#Queen Shagotte

[fangirlfortress]

Ngl he best trope is the one where, ok so there's like this people. Maybe it's a kingdom or a tribe or whatever, but it's a whole people and they're being deceived. They're generally a good people, they do what they can to survive and they love each other, and they are ruled by a good, albeit misguided person with understandable motives. Typically a queen, sometimes a mother, and she loves her people. She works, fights and shares with them - her people love her, trust her completely. But she is lying to them, maybe about a prophesy or about their own circumstances, but she is lying to them and she has been for decades, either out of the urge to protect her people or her child. Then this deception is revealed - she reveals it - and she begs for forgiveness, gives up her title and maybe tells them that she deserves to die for her crimes, that they have every right to kill her for breaking their trust and manipulating them for so long. She is crying, maybe this is on the verge of some crisis where they're all going to die because of she couldn't tell the truth, and her people are heartbroken, but forgive her immediately. They say, no, you cannot just die and be absolved of all responsibility. You have to stay and help us fix this, you have to fight. Because they love her and it is obvious that she loves them, that she did this because she didn't know any other way to protect what she cares for. And she is so beloved. Their trust is shaken, but she is their queen and she has, for so long, been one of them; someone who has sacrificed and cried and fought right alongside them, that they say no, we will not leave you. And if you die, then we will die right with you, because this is our home and you are our queen. You are one of us.

[bumblebeehug]

I saw someone shipping Pantherlily and queen Shagotte

I mean lowkey? The age wouldn’t exactly be a problem, + they’re both freakishly human. I just love Lily too much to curse him with Shagotte’s presence. She’s my least favourite exceed, and that says a lot! Because there are some ANNOYING ass exceeds out there!!! Like the priest dude from starry heaven🙄 at least he was cunty in his little outfit

[i-love-a-lot-of-things-a-bunch]

More Panther Lily!🐈‍⬛

[fantasyandromancelover]

The Grinning Man AU

So I've become totally obsessed with this amazing new musical called The Grinning Man which is based on Victor Hugo's novel The Man Who Laughs. So obsessed that I decided to write an AU of it using Fairy Tail. I will also be incorporating a few things from other adaptions of Hugo's other works.

During a snow storm in London, a boy called Gray escapes from a figure who brutally murdered his parents and then mutilated his face. Shortly afterward, he discovers a couple who froze to death and their young, daughter Juvia who's still alive but suffering from hypothermia. Unable to leave her to die, he takes her with him. The two then encounter a cat called Shagotte who leads the two children to a camp where she stays with her kitten Carla and her master, Juvia's older brother Jellal, who had been separated from his family by the storm. Though heartbroken by the deaths of his parents, he is relieved that at least his sister still lives.

Jellal is able to cure Juvia of hypothermia but the extreme cold leaves her blind and with a weak heart and that combined with the loss of their mother and father causes him to be forever protective of her. Although horrified by Gray's face, Jellal shares his camp with him out of kindness and gratitude for saving Juvia's life. Gray suffers from moments of PTSD and nightmares from his family's murder and his mutilation, so Jellal gives him a potion that makes him forget his horrific past.

Jellal begins a career as a traveling storyteller and puppeteer while looking after the two children who form a deep connection with each other. Gray serves as her eyes and Juvia serves as his source of comfort whenever the world scowls at him for his face. They find happiness through stories and each other, and Juvia secretly prays that they will never be apart.

Years pass, Gray grows into a strong young man, attractive except for the scarred, lower half of his face which he keeps covered by a scarf, while Juvia remains blind but grows into a beautiful and innocent young woman. They along with Jellal, earn a meagre living in the fairs of London, putting on puppet shows and acting out stories. But wherever they go, Gray is always ridiculed by others for his face. He acts as if the mockery does not bother him but Juvia who loves Gray, knows that it hurts him deeply and always tells him that there's nothing wrong with him. Gray is in love with Juvia but denies his feelings for her because he believes himself unworthy of her. He also longs to learn about his past and to find the one who killed his parents and cut his face so he can avenge both.

Meanwhile Natsu is a dashing and heroic guard in the royal court, who enjoys the fairs of London and unlike most people, is very kind to all of the "Undesirables" who reside in the area. One day he and his cat Happy defend Gray from a group of men who harass him but ends up slightly injured in the process. To show his appreciation, Gray takes Natsu to have his injuries treated by Jellal, leading to the two men becoming friends and Happy becoming enamoured with the now adult Carla.

Gray apologizes for getting Natsu into trouble, claiming that's all his face has ever done but Natsu only brushes it off, claiming that he's been through far worse. He then reveals that he's a notorious womanizer but it is only to hide the fact that he is in love with the beautiful and rebellious duchess Lucy. He desires to marry Lucy, but Lucy's half-sister Erza, who became queen after the death of their father, the wretched King Faust, won't allow such a union. Jellal over hearing their conversation, can relate to Natsu's problem, telling Juvia that long ago he too fell in love with a woman of title but it was tragically not meant to be.

At the castle, Queen Erza scolds Lucy for shrinking her duties and acting carelessly. Lucy then replies that their father has kept them both locked up their entire lives and now that he's dead, she wishes to go out and explore the world but Erza believes that Lucy is too naive to be out there on her own and will only permit her sister's request if she first marries a man who can take care of her and keep her safe. Lucy is frustrated by this and wishes to marry for love rather than convenience but Erza forbids it having once fallen for a man of humble birth only for their father to cruelly separate them. Later Natsu visits Lucy and invites her to sneak out with him to the fair in order to cheer her up. Lucy returns Natsu's love but is frustrated with his flirtatious nature and does not believe that he truly loves her at all.

The two sneak off to the fair but they're secretly followed by Mard Geer, a conniving, manipulative, and ruthless agent of the court who is supposedly a trusted advisor to Lucy but is secretly plotting to somehow eliminate Erza so Lucy will replace her as queen and he can rule England through her. The three of them witness Gray and Juvia performing at the fair but during the show, Gray's scarf falls off and everyone is horrified and disgusted by his scars. Natsu and Lucy are only quietly shocked, the others proceed to throw stones and insults at him, but Mard recognizes him. We then learn that years ago, the wealthy but compassionate Lord and Lady Fullbuster went against King Faust when he massacred an entire village of innocents. The couple were then arrested and hanged for treason by Mard who mutilated the face of their young son. Mard quickly realizes that Gray is Lord Fullbuster's son and fears the wrath of Queen Erza should she ever learn he did such an evil thing.

After the show, Lucy catches Natsu flirting with another woman and storms off while Juvia tends to Gray. She pleads with him not to believe what other people say about him. She calls him beautiful and admits her love for him. Touched, Gray holds her, kisses her, and almost confesses his own true feelings but his insecurity gets the better of him. He then tells Juvia that the kiss was only a moment of vulnerability and tells her that he only sees her as a friend. Juvia is hurt by this but accepts his choice. Gray then receives a letter from someone who claims to know Gray and asking them to meet somewhere. Excited by the prospect of finally discovering who he is, Gray goes to meet this person by the bridge. However he's unaware that it was Merd who sent the letter and he intends to kill Gray once he gets him alone.

Gray arrives at the bridge earlier than expected and he meets Lucy who is sulking. She voices her woes to him, he comforts her. Lucy then hears Natsu calling her and gets the idea make him jealous by kissing Gray. This causes Gray to panic and again his scarf falls off, the sight of his scars causes Lucy to scream which leads to Natsu presuming that Gray was trying to rape her. Enraged, he arrests Gray. Lucy tries to explain but Mard convinces her not to, seeing this as an opportunity to take advantage.

In the dudgeon, Mard prepares to execute Gray but is stopped by Erza who wishes to hear his side of the story first. She is moved upon seeing Gray's face and notices that he bears a strong resemblance to Lord Silver Fullbuster. Not wanting the queen to investigate, Mard tells her that the lord's son disappeared the night he and his wife died and that the boy was said to have been mutilated.The queen deduces that Gray is the missing heir to the Fullbuster line and makes him a lord. He is brought to his family's former estate and reunited with their most loyal servant Gildarts and his daughter Cana. Gray starts to remember things but still can't recall the night he lost his parents and was mutilated. Nevertheless, he's happy to have finally discovered who he is and where he belongs.

He goes to thank Erza for her kindness but she replies that she only wants to make amends for her father's cruelty toward him. She even offers him Lucy's hand in marriage, seeing that he is a man of title with a good heart. Gray is flattered but refuses, requesting that he marry Juvia instead, believing himself worthy of her now.

When Gray does not return, Jellal and Carla go to look for him but is captured by Mard who tortures him for information on how Gray has no memory of his past. Jellal is forced to tell him about the potion that makes Gray forget which gives Mard a wicked idea. He then goes back to the fair to steal the potion and a bottle of poison, but not before boasting to Jellal that it was he who scarred Gray and killed his family. Natsu and Juvia catch him, Mard tells them of Gray's new position and that he is going to marry Lucy much to the horror and devastation of the two. He then locks them in the wagon and sets fire to it, the fire spreads through the entire fair, burning it. Luckily, Happy and Carla help Natsu and Juvia escape, though Natsu loses consciousness from inhaling too much smoke. Juvia finds someone to take care of him and has Happy and Carla lead her to where Jellal is being held. She frees him and takes him to be healed alongside Natsu, but spends the night sobbing over apparently losing Gray forever.

Mard returns to the castle and tells Erza that the fair was burned and that both Natsu and Juvia were killed in the fire. She relays these news to Lucy and Gray who are both heartbroken by the loss of their true loves and guilt-ridden for not confessing what was in their hearts. Mard then suggests that they find comfort in this tragedy by marrying each other. Lucy, seeing no point in dreaming of freedom anymore without Natsu, agrees. But Gray just wants to die, refusing to live without Juvia. But Mard offers him the potion which he tweaked to make him forget his life before becoming a lord. Gray takes the potion and forgets all about Jellal, the fair, the night he was scarred, even Juvia. He and Lucy are arranged to be married but unknown to all, Mard intends to poison Erza's drink at the engagement gala and frame Gray for it, leaving Lucy on the throne and to be Mard's puppet.

When Jellal recovers, he tells Juvia about Mard and that he was the man who cut Gray's face. Sensing that her beloved could be in danger, Juvia and Jellal quickly go to the Fullbuster estate to warn him. He is not there, but Gildarts and Cana are, They tell them that he's gone to the engagement gala at the castle but agree to help them sneak in by giving Jellal one of Lord Silver's suits to wear and dressing Juvia in a gown and jewels that belonged to Lady Mika.

At the gala, Lucy spots Mard carrying two bottles, one of Erza's favorite wine and the other of the poison. She asks him about the second bottle and he lies that it is only medicine to help lower the queen's stress. As for Gray, the potion has him in an emotionless daze and he feels that something is missing and can't remember what.

Juvia and Jellal enter the gala, and Gray is awestruck by Juvia's beauty while Erza appears to recognize Jellal and he, her. Juvia tries to find Gray but runs into Mard who tells her that Gray does not know her anymore and threatens to kill him if she ever tries to see him. Juvia attempts to leave but Gray approaches her and asks her for a dance, she cannot resist and as they dance, he instantly falls in love with her all over again. As this goes on, Jellal and Erza slip away to meet in private where it's revealed that they are each other's lost loves. They tearfully embrace and kiss, admitting that they are still in love with one another. Jellal then pleads with Erza not to let Gray and Lucy marry, telling her that he loves Juvia, proves it by pointing out the way Gray looks at her as they dance. This however confuses Erza because Mard told her that Juvia was dead. Jellal then reveals the man's treachery to her.

When their dance is over, Juvia tries to leave again but Gray begs her to stay, desperately wanting to know who she is and why his heart yearns for her. Suddenly Natsu charges into the castle declaring that he cannot allow Lucy to marry Gray, challenging him to a duel. The two men fight, it becomes too much for Juvia's weak heart and she faints. Gray instantly drops everything to catch her, he holds her in his arms, and they kiss which restores all his memories. Overjoyed that Juvia is alive, Gray finally tells her how he has loved her all along and declares the two of them husband and wife. But then he at long last remembers who killed his parents and cut his face. He fingers Mard and Jellal comes in announcing that Mard is also attempting to absurd the crown.Mard calls them both liars but then Lucy speaks up about the bottle of liquid Mard had planned to slip into Erza's wine. Desperate not to be found out, he attempts to stab Lucy only to strike Natsu who shelters her from the blow. Lucy rushes to his side and professes her love for him. Natsu admits his true feelings as well and reveals that she was the only one he ever wanted.

Furious by all the hurt Mard has caused, Gray tries to kill him but he hears the voices of his late mother and father begging him not to do it, for it would only make him the monster that Mard tried to turn him into. So Gray spares him but Erza has him arrested and assures everyone that he will get what he deserves. She then blesses Natsu and Lucy's union after seeing that he was willing to die for her and she chooses Jellal to be her consort. Later Gray and Juvia marry at the re-built fair as do Natsu and Lucy, and they proclaim before all of London:

"I love Lucy!"

“And I love Natsu!”

"I love Juvia!"

"And I love Gray!"

The two couples then leave London to see the world together, taking along Happy, Carla, and their many, many, kittens.

[nagirambles]

Rambling about Fairies - Manga Chapter 176

Okay so once again. Why do we have stairs when 1. Exceeds believe they are a superior magical race and their main magic is Aera, 2. You are considered weak and disgraceful when one-winged or flightless, so 3. Everyone knows how to fly from birth. So, why do we have stairs. So many stairs? Why is this castle, which a human has never stepped foot in, designed for humans?

Like, it makes sense for Shagotte’s eventual reveal, but on the other hand, Shagotte’s eventual reveal to only have one wing feels insignificant because we are only told of how much their pride themselves in their wings at the reveal. Before then, the Exceeds never use their wings on a daily basis. 

Sure the importance of it was that Shagotte is super weak, but I wish the wings itself, which are a crucial point of Happy and Carla’s development in this arc, is emphasized a bit more to tie it all together. 

One thing they could have done to make Shagotte's reveal a bit mor restructured is maybe make the wings more... revelled? Like, maybe its custom for the cats to hide their wings, rather than use them, because they are prideful of it and it's considered crude to use their wings like utilities and transport. The only exception being down on the human country, where they show off their wings just to remind the humans they are below them. So maybe it is considered disrespectful in Extalia to show off your wings before your elders or superiors, and that is why they never show them because the queen doesnt.

So, they should do something like Carla and Happy showing their wings on Extalia in their defiance. Make an emphasis in their time in Extalia to realize the cats frown upon showing your wings every few moments like Happy and Carla usually do in Earthland. It also puts weight into that gorgeous frame of Carla pretending to be the princess to intimidate Knightwalker.

Like, dont mind me, I'm just headcanoning some could-have-beens in the side of world building for the exceeds. As they are, there really isnt much to them except that they have magic and the humans hate/worship them the same way they do the lacrima-- as magic, and not as fellow living beings.

What we got was enough, for what the story is. But I do wonder what could have happened if Edolas had more arcs to develop itself, rather than being a stop-and-go.

[celestialtitania]

This is all I've been waiting for since the Edolas arc. No one has even written about Happy and his parents. Or Carla and her mother.

Did the Exceeds find all the other eggs? Where do they live now? I need to know!

I wish Hiro Mashima would grant us a great finale between Happy and his parents.

[nalufever]

Queen of Gin

A Shalily fic ~ Shagotte x Pantherlily, Fairy Tail fandom - written for @shalilyqueenwrites A small xmas fic gift!

Summary: Dubbed the Queen of Gin by her customers, Shagotte runs her speakeasy during daylight hours as a questionable poetry parlour. Investigated by a stalwart G-man who's got his own secret demons, Shagotte learns to love and trust, saving herself and her new love.

"Why would I look the other way, Miss Shagotte?" Lily rolled his eyes, grimacing as the suspected gin runner fluttered her eyelashes. "Somehow, every night, your gatherings are full of people."

"We're poetry enthusiasts." Shagotte grinned and winked at the irritated face of the attractive G-man. "Arts enrich the soul, doncha know."

"And yet your patrons see fit to enrich your pockets. All from reading poems? I think not." The tall and thickly muscled man shook his head. "You're wetting their lips with hooch, I can't prove it now, but I will soon."

"Dear heart, don't be such a tragic downer!"

"Excuse me?"

Shagotte crossed her arms, a tempting smile on her lips. "Would you prefer I call you sweetheart?"

"I'll have my numbers men nose out your accounts, and then you won't be so chipper." Lily straightened his hat and smoothed the lapels of his double-breasted suit. "Good day, Miss Shagotte."

"Always a pleasure." Shagotte leaned in close to her opponent. "You should smile more, makes you much more attractive." She smirked as Mr. D'Pantheur marched out of her salon in a snit. He was tasty, but the money she earned from selling gin illegally was more important than romancing some uptight government stooge.

><><><><

Miss Shagotte welcomed Friday night's guests with a smile and specially printed poetry booklets. Tonight she'd been given ideas from a certain G-man - and the lyrical poetry was very fresh - and very original.

Shagotte greeted the steady stream of her patrons. "Nice to see you and the missus, Mr. Dragneel! Who's your friend? Glad to see you've returned, Mr. and Mrs. O'Connel! You're in luck, tonight's reading is going to be the talk of the town." Shagotte passed out her freshly minted pamphlets, accepting a new stack from Aaron, one of her best helpers, and then urged him to assist in the kitchen.

"Talk of the town?" Lucy Dragneel tapped Shagotte on the shoulder. "I don't see an author's name on this."

"It's a surprise for later." Shagotte smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Who's your friend, Lucy?"

"I'm a regular blue-stocking, a bibliophile, an aficionado of the written word!" Lucy's friend answered, smiling as she took in the details of the parlour; dozens of rickety chairs ringing small tables - and a podium on a raised dais.

Lucy giggled and flicked the shorter woman in the forehead. "Dizzy dame, she wants your name!"

"Levy McGarden, pleased to meet you!" Levy thrust out her hand - which was accepted and rapidly pumped by Shagotte who smiled wider.

"I'm delighted to find another literature lover. You're gonna want a seat close to the action." Shagotte pointed to the front chairs. "Especially if my special guest shows."

Levy and Lucy exchanged looks of glee. They promised to find Shagotte afterwards to discuss tonight's poetry, moving to claim their seats.

At the scheduled time, Shagotte signaled for the doors to shut and she made her way to the podium. Her bright red high heels thumped at each step, drawing as much attention and admiration for her smart outfit as her smiling freckled face crowned with lustrous pale hair. Making a show of lifting her manuscript, Shagotte greeted the crowd. She made a few opening remarks about the weather and how glad she was to see so many in attendance.

She checked her watch and began to read the first poem, starting with the title: 'Bothersome Boy,' glittering amusement in her eyes and a suppressed smirk on her lips. A ripple of amusement moved around the room, the disturbance feeding Shagotte's satisfaction. She flipped to the next page and with even more passion, began reading 'Ode to Numbers: How a Certain Man Does Not Add Up.'

Reciting the third stanza of the poem, where the 'certain man' was compared in a bad light to a succession of local ne'er do-wells, Shagotte could hear the muffled honking of a bike horn from the street. With even more enthusiasm she read the next stanza. It dealt with the 'certain man's' poor fashion sense; cheap shoes and shiny tie that clashed with his suspenders. Keeping her eyes downcast on her book, Shagotte kept orating the poem. She heard the tread of a late-comer to the soiree and the creak as they settled into a chair. Another ripple of amusement circled the room as the attendees made certain connections between the new arrival and the content of the next poem which was titled 'Gee Whiz G-Man.'

Several more poems were read, with every progressive title drawing more titters of amusement. Shagotte announced an intermission and darted towards her private sitting room. Caught short by a 'certain man's' solid grip on her upper arm.

"Interesting, Miss Shagotte. You had such a good impression of me the other day, complementing my attractive smile. But today you've lambasted my clothes, job, and IQ. I'd be hurt, but I'd have to care about your impression of me for that to happen."

"Don't start off with a lie Mister G-man." Shagotte fluttered her thickly lashed eyes. "I said you would be more attractive if you smiled more." She tried to wrench herself out of Lily's grip and failed, so she glared pointedly at his large hand on her body. So large and capable looking, a bit rough but his warmth felt nice. "Do let go."

"Sorry." His cheeks flushed and he hunched his shoulders. "I've had enough of the stares, can we take this discussion out of the public eye?" Lily removed his hand from Shagotte's arm and looked at it front and back before shoving it into his coat pocket. "Please?"

"Fine," muttered Shagotte. "I'll give you ten minutes." She decided to blame her momentary lapse of judgment on the man's softly spoken plea. That was a weakness she'd work to eradicate later. Giving the watching crown an insouciant wave, Shagotte strutted off to her sanctuary as if taking Lily D'Pantheur there was actually her own idea.

Pouring herself a tall glass of water from a waiting pitcher, Shagotte took a satisfying gulp before offering Lily some. He shook his head and she giggled. "It's water, not gin. As if I'd offer you any rotgut seeing as you're so convinced I'm running hooch at my fine establishment."

"Thanks for bringing up the reason I'm here." Lily strolled around the room; taking a long, hard look at the pale pink upholstered seating, the doily encrusted wooden tables and gilt-covered frames holding brightly coloured art. "I need your help."

"You're crazy, Mister G-man." Shagotte set down her glass and crossed her arms, glaring for all she was worth at Lily. "My help? You've been accusing me of breaking the law and tryin' to shut me down. You need my help?" Angry sparks seemed to shoot from her eyes. "Please." Her chin lifted and her pink cupid's bow mouth flattened into a thin line. "You may leave."

"Not until you hear me out."

"How about you get out?"

"Please." Lily stopped his pacing in front of Shagotte. He bowed his head after removing his hat and holding it over his heart. "There's a new threat in town and I figure you're more good than bad. I see how many kids you're taking care of, you're their mother figure and someone like that can't be all bad."

"Excuse me?" Outrage made Shagotte raise her voice higher than she'd intended - several of her older helpers burst into the sitting room and milled about in as threatening a manner as they could manage.

"Do you need escortin' outside?" The oldest child stomped over to Lily. "Don't make me ask you twice." Miranda settled her hands on her thin hips and let her disgust show. She would have been exceedingly cute except for the jagged scar that covered her left cheek from her jaw to under her ear. With Lily remaining silent, Miranda turned to her boss. "Miss Shagotte, do you want us to give this bum the bum's rush?"

Shagotte held up a hand and shook her head. "He's a bum all right, but I need to hear him out. He's a government goon, yet I'm curious about what he's got to say."

Miranda sighed, as did the other three young adults; Richard, Betty, and Karl. The leader of the group, Miranda pouted but held her tongue.

"I'm not anything near a bum." Lily held up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm a hard working government soldier."

"Just yell if you need us, Miss Shagotte." Miranda and the others filed out of the room.

"More like hardly working government soldier." Shagotte deliberately turned her back to Lily, sauntering towards a credenza covered in books and potted plants. She turned and leaned against the piece of furniture. "What is it you want, Mr. D'Pantheur?"

Lily gulped, the sound loud and surreal in the confines of Shagotte's sitting room. "I want to understand you."

"I do believe you've flipped your lid."

"No." Lily rubbed his forehead. "The new gangs moving in are trouble. I've come to see you're the lesser of two evils."

"Thanksssss." Shagotte drew out the 'es' of her reply. "You sure know how to make a gal feel good about herself."

"Give me a chance and you'll never look back."

"Why should I?"

Lily D'Pantheur dropped his hat and sank to his knees in front of Shagotte. His voice was a soft echo of his former volume. "Because I know you are doing whatever it is you're doing to keep those kids off the street." He looked Shagotte dead in her eyes and smiled. "And if you don't work with me your business is doomed to failure."

Shagotte clenched her hands into fists. "Threatening a woman is a low and disgusting action."

"I'm afraid it's a promise." Lily slowly stood, rising to his full height. "You can work with me to bring down the new threat in the neighbourhood or be smashed with them."

Never slow or foolish, Shagotte took in all the new information given by Mr. G-man. A sour smile on her lips, she thrust out her hand and spoke. "Let's shake on it."

To be continued ^^

[impracticaldemon]

Queen & Captain

by impracticaldemon for Shalily Week 2019, prompts: “Status Quo” & “Safety” fandom:  Fairy Tail pairing: (human) Shagotte x Pantherlily words: 1300     rating:  general (historical/fantasy fluff) [will also be available on FFnet and AO3]

~-----~

Queen and Captain

“Travel papers?”

The guard at the gate looked bored, and Pantherlily saw his eyes flick toward the horizon, and the bright orange-red glow of the setting sun.  The tall former soldier had picked his time with care—no matter how much unrest remained in both the City and the country as a whole, a man who’d spent the day on gate duty in the sun would be hungry and averse to creating work for himself. Hopefully, he’d be disinclined to examine their documents too closely.

“Here.”

“Mm.” The guard scanned the artistically aged parchment with a practised eye, and Lily was glad he’d followed Lady Shagotte’s advice and spilled tea on it the day before.  There was something very normal about tea stains. “Your wife, is she?”

“Yes.”  He managed not to hesitate, this time.  Her (former) Royal Majesty had scolded him just the day before about his reluctance to claim her—on paper!—as his bride.  She’d understood his dilemma, but pointed out that she’d rather be married—on paper!—to him, than dead at the hands of the victorious invaders for the sake of royal etiquette.  There was anonymity, and safety, in being a wife.

The guard smirked.  “Frail little thing.  Try not to break her, big man.”  He gave Lily a friendly poke, and Lily tried not to scowl.  He could tell he failed by the way the other man’s eyes narrowed.  Then again, it would have been suspicious if he’d been happy with the comment.  Or so he hoped.  Acting wasn’t Lily’s strong point.

“…Yeah.”  He shuffled his feet, desperately trying to look more like a big labourer than the former captain of the Queen’s Elite Corps.  The dirt on his hands and face was authentic enough, as was the… odour… Lady Shagotte had insisted on rubbing into the soles of his boots.

[READ MORE BELOW]

There was a long pause while the guard made a show of rereading the documents.  Pantherlily was just starting to get genuinely worried when the man stepped to one side with a shrug and a nod.

“Don’t cause any trouble. We’ll be keeping an eye on you—got it?”

“Got it.”  Pantherlily gestured his ‘wife’ over, and tried to look natural about expecting her to follow him through the gates.  It was killing him not to carry all her things for her, but she’d insisted it would look strange if he did.  With an effort, he quelled the rage in his heart at having to watch her duck her head submissively to the annoying gate guard. Her life was more important than her dignity, as she kept telling him.

“Lily…”

A soft voice recalled him to his surroundings, and he felt heat suffuse his cheeks.  Until a few days ago she’d only ever called him ‘Captain’ or ‘Captain Pantherlily’.  Even if it was just for the sake of their disguise, he found it embarrassing to hear his adored Queen use his unadorned name, and a diminutive at that.  Embarrassing and ridiculously charming—as if he didn’t love her enough already.

“Yes, My Qu—um, I mean, my… my dear?”

There was a gurgle of laughter from beside him.  Two bright eyes peered up at him from between the wide brim of an unfashionable travel hat, and a wide scarf.

“You sound so—so unconvincing, Captain!”  Then she clapped her slender hands over her mouth at her faux pas and glanced around nervously.

“Sorry,” muttered Pantherlily, also casting a wary eye over the people around them.  As far as he could tell, nobody was paying them special attention except to the extent of being cautious of his size.  He made an effort to slow his pace and drag his feet a little.

Lady Shagotte cleared her throat.  “I’m sure it’s fine, dear.  No need to look so uncomfortable just because we’re finally in the big city.”

“As you say, Sh-Shagotte.” Her name wasn’t a problem in and of itself, since many girls had been named after her while she was still a child, and even after she’d taken the throne following her parents’ tragic death. But to use such a familiar form of address—!  It simultaneously lacerated Pantherlily’s sensibilities, and made heat rise to his cheeks.  He was glad his skin was too dark to show any but the deepest blushes.

~-----~

They took a room at a moderately respectable inn, grateful for the chance to wash, even superficially. Pantherlily had already chosen the place as a short-term refuge during the early part of the one-sided war.  Lady Shagotte’s most devious advisor—and where was that irritating man now?—had arranged things so that Pantherlily would be known as a friend of a friend when he arrived.  It was fortunate that the Royal Palace was located in a town over a hundred miles from the City, though.  Otherwise, it would have been too great a risk for him to travel with the Queen, even in disguise.

“You’re frowning again, Lily,” murmured Lady Shagotte, setting a cup of tea in front of him. She’d insisted on learning to make and serve ‘commoner’s tea’.

“My lady—”

“Pantherlily. You promised to try harder.  We’ll never be convincing in public if we don’t practice in private!”

Lily took a sip of tea. It was an effort to drink the bitter, ill-steeped brew, but she had made it for him, and he bore it stoically. Besides, it had improved, and now resembled tea more than ditch-water.

“…I beg your pardon, my—I mean—Shagotte.”

With her hat and gauzy scarf discarded—the door had been firmly locked—Shagotte looked much more herself again.  She was smiling, but her eyes were tired and sad, and Lily longed to hold her and—

“Well, I suppose I am your Shagotte at the moment.”

“Ah—er.”  Her words had been light, but it had been impossible—even for him—to miss the hint of underlying sincerity, or maybe hopefulness.

They stared at each other, expressions mirroring the same rush of longing, uncertainty, and  deep loneliness.  Old habits and rigid principles vied with human need for love and consolation.

Shagotte cleared her throat and looked down, eyes once more veiled by long, near-white lashes.  “Captain, I—”

Her words were abruptly muffled as Lily pulled her across the short distance into his lap, and pressed her tightly against his solid chest.  Large, capable hands stroked her back, and caressed her damp, tangled hair. He was very strong, but she was the most precious being in the world to him, and his touch communicated both love and desire—he would never hurt her, even by accident.  The gate guard had risked his life by implying otherwise.  

“My Queen…  Let’s just pretend… for a while…”  He pressed his lips to her forehead, marvelling at how warm and supple she was, despite the superficial frailty that had caused such anxiety to her court officials.  They had not understood her brilliance and strength, and their fear had led to disaster.

“…Mmm… Lily…” Shagotte leaned away from him a little, just enough so that she could glimpse his face.  “Let’s—let’s stop pretending for a while.  Shall I tell you how I really feel about you?”

“No—I don’t know if I could go back to… how it must be… if you did that.”

In response, Shagotte wrapped her arms around Lily’s neck, and pulled his face down to hers.  Her beautiful eyes were brighter than ever before.

“Then I’ll show you, dear captain, dear Lily, so that you’ll never forget.”  She whispered the words against his lips, before kissing him as passionately as innocence and inexperience would allow.

“My Queen…”  Minutes passed, and when they finally needed air, Lily corrected himself, murmuring the words into her ear, while his sword-worn hands explored her soft skin:  “Shagotte, my dearest, only love…”

[END]

Likes, comments, reblogs are all appreciated!  ~ Imp

[ships-inside-your-head]

“I love you”

@shalilyweek

"I love you ..." he murmured softly, every word accompanied by a gentle kiss to her temple. He had to be careful as to not wake her, she generally did not get much sleep as a queen, but he could not help it. Instead, he could only watch over her, confide in her the secrets he was not ready to tell her if she were awake. Pantherlily still had some time before he would bring those words to his lips when she was not sleeping and lying in his arms.

He preferred to keep watch that no one had followed them and watched her sleep, rather than confess. That her sleep was anything but peaceful was clear to him as soon as she fell into Morpheus's arms, but he could do nothing except wait until the morning dawned and they had to move on to shake off her pursuers.

He wanted to be angry for her on her behalf, he really wanted to, for all the treachery she had experienced several hours ago, when a group of rebels invaded the castle and seized power by a coup attempt.

His beloved queen had seen her younger sister, Alisha, get murdered cold-hearted by slitting her throat after she had already given up and submitted. The girl had never been violent, so her death was all the more cruel and ironic.

Her screams ... he could never forget those screams, he did not want to, because he would stick to those memories, make himself strong, so that Queen Shagotte would use him as a shield, a sword, a friend, whatever she needed him as. He did not care what was happening to him, she was the only important thing in the world and if he died for her ... he would do it - without hesitation.

Today, however, he could only hold the devastated woman in his arms, warm her and hope that the next day would dawn. Hope her pain would fade.

"I love you ..." he breathed again, a kiss on her head this time. "I'll take care of you ... just the two of us against the rest of the world."

He did not allow himself to sleep.

[pan-princess-levy]

What's your favorite minor character in Fairy Tail?

send me “what’s your favorite..” asks 💫 !

does levy count

oh, here we start

first off, i love shagotte, the queen of the exceeds

also, the ex-oracion seis/crime sorciere, especially sorano and erik

i love the lamia scale guild a lot, but sherry really interests me, especially her very likely trauma about the nirvana thing

and the dragon parents! and acnologia! i want to know every possible bit of knowledge about them all

more information about the spriggan 12 is very appreciated as well

[arkus-rhapsode]

My Rubengard Arc

So this is another of my original arc ideas and it is one based on the fact that while looking over my Pergrande arc, I realized that things like Happy and Carla’s parents might not get enough time for it to be impactful and I was also reminded just how shitty my idea of how long it would take to get from one side of the continent to another. I actually wanted to work on this after remembering a little something on Tenrou Island. So here we go with another Rhapsode original Fairy Tail arc

So after all of the revolutionaries had taken over Pergrande and many of the Pergrande wealth realized just how shitty life outside the capital and are now working with the new king, Dan Straight, to reform the kingdom.

Natsu is really happy to be heading home because it’s really close to the S-Class trials, but Mystogan explains that getting home may take a few days.

Natsu is of course mopey about that and Coco offers to take them all back in a airship. And a few exceeds wish to come along to help man the airship.

In the ship is Natsu, Mystogan, Happy, Carla, Wendy, Gajeel, Pantherlily, Shagotte, Coco, Lucky, Kurubushi, Nadi, and Salberay.

While departing we see another Exceed in a cloak board the air ship

While on the hip Natsu mentions to Mystogan how he had met Jellal and Mystogan is a bit curious about him and they discuss it for a while.

Carla also feels weirded out by Shagotte constantly looking at her, but Wendy says never mind, but Carla decides to walk up and ask Shagotte about the precognitive sense she has and Shagotte stumbles over her words saying that it’s kinda like Aera and all Exceeds could use it

Gajeel is happy about his new cat,but Panterlily keeps having this sense of unease about permanently staying with Gajeel.

When Kurubushi goes to check the engine room, he meets the cloaked Exceed and the Exceed reveals himself to be Samuel (Yes I know another filler character)

Kurubushi says that he’ll have to report this, but then Samuel reveals he has a battle mode he kicks Kurubushi away and then starts destroying the engine

Coco then panics people by revealing that they’re losing altitude. Natsu and Lily try to attack Samuel, but eventually Natsu gets called back to his flames to help support the ship up with Lily holding him in air

Samuel escapes and the ship crashes into an unknown forest, Wendy commenting on how odd it was that they fell so fast to hit the ground. Mystogan also finds it strange.

Natsu says they need to find Samuel and Mystogan agrees, but the ship needs to be fixed.

The Exceeds say they now about the inner workings of these ships after being enslaved to Pergrande for so long. Gajeel with Iron being his specialty will help. Wendy will stay to heal anybody injured.

So Natsu and Mystogan start walking wonder where they even are. It then cuts to a pagoda tower in a place called Rubengard where Bluenote Stinger is sitting in a chair and holding one of the “keys” to Zeref. (Yeah this might need a bit of explaining but the whole “keys to Zeref, but turns out there was no key at all” is a twist that pisses me off and makes actions of Ultear aligning with Jellal seem more pointless, so in my rewrite the keys are atually an advanced magic item that detects black magic. Due to Zeref being known as the black wizard and many myth about him using black magic, by assembling about 3 of these devices that have almost all been wiped out, they can isolate where the the highest concentration of black magic in the world is. and that is likely where Zeref is)

Bluenote states that his underlings did good and we meet another guild under Grimoire Heart called “Phoenix Graveyard” (Which is the name of an actual legal guild in the series, but I was like “ehh fits better for a dark guild”)

It’s master is Cappuccino (This guy from Ice Trail)

And his two big goons Milk Boy (Also from Ice Trail)

And Wan Chanzi (Yes I know he was a minor member of FT, but he does nothing in the series and exists to be a shout out to Mashima’s assistant Bobby Osawa, who even mashima jokes that he looks like a low rank Yakuza)

The three basically say that the city has been under their thumb enough that they could access the magic archive here.

Bluenote states that he doesn’t care and that Cappuccino can keep the city as their own because with the key he needs nothing more.

Cappuccino says if this will be a problem and turns to face the mayor of the town, Mikuni Shin. (Yes I know another irrelevant side character that I’ve repurposed. He has little magic, but is the mayor of Rubengard and yes cities have mayors in this universe because magnolia has one that is canon)

Mikuni sits on his butt listening to Cappuccino gloating about how he'll make Grimoire Heart proud. And with his whole guild in the city then they have their own personal land. Mikuni just sweats and says he won't interfere. And Cappuccino and his men walk out

Cut to Natsu and Mystogan and he hears the sound of a river and says they might be near the edge of the forest 

When Natsu runs up to the stream but then falls off a cliff. Not only that but the stream is floating in midair. Natsu latches on the side of thecliff edge and says he can’t see the bottom of the mountain

Natsu uses his flames to jump off the mountain side and over the floating river to another piece of land on the other side.

Mystogan jumps over too and he is puzzled for a bit but remembers what happened with the ship crashing way too early and says that this is because they must be in Midi, a country that levitates in the air

Natsu is curious how that is possible but then the two are ambushed by a smoke bomb and a girl named Sonnet (from the Laxus manga, but she’s youger in this version about 14-15)

Sonnet requips a blade after knocking Natsu over and says she’ll stop these evil dark mages, but Mystogan stops her revealing that they are from Fairy Tail

When she asks about why their here they reveal they crashed their ship. Sonnet is asked why she thought they were dark mages and yes said they came out of the forest very conspicuously and jumped at her chance to be a hero

But they all walk to her home city, Sonnet questions if they are here to take work from her country and Mystogan says no. Natsu wants to know why the country and everything is floating and Sonnet explains that there’s a unique type of magic inside the sediment it and pushes the country into the air, things like the River had carried bits of the sediment inside it which cause it to float.

Sonnet says that they are in Rubengard and Mystogan is taken back by her saying that.

Natsu of course is oblivious and Sonnet states the Rubengard was the site of one of the most definitive battles in Midi’s history. Natsu still doesn’t get it.

Cut back to the ship and Happy offers to help Lucky, Kurubushi, and Salberay fix the engine. Lucky tells Happy to buzz off and that he doesn’t to risk the ships specs being messed up some brat with no experience.

Happy fly off in a huff saying he should’v gone with Natsu. Salberay tells Lucky that what he said was a bit harsh and Lucky just brushes it off.

Shagotte and Nadi are checking all the lacrima and Shagotte says that she isn’t getting any visions yet so it’s pointless to wait for an answer where to go. Carla just is surprised that for someone who everyone calls Queen she seems to want to work with her hands. Wendy speculating it might have to do with guilt over letting her people be enslaved

Pantherlily ponders about Samuel and why would an exceed turn on his race.

Back with Cappuccino, he is enjoying the free range he has, but Samuel then enters the room. Samuel says he's here to make a deal. Wan wonders why no guards stopped Samuel. Samuel just saying that they need better guards showing he killed them.

Cappuccino asks what he wants and Samuel reveals that Fairy Tail is on this country and he wants them eliminated because of their involvement in Pergrande, an empire was overthrown.

Cappuccino realizes that Fairy Tail is the guild that beat Deaths Head (Another guild under grimoire heart) and Pergrande did help build the Grimoire Heart airship so beating FT and the exceeds that gave a ton of hope to the revolutionaries that killing them would give them brownie points with Grimoire Heart. Cappuccino revealing that Phoenix Graveyard had integrated themselves into Rubengard’s society over three years, taking over all the shops and trade posts (Mikuni listens to this from a hall over and remembers being told by Cappuccino that he’s the new boss)

Samuel says that with them taking out Natsu and Mystogan, he’ll kill the exceed queen and the others (Knowing that all the DS and Mystogan would be too strong for him)

Cappuccino tells Mikuni to go down to the FT guys and welcome them, then take to the bar where he’ll have one of his guys slip them sum poison. Then they’ll dress it up as them trying to strong arm Mikuni into giving them work, but refusing and they attacked, Mikuni stabbing them to death (The stab will be added after they drank their poison)

Mikuni will be able to make it believable with him being mayor and being a former soldier who fought with San Jiao Shin, it’ll look authentic.

We cut to see Mystogan and Natsu enter town with Sonnet and are surprised by the geography (with the residential homes being on islands that are elevating above the mainland and are connected via a long staircase. The mainland then holding all the shops and the city mayor’s temple)

Natsu notices in the center of the city there’s a statue and Sonnet reveals that the statue is of the hero of Rubengard, San Jiao Shin.

Sonnet tells them the story of San Jiao Shin and how it was because of him that Midi stayed the way it is. See, 17 years ago there was a guild in the northern part of Midi called Halad there was a guild called Herculean Strength and it was the strongest guild in the country with most of the powerful mages.

But then one day all the members were slaughtered and burned to death by a single mage. Thanks to that there was a huge upset in how people perceived Midi and thought of them as weak.

Eventually there was an amassing of several dark mages and bandits ready to overthrow the entire kingdom (with Midi being the smallest country in Ishgar it has very little military strength)

They were preparing on their first target being Rubengard the storage area for most of the magic items in Midi, but San Jiao Shin stood with only his Guan Dao and a small gathering of civilians armed with also nothing and he took and this small army of dark mages. Even with their magic, he has been training to the point his strength and speed were superhuman

Thanks to San Jiao Shin, an entire revolution was stopped dead in its tracks and the king of Midi, gave he the medal of honor and the title of mayor/leader of the city of Rubengard

He then vanished one day in x781, and many believe he went off to seek adventure. Sonnet ends her story staying she wants to be a hero like him one day.

Sonnet questions if being a hero is why Natsu joined the FT guild, Natsu says he never thought about being a hero, but her does say he wouldn’t want to watch someone suffer. But he doesn’t think that makes him a hero

Mikuni then walks up, introducing himself and saying that they are mages from Fiore and he’d like to help them, but first offer them drinks

Mystogan and Natsu then note something odd, they didn’t show him their guild marks and Sonnet didn’t introduce them as FT mages.

When he takes them to a shop with Mikuni asks Sonnet to stay outside, saying her mother wouldn’t like Sonnet walking into a bar so young

While in the bar Mystogan picks up a newspaper while Mikuni walks up to the bar manager.

Mystogan reading the paper sees that “Pergrande’s revolution and entering the magic council system” is all over, but notices it doesn’t have any mentions of outside help and Mystogan speculates its possible that te government is keeping it under wraps because of them being from Fiore

When Mikuni returns, Mystogan asks why is he so interested in being nice to them and Mikuni says its just Rubengard hospitality. Mystogan then asks how did he become mayor if San Jiao Shin was the former head

Mikuni mutters saying he fought along San, Mystogan asks about Rubengard and he asks about the magic archive and Mikuni explains its what they are were known for before San Jiao Shin and it was a facility built into the ground of this floating island, but as he talks he falls asleep and it’s due to mystogan’s sleep spell. (Which all of the people start falling for)

Mystogan tells Natsu to check the managers person, and he finds a phoenix graveyard guild mark

The two leave asking Sonnet if there is a place they can lay low for a bit and she says at her mother’s

it cuts to the exceeds are close to repairing the the ship and wonder where the other two are, but then samuel shows up.

Before fighting Panter Lily questions why he’s fighting. Samuel says he was raised to take Pantherlily’s position

Lucky hears this and starts screaming about how all exceed eggs were accounted for and those who were brave like Marl to try and leave Pergrande with their eggs all escaped

Happy is curious about who this Marl is who Lucky name dropped

Samuel says his heretic parents got what they deserved and were killed for betraying the king’s generosity to let them live in Pergrande

Lily flies at them ready to attack and thy fight for a bit. Gajeel wants to join by all the injuries hes had and the work he’s done for the ship have taken a lot out of him

The fight between Lily and Samue is tough, but ultimately Samuel knocks away Lily

Happy tries to fight back and save Lucky, but only irritates Samuel. Eventually Samuel looks ready to kill Happy, Lucky cries for Samuel to spare Happy because he’s his son

We get a flashback of what happened when some exceed tried to flee with their children and it shows that Samuel’s parents were shot down and Samuel’s egg was recovered by the Pergrande army and Faust wanted a loyal exceed to serve him

In the present Wendy tries to save the exceed, but Samuel counters with an unknown magic blast

It cuts away to Cappuccino who has Wan start beating Mikuni for failing their plan. He tells Wan  and Milkboy to go out and lure them out with a hostage and kill them. Mikuni becomes the hostage.

Cut to Mystogan and Natsu who ask Sonnet’s mother what the hell is going on around here. She explains that Cappuccino’s Phoenix Graveyard first started taking over businesses and then finally had the city in their back pocket. Sonnet yells why she wasn’t told this and her mother says she knows how Sonnet’s drive to be a hero like San Jiao Shin would end with her getting killed by her own stupidity

Mystogan asks why they haven’t contacted the army of Midi yet and it turns Phoenix Graveyard guild had taken every communication Lacrima and have control of the letter office and monitor any communication

Mystogan says that if there is magic archive holding all forms of magic items, then there is likely a communication lacrima, but Sonnet’s mother says that Phoenix Graveyard probably controls the it and Mystogan says he’ll deal with it.

Then Wan and Milkboy parade out Mikuni all bound up and Natsu says he’ll help Mikuni and Mystogan can handle calling the army

When they run out, Sonnet wants to go and tells her mother she will be a hero

The two see Natsu coming and Milkboy goes to fight Natsu and he’s able to land a few shots, but Natsu pushes him back and shatters his milk bottle.

This causes Milkboy to show his real magic: Gluttony magic which allows him to devour anything.

Even Natsu’s fire is edible (Though it does burn his mouth) Eventually he looks ready to eat Natsu alive, but Sonnet shows up using a sword and stabs Milkboy, causing him to free Natsu and gives them a chance to finish off Milkboy

It cuts to Mystogan who’s in thee archive and has knocked out all the dark mages with his sleep spell and finds a communication lacrima and Mystogan calls the king of Midi. He tells him the situation and tries to convince him to get here

Cut to Natsu and Sonnet ready to take on Wan, but Wan knows that Natsu is too strong for him, so he busts out this odd vial

Inside the vial is an odd holder magic called slime magic and this slime tries to attack Natsu and Sonnet

Sonnet runs up and throws her blade at Wan, but he dodges it, but finds out it wasn’t aimed him, but actually Mikuni.

Mikuni is freed and Sonnet figures that Mikuni will beat up Wan and then the slime will retreat,  but Mikuni runs away

Wan send the Slime at them and Natsu is able to beat in the slime, but then it starts acting erratic and catches fire

Natsu tries to eat the flame, but can’t handle the slime itself

Wan thinks he won, but Mystogan shows up and destroys the Slime, and knocks out Wan

It then cuts away to Samuel’s battle and Samuel’s Claws glow and releases a tornado and Wendy says that she can’t eat this wind for some reason

Lily asks how Samuel has this power and Samuel was made to be a warrior for his king, and he was implanted with a lacrima that fused fire and wind magic together to create a magic he calls Claw Storm

Wendy says that Pergrande is horrible, but Samuel says that Pergrande couldn’t allow the magic council to have a bureau magic development

Gajeel gets in the fight even with his injuries and is able to beat back samuel for a bit, but Lily gets in and the to work together to defeat Samuel

It ends with Samuel on the ground and just saying he’s a warrior for his king, like lily is for his queen. But Lily says that he’s more than just a warrior for his royality, he’s found something more and someone else that he’ll fight beside, not as their knight, but as their partner

Samuel shrinks to his normal form and the get some cuffs on Samuel

It cuts to Cappuccino on a communication lacrima and sees all that his men are defeated so hes now calling Bluenote, begging for assistance to clean up the mess.

Bluenote says he doesn’t care, they got their “Key” and left  Rubengard for him the deal with

Cappuccino is then surprised when Mikuni walks in. Cappuccino tells Mikuni to help him get out of her and avoid anything getting traced to him.

Mikuni punches Cappuccino saying that he never realized how small cappuccino was when he didn’t have his thugs behind him and starts beating on Cappuccino

It cuts to the streets where Natsu and Mystogan are mt by a massive arm of Midi soldiers and they question what’s going on

Mikuni walks out with the unconscious Cappuccino and says he’s ready to be punished for letting this all slide, but now the soldiers will interrogate and check everyone to see who’s a Phoenix Graveyard member and Mikuni says he can help identify some of the hidden members

The the army asks about the two FT mages and they show them the crashed airship. (They also turn over Samuel when Mikuni says that they worked with Cappuccino)

Coco explains everything and everyone is shocked about their involvement and they will let them go

Sonnet and Natsu say goodbye and the Shagotte reveals she is Carla’s mother

They fly back to Fiore with Mystogan telling Natsu to be rady for punishment

Cuts Bluenote is on a communication lacrima asking if Zancrow got a key and he does though he burned down everything (This i’m keeping if I don’t include this arc)

Bluenote says he got a “Key” from Midi and Zancrow says he hated that place as he’s surrounded by flames

END

So yeah this is another original arc of mine and I really appreciate any feedback, thanks.

[juviarainworld]

Fairy Tail aesthetics : Shagotte , Queen of Extalia

Status: Requested @indayiashow

Tag squad: @gruvia-for-life @erza-scarletx765 @animoozies @fairyfree2fly @christinelucka @leashykitty-chan @its-raining-stars

//Im sorry for being so late! I hope you like it, please let me know!//

[lazy-stitch]

Briny Dregs

It was supposed to be another quiet summer, this time working with two of her best friends... but Levy finds out that regulars at a coffee shop are different than regulars at a library. (A GaLe/Gajevy coffee shop au)

Rated: T Disclaimer: I don’t own Fairy Tail. Trigger warning: Not the usual coffee shop au.  And two mild descriptions of anxiety attacks.

There was something pretty nice about working in a coffee shop, Levy mused.  While she never drank coffee because she could always taste the heady bean flavor, she did love the smell of it.  It was a nice way to start her summer days, smelling coffee being brewed and greeting Extalia’s regulars.  In the school year, she knew Extalia got far more customers since it was relatively close to both the high school and Magnolia’s community college, but customers never ran dry even in the summer.  Adults always had work, and there were some students with summer classes.  Besides, Extalia’s main draw wasn’t the coffee - it was the baked goods. Shagotte Faust, the owner, was the queen of the kitchen.  Breads, muffins, brownies, mini pies, crepes… whatever people craved, Shagotte could bake it, and she could bake it well.  Levy was more than happy to buy herself treats sometimes (and take home any unsold leftovers if she was on the closing shift).

With the promise of astounding baked goods, coffee, free Wifi (with a purchase, mind you), and its good location in Magnolia, there was no way Extalia would ever run out of customers.  It also never ran out of people willing to work there. Young people were especially attracted to the work, and Shagotte liked giving them the chance.  Levy had been roped into applying by her childhood best friends, Jet and Droy.  Normally, she’d work at the Crocus library, Crocus University library, or Magnolia library, but when Jet and Droy asked, she couldn’t really say no.  It wasn’t like she’d make any less with Shagotte, and she’d be able to spend time with her friends that she didn't get to see often anymore.

Jet and Droy had been working for Shagotte every summer for four years in a row.  Droy was immensely useful in the kitchen, and Jet could somehow apply his quick running speed to making coffee.  Plus, they could easily switch roles because Jet could follow a recipe and Droy could make a mean expresso. They could pick and choose when their shifts were, and their good word to Shagotte certainly didn't hinder Levy’s exemplary resume when she applied.  Levy wasn’t exactly cut out for working at the coffee shop, though.  She was a bit clumsy sometimes, and that was why she was given cash register duty more often than not.  She was terrible in the kitchen, even following recipes with Shagotte looking over her shoulder.  Her tendency to daydream when something snagged her attention also kept her out of making drinks because she’d accidentally let cups overfill more than once.  Honestly, Levy felt very lucky to not have been fired already, but Shagotte just took the small expenses from her paycheck and left it at that.  Everything had been exactly how she’d thought it’d go (hell, it went better because she was still working at Extalia)… except…

Her eyes flickered from the customer at the front of the line to the man three people behind them.  He had a knack for appearing during Levy’s shift, and he was even better at showing up in Extalia during the morning rush line.  He was tall, and he was handsome.  His dark clothing always looked good on him, fitting in all of the right places.  He ran a hand through his dark hair, pulling it away from his sharp facial features.  There was something about him that drew in people’s gazes, and a hint of danger kept them reeled in.  Currently, he was wearing a slight frown, staring down at the screen of his iPhone.

“A large Americano, got it.” Levy said, stealing her eyes away from the man in the middle of the line of customers.  She rang up the drink then turned to Jet, who nodded very seriously and locked gazes with her.  So, he’d noticed the man, too.  Levy almost wanted to laugh.  Of course Jet noticed him.  It was hard not to, honestly.  Jet winked at her with a half smile before he turned to make the Americano.  After giving change to the customer and signaling them to wait at the side counter, Levy accidentally met the gaze of the tall man. She flushed and looked down, heart racing.  She was such a fool.

“A slice of coffee cake and a medium dark chocolate mocha. Anything else?”

Levy could feel his dark eyes on her as she left the cash register to retrieve the cake from the glass counter.  Her fingers trembled a bit unconsciously as her heartbeat picked up even more.  Levy clenched her teeth, breathing quickly through her nose as she concentrated on getting a slice of cake and not dropping it on the ground.  It wouldn’t be the first time, and certainly not the first in front of the man.  A thin sheet of ice seemed to be growing over her shoulders, swooping slowly around to envelope her neck and slow her breathing to sharp bursts.  Her chest hurt in ways she didn’t know were possible before this summer.  Levy pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, and, when she accidentally met the eyes of the tall man, again, over the coffee cake, bit down hard. Why was he already here?  He was early today.  Extalia had only been open for a half hour, and he usually showed up forty-five minutes in.  That was when the normal morning crowd was, anyway, not that six people in line was a real crowd.  But he was here already and that was unnerving and he really shouldn’t be there, smiling at her and making the butterflies in her stomach multiply to the point where she felt like she was going to be sick and…

A hand on the middle of her back made Levy jump. She squeaked a little bit, but thankfully did not drop the slice of cake from the plate she’d somehow gotten it on in the middle of her thoughts.

“Looks like we need to tell Droy and Shagotte to make more coffee cake, huh?” Jet’s voice was soft, and the look he gave her was softer yet. He grounded her thoughts spiraling out of control even though she loathed needing it.

“Yeah.  You mind doing it?  I’m-I’m okay.  I was just thinking about a book I read last night.” Levy smiled at him, both knowing she was lying though her teeth.  Jet’s eyebrows knit together and his lips puckered slightly, but he nodded and headed to the back room anyway.  Levy straightened herself, eyes on the slice of cake as she walked back to the register.

“Sorry about that!”  She said, putting on her best retail worker smile.  The older woman gave her a gentle one in return, shrugging it off with a, “It’s no problem, dear.”

“A’right, I need six small black coffees, stat.  I’m already runnin’ late without having to do a stupid coffee run.” The next customer groused, looking down his nose at Levy.  She said nothing, just ringing him up before turning around to the coffee machines. Jet had just started working on the dark chocolate mocha, but he’d need help with six drinks in one order regardless. Levy knew when the irritated man joined the old woman by the side counter because the air around her got heavier. She could feel the weight of the man’s gaze on her back, making her shoulders subconsciously curl inwards.

“That last one was six black coffees, right?” Jet asked as Levy joined him.  She made a noise of agreement, pulling six small cups off of the holders.  She started pouring the first one, eyebrows slanting downwards over her eyes.  The tall man wasn’t going to affect her.  She wasn’t going to allow his stupid smug face to affect her in any way. Concentrating solely on pouring coffee and slapping on the lids, the next few minutes passed much too quickly for Levy.  She didn’t want to pass on the drinks to the irritated businessman because that meant her resolve would be tested.

You’re prettier when you smile.

The memory made Levy bite the inside of her lower lip, willing herself not to smile.  Levy knew she was a bubbly person when she wasn’t feeling shy.  She liked smiling.  Even when she didn’t mean to smile, she usually did to help alleviate awkward situations.  But this man… he didn’t deserve that.  Levy felt tainted when she smiled around him.

“Hello there, Peaberry.” He smiled roguishly at her.  Levy figured his smile, all straight white teeth, could be blinding to some, but she preferred the snaggletooth grin of someone else.

“What would you like to order?” Levy asked, not meeting his expectant gaze or reacting to his greeting.  From someone else, nicknames were endearing, but from this man… it made her skin crawl.  Jet’s presence, leaning against the counter with the coffee machines, gave her courage.  Levy was startled when she heard the back door open and Droy walked out, bearing a platter of banana bread.  He was whistling some sort of tune, and even after putting the loaf on display, stayed behind the counter instead of returning to the kitchen.  The both of them being there, and the fact they weren’t actively butting in, made her sense of dread fade a little bit.  Jet and Droy had eventually learned she could fight her own battles, but it was nice knowing they always had her back.  She had allies if something ever got messy.  Not that Levy thought Shagotte wouldn’t be on her side, just… she’d known Jet and Droy since she and Jet were five and Droy was six.  They provided comfort few others could give her.

“Aww, don’t be like that, Peaberry!  We’re friends, aren’t we?” His saccharine voice didn’t match the intimidating aura he had.  Levy sucked in a sharp breath, mentally cursing herself for keeping her hands on the counter instead of literally anywhere else.  The man reached forward, patting the back of her hand twice, lingering for a fraction of a second too long after the second pat before pulling back.

“Ah well, there is a line here.  It’d be just terrible of me to hold it up.  Hmmm…  today, I think I’ll get a blueberry muffin and… a salted caramel frappuccino.”

He definitely thought he was doing Levy a favor, and it made her sick to her stomach.  Levy didn’t respond to him, turning to get the blueberry muffin only to almost run into Droy.  Droy smiled at her, holding up the requested blueberry muffin on a plate.  Jet was already working on the drink order with quick hands.

Even after ringing the man up and giving him his muffin, he wasn’t out of Levy’s hair.  He leaned casually on the side counter, trying to strike up a conversation.

“You know, after I saw you eating one of these delicacies, I thought to myself, ‘Bora, you just have to try that muffin!’ I know everything here is delicious, but I want to find the best treat.  I think I’ve found it, if I do say so myself.” The man was always dropping his name, probably in hope to hear Levy say it. She vowed never to say it or to even think it.  It’d mean he’d won something if she remembered his name. So, she always pushed it out of her mind as she casually ignored him.  Levy could get away with ignoring him since he was only around when there was a line keeping her busy, but she assumed he showed up then so she couldn’t go to the kitchen “for a few things."  She’d done that once, letting Droy take his order, and he’d shown up in the middle of a line ever since.

His presence seemed to choke her even when he got his drink and sat down.  He always chose a little table far enough from the counter to not seem creepy, but he was always watching her.  Levy didn’t like leaving the register even when he stared relentlessly because she didn’t want to appear weak.  There were so many things that made her look weak, and she knew that.  So she wanted to prove that she was strong.  If she could bear him for the fifteen or so minutes he was there, she told herself she wasn’t weak.  She had endured him, and she could be proud of herself.  But some days, when she was feeling particularly lonely or just off her game, she had to escape to the back kitchen to talk with Shagotte and whichever one of her boys was helping Shagotte bake.  It felt horrible, like a retreat, but she just couldn’t take the weight of his gaze on bad days.

After the line had dissolved, Levy pulled the barstool out from beneath the counter and sat down, pulling her phone from her pocket.  Shagotte was pretty lenient on phones as long as the volume was low and they weren’t on for too long since an employee on a phone seemed unapproachable to some people (Levy understood that since she felt bad interrupting someone who was looking at something).  Looking at her notifications, her sour mood lifted and her shoulders uncurled. Unlocking her screen, she tapped at the message, positively glowing when she saw the image she’d been sent.

“These two assholes somehow unlocked the damn cabinet, found the catnip, and got so high they passed out.” The text read beneath the image of two cats, a very large, very fluffy silver Maine Coon and a smaller Russian Blue, curled up together.  Her phone buzzed alive with a new message of, “How do fucking cats figure out child locks???”

“What’s making you smile like that?”

Levy jumped, phone tumbling to the floor.  She’d been so close to laughing in his presence and hadn’t even realized it.  Immediately, her face flushed, and she scrambled off the bar stool to get her phone from the ground.  She wasn’t scared that it had cracked since she’d bought a heavy-duty case, but she felt the need to move away from the man leaning over the counter and into her personal bubble.  Levy shoved her phone back into her apron pocket, blinking rapidly. She could tell the man it was a message from her boyfriend, but then he’d want proof or something.  He could carry the conversation, keep her talking and expressing emotions. 

“I was—it was a funny picture on the Internet.” She scrambled for something safe, something that he couldn’t extrapolate on.  It was hard because naming a site, especially a social media one, was taboo.  He’d suggest being friends with her on the site then. Levy hadn’t touched Twitter ever since he’d followed her on there.  She also couldn’t name an online news source since he could dig into what she read (“Aren’t politics these days just a disaster?  That newspaper is so biased, you should try this one instead.”).

“Oh really?  What website?  I might—“

“Hey, you mind going to the back and getting some more cups, Levy?  You know it’s hard for me to get down to the bottom shelves with my knees.” Jet casually interrupted the man, coming up to Levy’s side.  He was lying because his knees were fine, but it was a believable lie since Jet was tall.

“Y-yeah, no problem.” Shame burned furiously on Levy’s cheeks and she turned tail and went into the storage room.  She wasn’t mad at Jet, no.  She would’ve done the same had he been in the same situation. It just made her feel… like she couldn’t handle this man.  And she wanted to prove so desperately that she could.  That her friends didn’t need to worry about her because he didn’t bother her that much.

Once the storage room door closed behind her, Levy leaned against it and slid down to the floor, frustrated tears making pin pricks at her eyes.  She felt pathetic.  Only forty, forty-five minutes into her shift, and she already was crying in the storage room.  Plus, she had to be saved by Jet because she’d been floundering, unable to handle that man. Bile rose in her throat as she tried to hold back her heavy heart and heavier tears.  Her phone started vibrating, but she barely noticed it.

“You’re just being stupid, Levy, he’s just some stupid guy… he-he’s got nothing over you…” Levy whispered, blinking rapidly to keep her tears from falling.  It was the same thing she told herself, looking at a screen with Twitter, before she closed out of the website without doing anything.  Even to her, her words felt hollow and meaningless now. Sniffing, Levy ducked her head into her knees that were pulled up to her chest.  Maybe if she spent the remainder of her shift in here, she’d finally be fired like she should’ve been ages ago after her fourth ruined coffee… or second dropped sweet… or third burnt batch of cookies… or… Levy grit her teeth, unable to think with her phone buzzing madly near her face.  She’d been able to ignore it before, but with such a close proximity now, it was impossible.  Sneering, Levy pulled her phone from her apron pocket, ready to throw it against the wall in frustration before she saw the name on caller I.D.  Straightening slightly so she could lean her head against the storage room door, she swiped right and answered the call.

“Yer on speaker phone.  Oi, Shrimp, how do ya ignore all those cat pics an’ comedy gold, huh?  I mean I know yer at work, but—“

“Shove off, Metal Face, and get to the point already!” A second voice interrupted him, slightly muffled.

“I’m gettin' there ya fuckin' piece o’ flamin' shit—“

“Happy could be dead and all you’re doing is flirting!”

“He is not fuckin’ dead, yer just bein’ an overdramatic asshole!”

Levy gave a shaky laugh at that, rolling her eyes.

“Pot calling the kettle black, Gajeel.” She said softly, feeling warmer the more he spoke.  She could imagine Gajeel holding Natsu away from his phone, the both of them wrestling somewhere.  Probably the floor in their living room.

“Aww, whatever, Pipsqueak, ya know ya love me.”

Levy sniffed again, nodding despite knowing he couldn’t see her.  Boy did she love this big, overgrown dork.  She’d met him in her first semester of college and hadn’t been the same since.  Gajeel Redfox was a very odd person, but he was full of love, especially for her. And they both knew it.  It was hard not to, seeing how he was a lovesick fool around her.  Not that she was any different, mind you.  Hearing Gajeel now in her current state made Levy's heart ache and fingers burn, wanting to be touching him somehow.  They'd only been separated for a month, but she missed him so damn much.

“Stop – ugh – fuckin’!  Flirting!  And!  Ask!  FUCK YOUR LONG ARMS FUCK FACE!”

Yeah, they were definitely wrestling on the floor, and Gajeel was winning, if barely.  Somehow.  Natsu was a very flexible person, so Gajeel had to be sitting on him.  That was the only way he’d ever successfully kept something out of Natsu’s reach despite being six inches taller than Natsu.

“What are you supposed to ask me, Gajeel?” Levy asked, unsuccessfully preventing herself from sniffing for the second time since picking up his call.  Hearing Gajeel’s voice had made her tears start falling, but she felt more relieved than anything else.

“… Are ya okay, Levy?”

Oh no.  Cold lightning ran down Levy’s spine.  Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no no no nooooo.  She didn’t want Gajeel finding out about her current predicament. He’d weaseled some of it out of her during their daily Skype calls, but she didn’t want him knowing how utterly useless she was with this man.  Gajeel was so big and strong, and nothing ever seemed to bother him.  He could always keep his composure in public (if Levy wasn't around).  Levy wanted to be more like him, more like his iron-like sturdiness… He couldn’t know how weak she was, no no no.  Plus, she could totally see him driving down from Crocus and beating the living shit out of that man, and she couldn’t have that.  That man would deserve it, but Gajeel would end up in jail.

“Oh my god!  Will!  You! Stop!  FLIRTING!”

“Shut up fer a goddamn second, Flame Brain!”

Levy heard a loud thump and felt sorry for Natsu. Now she was causing him pain… not that he and Gajeel wouldn’t eventually fight over something…  but still.

“Oi, Levy, what’s wrong?”

 And now she was making Gajeel worry.  Fuck.

“It’s-it’s nothing.  I just have a bit of a head cold.  What are you supposed to ask me?  Ask real quick and then I have to go, you know I only picked up because I’m—not behind the register.” Her sentence was jerky because she’d been a half second away from saying “hiding somewhere.”  But saying that, even though she had before, would only increase his worry.  Levy didn’t want that.

“… Natsu thinks Happy isn’t breathin’.  We ain’t got those lil mirrors.  How can we check?”

Gajeel sounded incredibly reluctant to change the subject, but Levy was thankful he did.

“He’s still with Acnologia, right?  Have Happy face Acno and see if Acno’s fluff moves at all.” Levy instructed, rolling her eyes.  They’d definitely disagreed over feeling Happy breathing on their hands.  That’s what prompted the call.  Idiots.  Gajeel had to be very damn sure Happy was breathing since he’d been flirting with her before he’d been sidetracked by her sniffles.  Gajeel was nothing if he wasn't crazy about the welfare of animals, especially cats.

“Yer a genius, Levy.  Thanks.  A’ight, Fucker, go see that yer cat is alive.”

Levy heard muffled movements and wanted to laugh at just how predictable the boys were.  She heard Natsu grumbling as he got up.

“Now he’s dealt with, Levy—“

“I’m sorry, I have to go, Gajeel.” Levy interrupted him, hanging up immediately.  She turned her phone off before composing herself, grabbing a sleeve of small cups.  If the man was still somehow there, it’d be weird if she didn’t leave with cups.  Levy squared her shoulders before leaving the storage room, breathing a sigh of relief when she didn’t see the tall man anywhere.

“You okay, Lev?” Droy asked, watching her closely.  Because he was sitting behind the cash register, it meant he and Jet had traded positions.  Jet was now helping Shagotte bake, and Droy was going to help Levy with the customers.

“Yeah, sorry, Gajeel called and Happy supposedly wasn’t breathing and… yeah.” Levy shrugged, putting on a smile. Despite the fact Jet and Droy had known her the longest out of all of her friends, she was always able to fool them eventually.  That, she supposed, was one of her strengths.  Lying about her feelings to the people closest to her when she really didn't want them prying.  The only one that was always able to see through her was her socially awkward boyfriend. Gajeel said it was because he knew how she felt, and sometimes she let herself believe him.

“Dang.  He must be worried sick.” Droy’s eyes widened, taking from her choice of words that Happy was okay.

“Yeah, he is.” But about the wrong thing, Levy finished the sentence in her head. Placing the sleeve of cups next to the others, she sucked in a deep breath, and faced the rest of her day with more confidence than she felt.  Their shifts passed without anything else eventful happening, so when Levy went home with Jet and Droy, she had almost convinced herself nothing had happened in the morning.  The first part of her shift was just a small hiccup, nothing serious, something she’d just blown out of proportion because that man was staring at her.  She shouldn’t have let it bother her that much.

At night, tucked into her bed with her laptop open and Skype pulled up, that notion crashed around her and shattered into pieces twenty minutes into her call with Gajeel.  His cat, Acnologia, jumped into his lap and started batting at his nose for attention and food, and the memories came back with an edge.

What’s making you smile like that? You should smile more.  You’re prettier when you smile.

All Levy could see was those leering eyes as the man, the first day he’d come in during her shift, leaned down close to her chest.  Her nametag was pinned there, but girls could always tell when someone was looking at their chest.  Levy was no exception.

Oh, you’re a cute one!  Levy is it?  Nice to meet you!  I’m a regular here.  The name’s Bora.

“I-I have to go, I…” Levy stammered, unable to come up with a plausible excuse as she hung up the Skype call before Gajeel could say anything. She logged out of Skype and shut her laptop off, shoving it away to hug her knees to her chest.

“You’re just having a bad day, Levy.  Shake if off.  You’re okay.  You’re okay.  You-you’re okay.” She gave herself a small shake, concentrating on nothing but breathing slowly in and out.  Levy refused to let that man ("The name’s Bora") affect her in her own home.  He (“I thought to myself, ‘Bora, you just have to try that muffin!’”) couldn’t touch her here.  He (“You know, I had a crazy ex once – know what she told me? ‘Juvia can’t believe you, Bora!  Prioritizing your work over Juvia!’  Well, she doesn’t know the name, Bora, my name, will soon be heard around not just Fiore, but all of Ishgar because I work so hard!”) was not allowed into her sanctuary.

Levy started when her phone started vibrating, but she didn’t answer it.  She let the call go to voicemail, not even looking at who was calling.  She didn’t care, and she didn’t feel like talking.  She did, however, look when her phone buzzed again, telling her whoever called had left a voicemail.  Levy played it when she saw it was Gajeel, feeling guilty. 

“Ya hung up ‘fore sayin’ g’night.  So, good night, sleep tight, an’ don’t let the bed bugs bite.  I love ya, Levy, no matter what.”

His voice, saying those words and being suppirtive, shattered something within her.  It had been a while since Levy had cried herself to sleep from something other than test anxiety.  But in the morning, with puffy red eyes, she felt…  better. Depleted of all emotions and slightly robotic, sure, but that was better than feeling her skin crawl endlessly, heart thump painfully, and brain pulse against her skull erratically.

“Today is a new day, Levy.  You can beat him today.  You’ve already forgotten his name.” She whispered to herself as she brushed her teeth.

“He’s unoriginal, so he’s not going to come up with anything new. It’s been a month.  You’ve heard all his stuff by now.” She reassured herself as she got dressed.

“He’s just a dumb, disgusting little man and you’ll be done with him in fifteen minutes.  He’s got nothing on you.” Levy mumbled to herself as she chewed her toast at breakfast, careful to be quiet so Jet and Droy couldn’t hear her across the kitchen table.

“You’re not going to let him win today.” Levy told herself as she and the boys climbed into Jet’s beat up car.

“He’s not going to get the best of you today.” Levy promised herself, entering Extalia’s back door with Jet and Droy.  They were there before opening.  She and Jet cleaned and set up the front of the shop while Droy helped Shagotte start baking in the back.

“You will beat him.” Levy steeled herself when Jet turned the front sign from “closed” to “open.”  As people started leaking in over the course of fifteen minutes, she gave herself more pep talks, feeding more and more into the feeling that she’d win the mental duel with that man.  It felt like it was her only defense after a night like hers.  She felt nothing but spite and dread as the clock ticked closer to the normal morning rush.

With five minutes left before the usual start of the morning rush, the bell above the front door jingled.  Levy looked up and her heart stopped.  A tall frame filled the doorway, and it broke her resolve a little.

“Oi, heard ya got some good kiwi bread?”

Heat pooled in Levy’s face, and it stung the bottom of her eyes. Gajeel gave her his snaggletooth grin, raising his arms in his “oopsie” gesture he thought made him look innocent.  It, however, always made him look like he was saying, “Come at me, bro,” especially when he was wearing a tank top like he was 

“I thought I told you that shirt is so stupid?” Levy rolled her eyes at him, willing her tears not to fall. Personally, she had thought she’d cried all the tears out of herself yesterday, but Gajeel always proved her wrong. He looked down at the bold letters saying, “Sun’s out, guns out,” made a noncommittal noise, and left Extalia’s doorframe to stop in the center of the store.  He looked unsure of himself, like he might not be welcome.  Jet sensed the tension between the two of them and said nothing, eyes traveling between Gajeel and Levy like he was watching a tennis match.

“What are you doing here, Gajeel?  Don’t you have work in Crocus?  Don’t tell me you were fired again.  You need to work on your customer service smile.” Levy started babbling, hoping he hadn’t actually been fired.  If he had been, that meant he’d be hanging out with her until term started and they both had to go back to Crocus for classes.  Not that she didn’t want Gajeel around…  just… that man complicated things.

“Oh, uh, no, called in sick – Natsu is coverin’ fer me, which is definitely a bad idea, but, ya know… ya seemed like ya had a problem, yesterday.” Gajeel shoved his hands into his pockets, looking a little to the left of Levy’s head.  She watched his eyes dart to her face every few seconds and saw the muscle jumping in his jaw.

“And you’re here to, what, solve it for me?” Levy frowned, heart sinking.  It was bad enough that he had figured out something was wrong and thought it was serious enough for him to make the four hour drive from Crocus to Magnolia, but… if he wanted to come, barge in on her problems, and fix them himself… he was not wanted around.  At all.

“No ‘course not!  ‘Member the first memorable thing I told ya?  I’m goin’ ta make ya big, Levy McGarden.  I’m here ta support ya.  If ya want me here.  If not, I’ll just go an’ – ooof!”

As soon as he’d finished saying her name, Levy had started moving.  It had been the first time Gajeel looked her in the eyes since entering Extalia, but she was still able to surprise him with the strength of her hug when she barreled into him.  Levy pressed her face into his chest, half crying and half laughing.  It was hard to tell what Gajeel was going to do… except when it came to her.  He’d never stepped in to fight her battles for her, not once.  Though this was an entirely new situation, one he didn’t even know the scope of, she was glad he hadn’t changed his ways.  Levy felt Gajeel’s arms wrap around her, holding her tightly.

Now she had the force of a dragon behind her to fight off the unwanted suitor prince, and her shoulders didn’t feel quite as heavy anymore.

[nagirambles]

Rambling about Fairies - Manga Chapter 176

So this scene stumps me, a little. I get that Carla misunderstood her mission from her future visions, but if so, then Nichiya and Nady should have no idea that this was the conclusion she came to. How did Carla know exactly the ruse that they gave the public? They don’t know how she knows, those that know the Queen doesn’t have powers should expect all the children to be as confused as Happy is. 

I guess this can be explained away again as ‘Shagotte predicted that Carla predicted that’, or that they acted knowing that Carla is Shagotte’s daughter and would be an outlier. 

I guess we can interpret this scene as them improvising? They saw what Carla interpreted the mission as, and improvised a new plan? Hughes is telling this story at the same time, so it can’t be on the spot. And Shagotte presumably saw that the slayers would make it to the castle so they improvised this change of plans into their actual plans to the humans, too. 

But like, even though my mind says ‘I guess that’s how it is’, I can’t help but just feel like it’s kind of reach. So much stuff is just--- grasped for, assumed. We just assume they knew this because Shagotte’s prediction is so all-powerful, and yet selectively Shagotte didn’t know enough to not send all their kids into Earthland.

And like, why did they change their plans? Because Shagotte knew Carla would bring the slayers here. Why did they do this? Because Carla would do that. Why did Carla do that? Because Shagotte did this two years ago knowing she would do that. It’s just--- so tight-knit in the illlogical nature of ‘the future leads to the future but you get your information from the future so where did it come from?’, that I feel trapped and suffocated by it. 

Also, ultimately, my question is what the hell are they trying to achieve with these lies? They’re telling this to Carla and Happy only. The only thing they’re doing right now is confusing them, breaking their spirits, and giving them a fucking identity crisis. This isn’t exactly ideal in assimilating them back into Extalia or returning to their parents, if that was ever in the plan. 

While some may crumble and give up like Carla in this moment, if it had been any other pair of Exceed, (you know, the dozens that never even met dragon slayers) they’d just call bullshit and leave. And that would be where the entire thing ended. 

This entire ruse and sequence of events would never have worked if Shagotte didn’t send Carla down and know she was coming back up, and that unfortunately cheapens her entire speech about ‘being a mother that loves her child, so I sent my egg down to be safe’ thing at the end of the arc. 

Like, a lot of this arc feels like it only happened because the universe magically aligned in this perfect moment, for this perfect situation, for this perfect full circle-- and not in a good way. A lot of it feels like plot convenience in the guise of a future sight we later learn is flawed, and it always stumps me coming back to it. Reading it all a second time just doesn’t feel right. 

Don’t get me wrong. It’s good development for the exceeds. But everything else still feels lacking, and that really makes it difficult for me to wholeheartedly like it.

[usagirln120]

Fairy Tail Supernatural AU

Natsu Dragneel: Werewolf

Natsu it’s a part of a Werewolf curse in his family, where the secret Werewolf (Acno) promised to bite and curse five in the family. Natsu was the first one to get bitten. Natsu can at first only transform during the fullmoon but it is very painful and he doesn’t have any control over himself after. After the Tower of Heaven Arc he will gain the ability to transform without the fullmoon. The transformation is still painful but not as painful as during the fullmoon.

Lucy Heartfilia: Demi-goddess

Lucy will be a Demi-goddess with her mother being the goddess of beauty. Lucy will live with her father Jude, believing that her mother Layla (Goddess) and her younger sister Michelle (Vampire) were dead. Finds out during the Phantom Lord Arc that her mother is alive and a Goddess while she finds out Michelle is alive in the Key of the Starry Heaven Arc.

Erza Belserion: Demi-Goddess

Erza is also a Demi-Goddess. She is the daughter of Irene and Mars the god of war. Since she lives with her mother she has her mother’s last name. She finds out she is a Demi-Goddess in the Alvarez Arc in her mother’s suicide note.

Gray Fullbuster: Vampire

Gray Fullbuster was at the start of the series a human but got turned into a Vampire in the Tartaros Arc. He eventually becomes human again thanks to Juvia who finds a cure for vampirism.

Happy Dragneel: Half-Fairy

Happy is Natsu’s cousin and a half-Fairy from his mother’s side. Happy is related to Carla but he still have a crush on her, claiming that they are only related by marriage. He find out he’s a half-Fairy in the Edolas Arc.

Gajeel Redfox: Werewolf

Gajeel is a Werewolf and Natsu’s cousin on his mother’s side. He gets bitten by Acnologia in between the Phantom Lord Arc and the Battle of Fairy Tail Arc while he was running away. He gained the ability to transform without the fullmoon in the Grand Magic/Sport games arc alongside Rogue (who didn’t remember it because he was possessed at the time).

Juvia Lockser: Mermaid

Juvia Lockser is, of course, a Mermaid. She turns into a Mermaid in the Phantom Lord Arc while she is fighting Gray and falls into the moonpool. She is the one who finds a cure to vampirism.

Wendy Marvell: Werewolf

Wendy is a Werewolf. She gets bitten by Acnologia alongside Erik/Cobra in the Oraciôn Seis Arc. She gains the ability to transform without the fullmoon in the Tartaros Arc. She is in a band with her best friend Chelia.

Carla Redfox: Half-Fairy

Carla is a half-Fairy. She is the daughter of Pantherlily and Shagotte Redfox. She finds out she is a half-fairy and the daughter of the Queen of the Fairies in the Edolas Arc. She is more skilled with her magic than Happy, Lector and Frosch.

Mirajane Strauss: Half-demon

Mira is a half-demon. Mira was the result of a drunk night with the demon Kyoka. Her siblings is only her half-siblings. She finds out who her mother is in the Tartaros Arc and discovers that Freed is her half-brother. She used to be a bully until her sisters disappearance.

Makarov Dreyar: Human

Master Makarov is a human but he knows about the Supernatural world. He is married to a witch called Porlyusica who had three kids from a former marriage who is called Grandenney, Metalicana and Pantherlily. With Makarov had Porlyusica Ivan. Makarov is the son of the famous Yuri Dreyar and his wife Rita. He is also the principal of Fairy Tail academy.

Laxus Dreyar: Werewolf

Laxus is a Werewolf. Everyone in the family believed that Laxus was a part of the Werewolf curse even if he claimed he wasn’t. It wasn’t before the Grand Magic/sport games Arc that the truth was revealed to the whole family. He was expelled from Fairy Tail Academy in the end of the Battle of Fairy Tail Arc but later got back in. He gained the ability to transform without the fullmoon in the Tenrou island Arc. He gained his scar in the Werewolf attack when he was seven.

Cana Alberona: Seer

Cana is a seer. A seer is a human that can see the future. She is the daughter of the sherriff Gildarts but she was raised by her mother Cornelia so she has her surname.

Elfman Strauss: Half-Werewolf

Elfman is a half-Werewolf. He was attacked by a Werewolf but it wasn’t during a fullmoon. The scar on his chin come from that attack. He was a shy and kind boy when he was little but became a trouble maker after his sister’s disappearance.

Lisanna Strauss: Human

Lisanna Strauss is a human. She was missing for the first part of the series but it was revealed in the end of the Edolas Arc that she was cursed by Jellal and Mystogan’s father Faust and turned into a tree. She is very interested in the Supernatural world and tries to fit in as much as she could.

Levy McGarden: Witch

Levy McGarden is a witch. At first only Jet and Droy knew her secret but it was common knowledge by the main characters by the end of the Battle of Fairy Tail Arc. She started working as a police officer after school with Gajeel and is currently pregnant with his child.

Gildarts Clive: Human

Gildarts is a human and the current sherriff of Magnolia. He is the father of the seer Cana Alberona. He was shocked to discover the Supernatural world but was supportive.

Evergreen: Descendant of Medusa

Evergreen is a descendant of Medusa. She is the girlfriend of Elfman Strauss.

Freed Justine: Half-Demon

Freed is a half-demon. He was revealed to be a half-demon in the Battle of Fairy Tail Arc. He later got told by Mira that they were the children of Kyoka. He got very protective over his half-sister and his step-siblings during the one year timeskip.

Bickslow: Demi-god

Bickslow is a Demi-god. He is the son of Hades. He is a great friend of Happy and they love to tease Lucy.

Pantherlily: Fairy

Pantherlily is a Fairy. He was a human at first but later let himself get turned into a Fairy in the Tartaros Arc with Lector and Frosch so they could fight.

Loke Lilica: The reincarnation of Leo the Lion

Loke is the reincarnation of Leo the Lion. He regained his memories while visiting the grave of his half-sister with Lucy.

Macao Conbolt: Human

Macao is a human. He was turned into a Wendigo in the Macao Arc but got turned back into a human by Natsu, Lucy and Happy

Wakaba Mine: Human

Wakaba is a human and a teacher at Fairy Academy. He is the godfather to Romeo.

Alzack Connell: Human

Alzack is a human. He came from a long line of Vampire hunters but he still helped cure Gray since he was a student and friend of his.

Bisca Connell(Mulan): Human

Bisca is a human. Just like her husband she used to be a Vampire hunter but changed their mind about them when they meet Lyon.

Jet/Sarasuke: Human

Jet is a human. He is the best friend of Levy and have a crush on her. He is the current candidate of being the godfather of her and Gajeel’s child.

Droy: Human

Droy is a human. He is the second best friend of Levy and have a crush on her.

Max Alors: Descendant of a mummy

Max is the Descendant of a mummy. Thanks to this he got powers of the sand and his much stronger than he is credit for.

Nab Lasaro: Elf

Nab is an Elf. He hids his ears under his hair and can talk to animal.

Reedus Jonah: Wizard

Reedus is a wizard. He got cursed by a transformation spell that worn off after 7 years.

Vijeeter Ecor: Siren

Vijeeter is a siren. He is a close friend of Juvia’s and she enjoys hearing him sing. Since she is a Mermaid she isn’t effected by his singing. The main difference between him and Juvia is that he was born in the ocean which means he needs to go swim sometimes to stay alive.

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Carla (シャルル Sharuru) is an Exceed, the daughter of Queen Shagotte, and a close companion to Wendy Marvell. She and Wendy belonged to Cait Shelter before joining Fairy Tail. After the disbandment of Fairy Tail, Carla, along with Wendy, joined Lamia Scale.