "He's just…cute. And I'm still all messed up from smelling his lust from yesterday."

Cici sobered quickly and stopped inspecting her nails. "I heard about that. He was drugged on that damned ship." Her light blues flickered. "I can't imagine what would have happened to him if he hadn't gotten out of there. We might be in the Current Era and all that, but Dad reminds us we're still Demons. We still get affected by sin."

Didi could not disagree with that. "Yeah." His stare dipped away from Luke. If he'd be drugged for a little longer… If they'd gotten to him… His stomach clenched thinking about how helpless Luke would have been. His mind would've been too far gone to even recognize what was happening to him was wrong. But when his mind cleared… He did not want to dwell on it. "Boho's really not coming home?"

Cici shrugged. "Nope. He said he has stuff to do at his university and all that. He was pretty disappointed he'd miss the chance to meet with His Highness, but you know how Boho is with all his activities on the mainland. But you know if he were here, he and His Highness would be off talking basically science fiction. I heard he's pretty smart."

"Try 'genius'," Didi sighed. "And he makes it sound so…simple. Y'know? He just speaks on another level when he gets started."

Cici nudged him. "Yeah, but it sounds like you think it's more of a perk than a quirk." She snickered when Didi blushed. "Why are you standing over here? Go dance with him or something. Doesn't have to be anything hopelessly romantic and charged with sexual tension, but why not? He's danced with other guys. I don't think he minds." She grimaced seeing terrified Luke locked in a dance with a very forward cougar of a woman. "And he looks like he needs rescuing from Momo's grabby hands."

Didi hesitated. "I don't know… Ack!" He stumbled when Cici shoved him forward. He shot her a middle finger when she waved him goodbye, but he kept his stride through the crowd. His heart thumped a little faster as he cut through the people. An amused smile slipped onto his face when he saw how comically distressed Luke looked when Momo had gotten a little frisky. He really is pure.

"You know, Your Highness, if I were twenty years younger, I would've been eager to make your acquaintance," Momo purred.

"Ah-ha…" Luke's eye twitched with his smile forced. "Th-That's…nice?" Twenty years? What about fifty years! He started when a hand touched his shoulder with his Fairy Tail stamp only to see a friend was the culprit. "Didi…"

Didi smiled down at Momo. "Sorry, Miss Momo, but do you mind if I cut in for the next dance with His Highness?"

"Oh, my! Go on, go on!" Momo pinched Didi's cheek with a toothy smile and teasing eyes. "You be careful with this one, Your Highness. Our Didi here has quite the charm about him."

Didi winked at her. "But I save my best lines for you, Miss Momo, don't you worry."

Momo giggled and gave her hasty farewells before padding off to go mingle.

Luke slouched in relief. "Oh thank gods you showed up when you did," he breathed. "I don't know how much more dancing I can take." He scratched his cheek. "I got lucky I can dance a little thanks to my mom, but I'm not as good as Luna or Igneel. I feel like I'm making a fool out of myself."

"I'd say you're doing pretty well for yourself," Didi complimented.

Luke laughed. "Yeah, right. You should see my sister dance. She looks a lot more graceful and…" His words trailed off seeing Didi's hand, puzzled. "What are you…?"

"Well, you seemed like a good dancer to me." Didi rubbed his flushed neck. "And if you're still up for it…" He offered his hand again. "Want to dance? As friends," he quickly added. His hand faltered as he added, "You don't have to. I'm sure you've had enough dancing for tonight. It was a stupid offer—"

"No, it's fine." Luke surprised Didi by accepting his hand. "I can dance. I've danced with friends and family at other balls all the time. Even my sensei." He chuckled a little at the memory. "Though it was more as a test to my ballroom dancing than an actual dance. He's a pretty critical examiner." He smiled. "So, sure. I'll dance with you." His smile turned rueful. "You'll have to lead, I'm afraid. I'm not exactly familiar with this sort of dancing."

Didi blinked twice before his eyes twinkle and his own smile was soft. "Yeah. I can lead."

The band had started up another shanty that had townspeople grabbing their partners. They had brought old flutes and tambourines and drums out for this step dance. Almost everyone, even the children, was familiar with the tribal steps, and Luke was a quick study. Many flashed with their skirts as they flirted with their dance partner while others added playful steps. Pairs created a circle with the shanty starting slow and concise as though lulling the dancers into this adagio. But the tempo picked up, haunting and broad, to an andante and then a spinning moderato. Bystanders started singing and shouting along as the flutes led the melody.

Zagan watched as Didi helped when Luke fumbled with the steps the quicker the tempo. What a waste of time. He sipped his drink. He's already bound, you foolish little Demon.

"I see you're not joining in." Forneus came with his mohawk properly mused and a few bite marks on his neck, not at all smug or proud of his quick tête-à-tête away from the celebration. "These Demons might be lower than us, but they still celebrate the old ways." He could not help his wolfish grin. "Except our old ways involved complete nudity and a lot more fucking."

"Spare me your sentimental nonsense," Zagan sighed.

Forneus huffed, but he did not snap back. He nodded to Luke and Didi. "Doesn't that little Demon know he's barking up the wrong tree? His Highness is—"

"Yes, I know." Zagan sipped more of his drink. "But he's too low of a Demon to tell His Highness already is bound to someone. And it's not like bindings stopped any of us from having other partners, just not romantic ones."

"True," Forneus conceded. He glanced at Zagan and murmured, "Do you think His Highness will be strong enough to unite us all? You know how disgustingly loyal some of the others are."

Zagan tipped his head. "I think he will." He was honest about that. "But we need to get closer to him to sense his sister again."

"Asssssss long assssss she doesn't imprison ussssss again," Forneus muttered, irritated.

"You're hissing again," Zagan said absently. I'm certain that girl is much more than she seems. I'm more curious why I couldn't sense her when those humans summoned her. A power like hers is something anyone would crave to control. And yet, I couldn't tell until she was in front of me.

He exchanged his wine for a black liquid. Since His Highness summoned us, we can travel freely without needing other humans as anchors, but I should ask his permission for my movements, especially off-realm.

Forneus murmured, "Are we on the same page? Because Paimon is going to lose it once we tell them what we've seen."

Zagan nodded. "Mmm. I know they will." His eyes darted to the moon. Once they realize what's been going on, it'll be a countdown. The truth is—he clenched his chalice—we've all been tricked.

°•°•°•°

With the dance over, everyone applauded each other and the musicians for a job well done before dissolving to go find more drinks, food, and conversation. Didi praised Luke, "You did pretty well for a first-timer."

"I'm a bit of a quick study," Luke alluded. "And it helps I had a knowledgeable dancer partner. I'm glad I got to dance to the song. So thank you, Didi." He beamed. "It was fun, truly."

Didi blinked, a little awestruck, before red crawled up his neck. "Yeah. It was fun." He cleared his throat. "Your Highness—"

"Your Highness, Your Highness!"

A group of wily children interrupted Didi's ask as they crowded Luke with their little grins and wide eyes. He stooped down to their level to smile at the little girl who led the charge and patted her head. "Hi there. Do you want to dance too?"

The little girl nodded and asked him, "Can we dance as ourselves though?"

Luke frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, Nana!" A young mother came forward to scoop up her child and shot Luke an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry, Your Highness. Please forgive her for speaking out of turn."

"No, it's fine," Luke waved away. "She didn't say anything wrong, ah…" He blinked up at Didi. "But what did she mean?"

Didi crouched with him to confess, "We all stayed in our human forms out of respect to you, Your Highness. We won't transform and take off our enchanted jewelry since it'd be rude to be in our other forms while you stay in your human form."

"What?" Luke's eyebrows shot up. "Seriously? But…" He shook his head. "Well, that's ridiculous. You should choose whatever form you're comfortable with. Don't let me be the deciding factor. I'm sure my dad has said the same thing."

Bobo hovered and enlightened in a low voice for Luke's ears, "Your Highness, if I may, Natsu has said the same thing to us. However…" He tried to put his words as delicate as possible. "We're aware being around multiple Demons and others is a relatively new concept to you. We didn't want to overwhelm you with our appearances. We understand it can be a shock for those not used to us."

Luke's stomach sank. "You all stayed human…because of me?" His chin dropped and his heart felt like one-hundred pounds. They've been so kind, even holding back from the form they want…all to accommodate me. And I'm the one who has been making all these assumptions about them… His lips thinned. I feel…so ashamed of myself.

Didi murmured to Luke, "Don't worry. None of us are offended, so don't stress yourself—"

"No." Luke gave Didi a sad smile. "This…isn't okay."

He drew up to his height to see worried gazes all on him with all the camaraderie and music gone. "Thank you all for being so accepting and accommodating of me," he appreciated. "But… There's something I'd like to say." He gathered his courage. "For a long time now, I've been in denial about my abilities and the abilities of my own people. I fed into all the fear and stigma around Demon-kind and Curses and Black Magic, something that my parents never taught me, but I still believed it all the same. I thought that if I kept separating being human and Demon, I could control my powers better and I could live a normal life.

"But…I was living a lie," he continued. "I'm not learning to control myself by keeping parts of me separate, one part I villainize and the other part I keep desperately clinging to. And seeing all of you…living in such a beautiful place…" He took a deep breath as his eyes warmed. "I can finally see what everyone's been trying to teach me all along. I don't want to keep living a lie. And I'd… I'd like to show you who I am. I'm not afraid anymore."

He realized how true those words were. Maybe I'm anxious, but… I'm not afraid. These people… They're all just like me. And if they can live their lives as themselves… He closed his eyes. Then so can I.

Inhale…

HA…

Exhale…

FU…

The winds of change and power circled Luke. Curses giggled and tittered as they galloped around, excited for what was to come and whispering to themselves. The crowd could feel it deep in their bones that their prince was not like them—he was more.

The moon curtained her view with her clouds.

Darkness and shadow seep onto Luke's skin like a metamorphic mask, giving him privacy to transition. Powerful claws became from his hands and nails. His feet got up onto their front pads as his heels arched and legs adjusted. His hand tipped up as his ears pointed and the shadows dowsed his hair to prepare him for horns crafted for a future king.

The moon shooed her clouds away to peek her eye down on Galuna Island.

Didi could not believe it. He looks…beautiful.

Luke stood at the center, but the all-consuming monstrous power of before had exchanged for a sense of quiet peace. Shadows had claimed his calves and shaped them to look like a lion's hindlegs, powerful and claws sheathed. A tail had been gifted to him, made of pure darkness as its tail flicked, curious. Gold painted down his chest and stomach with mashed together hieroglyphs that not even experts could crack with one reading. The claws on his hands had set in nicely. A large horn had been born as it curved from his forehead, over the back of his head, hardened and bolted, but he had been given curled ram horn that did not disrupt his pointed ears. His wings flexed, a beautiful shade of black forged from shadows, but they disappeared as though recognizing they would not be needed.

And when he opened his eyes, inky sclera made room for glowing honeyed-ambers.

A hush fell through the crowd.

Luke turned to Didi with his tail twitching and his fingers massaging his wrist. "H-How…?" He hard-swallowed. "How do I look?"

Didi wanted to say, beautiful, but he stopped when his father silenced him with a look.

Bobo, instead, asked, "How do you feel?"

Luke blinked. How do I feel? He did not focus on the stares around him as he tried to focus on himself. He could feel his darkness beat the same temp as his heart. No more aggression and madness tempted him with uncharacteristic offerings. His Zen Magic hummed below and combined his Magic and darkness felt like a second skin instead of a parasitic leech. His clawed hand touched his heart as an August breeze ruffled his hair. Spice and embers tickled his nose before frittering away.

Luke gave a deep exhale before he stood tall and looked up at the night sky. A wild star streaked the sky and reflected in his eyes.

He had an answer.

"Good."

---

— • — • — • —

Starry Sky nemurenai yoru nee aitai yo aitai yo

Kirameita ittousei osaekirenai kimi e no omoi wo

•

Gyutto dakishimete mou hanasanaide

"aishiteru" dake ga zutto kagayaki tsuzukeru

— • — • — • —

---

The ornate sitting room felt like a prison, even though glamorous furniture and a grandiose, active fireplace decorated it. Sirene settled in the grandfather chair with her glass of champagne while Calico Max stood diagonal of her shoulder. Even if he looked bored, Sirene knew he was always vigilant and on the prowl for any hint of danger.

Sirene continued to sip from her glass when the doors to the sitting room opened, thanks to the Holy Knights on guard duty tonight. She re-crossed her legs, unimpressed with all the pageantry. Instead, she murmured icily, "You're running late." She tipped her glass to study the melting ice. "Is there a problem with the Church, Father?"

"Not at all." Father Johannes had removed his ceremonial robes, but he looked dapper in his all-black suit with his clerical collar. He helped himself to the bar cart and took Sirene's rock glass when he saw it empty. "We're simply busy with new followers. The theocratic movement in Stella is gaining traction, and as more Wizards realize how useless their Magic Council is, they turn to the Holy Eye." He poured him and Sirene a drink, but he offered Calico Max a helping as well. "Drink?"

"He won't be drinking," Sirene spoke on her quartermaster's behalf.

"Well then." Father Johannes gave Sirene her glass. "More for us then." He toasted his drink with hers before he seated on the other grandfather's chair. "Now." He sat back with his legs crossed. He placed his glasses in his hair and all the friendly atmosphere dissolved into bitter cold. "Why have you come here?"

Sirene did not flinch at the change; she embraced it. "We need more divine tools and Holy Water."

"Out of the question." Father Johannes sipped his bourbon. "You received more than enough thanks to Pope Adam's kindness. But there is a limit of his charity."

Sirene did not back down. "We don't need more because we've used up our supply. We need more because our supplies were stolen from us."

Father Johannes might not have visibly changed at the news, but his eyes looked icier than before. "Then that's even more reason for you to not receive more. Irresponsibility does not give you entitlement to support. And before you consider threatening the Church, allow me to remind you that you have an extensive set of crimes against you all with multiple copies of evidence that can and will be released on my say-so at no damage to the Church's reputation. But by all means…" He gestured with his glass. "Go on."

Sirene clenched her jaw.

Calico Max spoke up. "Father, not to undermine your authority, but the way the Demon prisoner stole our resource was unnatural," he explained. "We tortured the prisoner, yet somehow, it was capable of not only stealing the resources the Bishop so gracefully gave to us but also tipped off our enemies and possess the entire ship so they could escape one of our lifeboats without leaving a trace. Which is also odd as we enchanted our lifeboats with Locator Spells."

Father Johannes did not look like any of this mattered to him. "Your point, boy?"

"It sounds strange, but I'm almost certain it didn't work alone," Calico Max supplied. "In fact, I—"

"Whether it worked alone or had an army behind it doesn't matter to me." Father Johannes set his glass on the side table. "At the end of it all, it is your irresponsibility that led to the resources the Church provided you to be stolen. And you'll have to live with the consequences." He rose from his chair. "You wasted your time to come whining to me like incompetent children. I have other, more important matters to attend to. The Holy Knights will see you out."

Sirene swallowed her pride and gritted, "What about a trade?"

Father Johannes lifted an eyebrow. "A trade? What could a blacklisted guild filled with Inhumans and Illegals offer to the Church of the Holy Eye in exchange for such sacred resources?"

Sirene and Calico Max exchanged a glance before Sirene revealed her hand. "We have a double agent among the Galuna Demons. And they know about the—"

Father Johannes waved away the rest of Sirene's words. "The Church is aware of demonic entities and their transition into human living, something we thoroughly support—"

"But you don't know about their king and prince."

That gave Father Johannes pause. "What did you say?" A dangerously quiet question.

Sirene had to play her hand right as she lifted her chin. "The Demons aren't as independent as you thought. They had monarchs who they follow."

"And why"—Father Johannes seared her with a chilling look—"was this not told beforehand? Did you think hiding this information would give you some sort of upper hand?" Somehow, he looked taller as he turned towards captain and quartermaster. "Let me remind you the Church has always been aware the day would come of demonic monarchs—"

"But you don't know their identities," Sirene inserted.

"And you do?"

Sirene could not hesitate. "We can," she proposed. "We can supply the Bishop of Ran with the identities of the demonic monarchs in exchange for more access to your divine instruments."

Father Johannes stared at her.

Sirene bit back a nervous gulp and persevered at staring at him back.

Father Johannes brought his glasses back down to settle on the bridge of his nose. "How ambitious." He remained standing as he flicked his gaze between both pirates. "You want to offer the Church something not even our Champions can locate. How ambitious of a trade indeed." He got his rock glass and tipped it back to inhale the last sips. "Allow me to confer with another." He put down his glass. "I'll return shortly."

Sirene clenched her glass as she watched him leave, but she boldly warned, "Don't take too long, Father."

"Oh, I won't." Father Johannes did not glance back as he opened the door. "I can assure you I'll have an answer for you both soon." And he left with a quiet close of the door.

Sirene held back from throwing her glass. "Dammit!" She threw herself back in the chair. "What the Hell are we supposed to do if he doesn't go for the trade? We'll have nothing to defend ourselves if all those Inhumans get out of control!"

Calico Max half-listened to his captain's curses and mutters, but his mind fell back to his thoughts. I know that Demon wasn't working alone, but… Why can't I seem to remember? We tortured him, but it wasn't like the others. What were we trying to accomplish? Why can't I remember anything outside of feeling something is wrong? His eyes slid to the door. And where is he going?

JARAJARAJARA!

The fire went out.

Darkness blanketed the room.

Sirene could not help it when her heart quickened. Silence forced its will into the room, but somehow, this silence made the back of her hair prick and it sounded like it was whistling, waiting. Five seconds turned into ten, and her fingers trembled the longer such disquiet quiet prevailed. It felt like she was breaking an unspoken rule when she whispered, "Max?"

Nothing.

Gooseflesh pumped her as a chilling winter brazed across the room. It was not her fault when the frighting freeze jolted her when her glass became unbearable cold to the touch. She dropped it, but it made her jump a little when it thumped onto the ground—

JARAJARAJARA!

A shaky breath escaped her, and she knew—she just knew—that her breath clouded before her. All the warmth her body had selfishly acclaimed bottomed out for this cold, this winter. The tips of her toes and ears went first, numb, and she could feel that hot-to-cold when her body burned from the surrounding iciness.

JARAJARAJARA!

Sirene tried not to flinch as the sound of skittering metal grated her ears. Her lips chapped, dried out from the cold, but she whispered, "M-Max?"

The macabre silence settled over her shoulders.

Something was coming.

CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!

It sounded like something metal was trying to dial-up behind her, but she did not dare turn around. It kept clicking and clicking and clicking, oblivious to her lips quivering until—

CLICK!

The clicking stopped.

Silence again.

Sirene choked back her sniff when something metal brushed her cheek. A claw, was it? A metal claw brushed her skin and feather her hair before it moved away from her.

"You're so pretty." A little girl. A distorted little girl's voice giggled before her, but a demonic echo followed in a half-second delay. "Father said I could play with you. Do you want to play with me? Your friend is already playing with me."

Words could not get past the fear and cold clogging Sirene's throat when that metal claw touched her neck.

"Father said you were naughty. You shouldn't be naughty to Father. But that's okay. He said we could play together. He said you'll be Big Sister."

Sirene gripped the chair when two metal claws forced her right eye wide open with a light shining down onto her dilated pupil. All that she was—all her confidence and arrogance and anger—could not be found staring this light in the eye with those claws forcing her eyelids open.

"So let's play together"—metal clicked and clicked—"Big Sister Sirene."

Sirene's pupil shrunk and she saw it. She saw its form. In her eyes was the reflection of a metal cretin with cranes and claws that lived in the depths of nightmares to collect souls for pleasure.

CLICK!

Sirene's frozen lips split open—

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

AAAAAAAAAAAH!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Father Johannes walked down the marble corridor with caged torches lighting the way. Other cream doors lined against the wall, but none would open, not tonight. And he need not visit any of the other rooms. His dark eyes glittered with something unfathomable.

How irritating, dealing with children who think they know more of the world when they've seen so little. He pulled back his sleeve to check his watch. It's already late. And Clarion still wanted to meet with me. It would seem the Enchantress is in Caelum, according to our brothers and sisters there. And she didn't go alone. His lips dipped into a cold frown. And Atticus followed her.

PYUU!

Father Johannes abruptly stopped with his hand out.

DRIP…

A drop of red blood plopped onto the ground.

DROP.

Eyebrows slightly raised, Father Johannes inspected the knife he caught and did not care that his hand was bleeding. As he examined the dagger, he murmured, "You shouldn't play with knives so late at night." When he moved the blade in a certain light, he could see his reflection. "And you should know better than to attack a Primate. I might not be as highly ranked as you, but that doesn't make me any less powerful."

He held the knife up to the light and could see his eyes in the blade's reflection. "I assume Pope Adam sent you with a message for me…" He moved the blade to see stark-white eyes piercing through the darkness, but the more he looked at them, the more haunting and uncanny those eyes became like a child had grabbed a white crayon and scribbled and swirled the color to make these eyes. "…Knight-Champion."

KEKEKEKEKEKE!

A smile quirked into the darkness as though a child grabbed the crayon again and drew the smile into the shadows. And when it widened, those unsettling white lips showed rows and rows of drawn and jagged teeth.

"Want to hear a secret?"

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Checkmate / King – Jeannie Tirado

Luke Dragneel – Alan Lee

Zagan – Paul St. Peter

Forneus – Jonathan Freeman

Didi – Sean Chiplock

Norma-Jean Benson -

Justin Justine – Ian Sinclair

Bobo – Elias Taylorson

Henry Marvelo -

Gray Fullbuster – Newton Pittman

Cici -

Father Johannes – Marc Diraison

Sirene – Rebeka Thomas

Calico Max – Chris Patton

Unnamed Knight-Champion – Brittney Karbowski

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING SONG

⟪ SAYONARA DILEMMA ⟫

Vivid undress

Lyrics by

yu-ya⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG

⟪ HANDS ⟫

BLUE ENCOUNT

Lyrics by

Junichi Tanabe⌟

•

⌜ENDING SONG

⟪ Starry ⟫

ClariS

Lyrics by

丸山真由子⌟

---

•

•

•

•

— • — • — • —

Next time, on Fairy Adventure

•

Episode 136

•

A SPRING HOLIDAY SIDE STORY

JOKER GAME

— • — • — • —

•

•

•

•

WELCOME HOME, YOUR HIGHNESS

---

Chibi-Luna pops up before her class with a beam. "Good day, class!"

"Good day, Teacher!" her students chorus. "What's our Fairy Lesson of the day?"

Chibi-Luna shows off her colored chalkboard and introduces, "Today's Fairy Lesson is about the knight hierarchy of the Holy Eye!"

"Hooray for religious studies!" her students cheer.

Chibi-Luna points to the pyramid she had colored, each with positions all that led up to the pope. "Holy Knights have a difference in titles since they serve both the Church of the Holy Eye and their own country's military powers. So we'll only focus on the ranks of knighthood they receive only within the Church."

She points to the bottom block. "Holy Knights with no other ranking make up the base portion of the hierarchy. Because the requirement to become a Holy Knight is to have achieved knighthood status within a person's home country, the equivalent of knighthood depending on the government, or an approved and sealed recommendation later from a high authority figure, Holy Knights don't have to be squires or priors beforehand. However, many higher Holy Knights call lower knights 'priors' or 'vassals' since these Holy Knights are mainly rotating through guard work and more mundane duties."

She goes to the next block above. "Next are Knight-Lieutenants. Knight-Lieutenants do a lot more with paperwork and assisting their Knight-Captain, but junior Knight-Lieutenants may also be assigned guard duty."

She points to the next block. "Knight-Captains handle a lot more when it comes to physical and mental training of the Holy Knights. They are normally the ones to conduct training for the Holy Knight Exams and are also the examiners."

A hand goes up. "Teacher? If that's the case, why is Captain Da Capo helping the Holy Knights when she isn't one?"

"Let's just say there's more to Yunifer than meets the idea," Chibi-Luna says. She goes to the next block. "Knight-Majors come next. Knight-Majors will lead battalions of Holy Knights and are also in charge of special orders of Knights. Knight-Majors are the ones who design the exams for Holy Knighthood."

She points to the fourth to last block. "Mauve Herring is a Knight-Commander. Knight-Commanders control regiments of the Holy Knights, which means they are often at the head of a country's Holy Knights and act as the bridge between Holy Knights and a country's military. They are also on the council of reviewing applicants for Holy Knight status that were recommended and nominations for promotions within the Holy Knight ranks."

She goes to the third to last block. "Next come the Knight-Champions. To be honest, no one can advance past Knight-Commander to become a Knight-Champion only because the Pope of the Holy Eye handpicked the seven Champions himself. In theory, a Holy Knight could challenge a Champion for their position, but because those duels are to the death, it deters Knights from trying. The seven Champions are said to have unique weapons and are devoted to serving the pope. Each one wears enchanted armors and never takes off their helmet.

"Next," she continues as she goes to the second to last block, "are the Knight-Cardinals, four people who are rumored to be High Enchanters and also with unique weapons of their own. However, no one has ever seen a Knight-Cardinal and as the rumors go, you shouldn't ever want to see a Knight-Cardinal or it could mean trouble."

She taps the top block. "And lastly comes the Knight-Master, which would be the pope himself. It's said that in recruiting the Cardinals and Champions, the pope individually dueled against them and won, winning their loyalty to him, but no one has ever had the privilege to see the pope duel. However, if you visit the Church of the Holy Eye in Ran, Stella, visitors are permitted to see one of the pope's holy weapons. He has three weapons, but the sword on display is the one every Champion and Cardinal fought against."

Chibi-Luna picks up her eraser. "As I said before, Holy Knighthood translates differently per country. If a country doesn't have any sort of knighthood as a military proponent, then those Holy Knights would have corresponding ranks in their military to correlate their state in the Church. However, because the pope is a religious figure, being called Knight-Master is in title only. He doesn't command any Holy Knights nor does he give any sort of executive orders to them."

KINKON!

"That's the bell!" Chibi-Luna says cheerily. "A message from the author before you go!"

「 This is our last episode of Galuna Island, but Luke is confirmed under the asexual umbrella. He has yet to figure out his own preferences within that umbrella nor his romantic preferences, but the saying "attraction=/=action" will be used in his discovery.

I have lost Cane's side story, but I have the premise written in my episode mega-list. I'll do my best to re-write his episode prior to my surgery.

THEN, it's off to the dual release of the Shamballa Arc and Igneel's companion side story: The Disappearance of Igneel Dragneel. I will simultaneously release the episodes of Shamballa (within the main series) and DID (a new story) but DID will not be a stand-alone series.

Igneel's "shōnen protagonist" outer layer—modeled after Natsu's 17-year-old persona—is much more multifaceted on the inside. In short: without Lucy, Luna, or MJ near him, he has little reason to act as he had been during the first half of Fairy Adventure and will have different mannerisms.

Thank you for your support. Onto the next episode.

さあ、行きましょう！ 」

Chibi-Luna waves. "See you in the next episode of Fairy Adventure!"