Beach Filler Episode (OPEN)

[Clownpiece]

This had been a fun little trip, Clownpiece thought. She closed her eyes and stretched her arms up, mouth opening up in a wide yawn. The warm sunlight beat against her body, and as good as it felt, it was time to head out. Her eyes opened back up, and she blinked against the bright light. But where to? She wondered, slowly gazing across the beach. First things first, she should probably find Cirno and see if she wanted to come with, or at least tell her what her plans were. It wasn’t good to leave people in the dark, after all. No sooner had she thought that, then her heart sank in her chest, a cold sweat springing up on her forehead.

“I uh...” she mumbled to herself, mouth turned up in an awkward grin, complete with a nervous laugh. “I forgot about Dane, didn’t I?” The hell fairy glanced around nervously, thinking back to the events of Dante’s Abyss. She had told him she was gonna meet in the Nexus, didn’t she? Right before they got the last drop. She buried her face in her hands, and just stood there, basking in her own stupidity, before straightening back up. That was her next course of action decided. She needed to find Cirno, tell her what was up, and book it towards the Nexus. Hopefully she’d be fast enough and he wouldn’t be gone yet. With that in mind, she lifted up out of the sand, and promptly let out a high-pitched scream as another large hand suddenly closed around her own.

“Woah sorry ‘bout surprisin’ you like that,” a gruff voice sounded from behind the star-studded fae, and she whipped around in midair to face it.

“Oh, it’s just you,” she said with a sigh of relief. It was one of the nice men from earlier, large, imposing, and dressed nicely in a tailored suit.

“Yeah, the boss has somethin’ extra for you,” he said as he dug into his pocket with his free hand. He pulled out a small device of some sort, which looked like a mini-version of the tablet that had been handed out in DA. “Said he’s gonna keep in contact. Says your... “skills” might come in handy for him.”

“Oh cool! Thanks!” A bright smile spread across her face as she gratefully accepted the mini-tablet.

“See you ‘round, kid.” With that said, the man released her hand and walked away, soon disappearing into the crowded pier. Now with both of her hands full, Clownpiece again took to the sky, humming a cheery tune as she scanned for her icy friend.

---

“And that’s how you make calls on that,” Cirno wrapped up her quick instructions on how use the phone the hell fairy had been given. With her explanations finished, the ice fairy leaned back in her chair again, taking a sip from some fruity drink.

“Oh wow that’s pretty handy!” Clownpiece said, staring in rapture at the device in her hand. In her readiness to get off the beach, the infernal fairy had already changed out of her swimwear, and was back in her star-spangled dress and tights, her jester cap back on her head. “Alright! See you later!” she lifted into the sky, waving goodbye to her chilly friend. “See you wherever we decide to meet!” Cirno waved back as she left.

Thanks for the thread! It was a blast!

[Isabelle]

Isabelle plowed through her workload with a whole new vigor, reducing the pile to nothing in what felt like an instant. Really, it took a few hours. After explaining her situation to the Nooks, they agreed to reschedule their meeting. Ol’ Tom was oldly understanding; maybe he had a romantic bone in him after all!

The dog put on her only swimsuit, a red bikini with ribbons, and went down to the beach, eager for her first ever date with the mayor!

It was a perfect day for it too, as if fate had brought them together. The sun was high in the sky, beaming down against her fur. She set down a beach towel and plopped herself down, just enjoying the glow of the early afternoon light.

“Isabelle!” Cried out a familiar voice, followed by the pats of small feet against the course beach sand.

Izzy immediately shot her head in that direction.

The mayor donned a purple swimsuit, a tube top bikini with pink lining. Her pink hair was bundled up in a ponytail, which flapped in the wind as she ran. Her wide brimming smile shoved around the freckles on her face.

Isabelle immediately shot to her feet and straightened herself out.

“Miss Mayor! You made it!” Cried out Isabelle, barely containing her excitement.

“Of course I’d make it!” Stated the mayor, taking Isabelle by the paw. Izzy only blushed at her companion’s forwardness. “I’ve been waiting for this day for too long!”

Izzy and the mayor would spend the day together. They’d run around, collecting seashells, splashing in the ocean, and even got a bit of fishing in. The hours blew away as if they were nothing, and eventually they were watching the sunset over the ocean, sitting on the beach towel that had been abandoned up until that point. As the sun dipped down into the earth, the pair leaned up against each other.

“This was the best day of my life, Miss Mayor!” Stated Isabelle, gleefully.

The mayor reached over, and placed a palm on Izzy’s cheek, causing her to reel back a bit in surprise.

“Miss… Mayor?” She asked, but as she said that second word, she was looking directly in her eyes. Het look was longing, warm, almost lustful in nature.

“Isabelle.” She said, her voice tapering off, a doofy smile on her face. She was so close, she could feel her warm breath against her fur.

The mayor drew her face forward, Isabelle began to feel her face heat up, but she did not dare pull away. She felt the mayor’s lips touch her’s.

Her first kiss. Their first kiss.

Isabelle shook awake. The bands of the beach chair bent to her weight as she wriggled in place, trying to make terms with reality. Like last time, she wasn’t sure if it was just a memory or a fantasy. If felt so real, but something felt off as well.

She tried to cling to the face the dream had presented to her. After all, this could be the face of the mayor this time and not some manifestation of her imagination. But as quickly as she tried to cling to it, she felt the memory of the mayor slip away. She could remember the details, she could remember kissing under the sunset, but the mayor was just an empty spot in her mind once more.

She shed a tear. Even her own mind didn’t want her to find the mayor.

It was around this time that she realized that Rosie was napping in her own beach chair nearby, quietly breathing as she laid strewn about. Some of her limbs were even hanging out of the edges of her seat, pressing against the sand. It was hardly a flattering position.

The dog had a thought though. She could remember Rosie living in her town, maybe the cat could tell her about the mayor! Just a simple description would help her tremendously!

She wasn’t eager to wake a cat from her nap, but she didn’t want to wait either. She prodded her feline companion until Rosie’s eyes opened.

She looked around dazed, wincing at the sun above. She moved her paws to rub the sand out of her eyes before turning her attention towards the dog next to her.

“Oh, Izzy!” She said, half awake. “I must have dozed off. Sorry about that!”

“Rosie, could you describe the mayor to me?” She asked, her paw together in a begging position. “Please?”

“The mayor? Why?”

It was at this point she realized she never explained her situation to the cat. She immediately felt dumb. Kind of jumped the gun there.

“Uh, when I came to the Omniverse, I lost some of my memories, and that apparently includes what the mayor looked like.”

“Oh.” Rosie said, as she pieced together earlier conversations. “Yeah, sure, let me get my head together.”

She took another moment stretching out her paws and rubbing her eyes before she turned towards her dog friend and laid out a description.

“He wore a top hat, glasses, and a small white beard.” Rosie began. “Oh yeah, and a cane!”

“Did he have white hair on his head, too?” Isabelle asked, trying to visualize her description.

“No, he was bald.”

“Wait, bald?”

“He had a really big shell, flat feet, dull dark eyes.”

“Wait wait wait,” Isabelle interrupted realizing the confusion, “you’re describing Tortimer.”

“Well, yeah, he was the mayor!” Rosie said, matter of factly.

“But what about the human that took office after him?” Izzy asked desperately.

“Human that took office? It was only ever Tortimer.” Rosie said, confused and still a bit dazed. “The only humans in our village were Yu and Ai, but they never held public office.”

Isabelle’s eyes glossed over. How was Rosie remembering things differently from her?

“Isabelle? Are you okay?” The feline asked, now kind of concerned.

The funny thing, Isabelle could remember the humans Ai and Yu, she remembered them in the village, but she could also remember the Mayor. She couldn’t understand. She knew the Mayor existed, she could remember all those days and nights serving under them, that can’t be fake. She didn’t understand.

She didn’t understand.

“Is there something I could help you with today?”

She suddenly felt the sensation of thousands of nails piercing her skull, driving their way through the brain. Isabelle screamed bloody murder as she grabbed her head and fell to the sand.

Rosie was the first one by her side.

“Izzy! What’s wrong? What’s happening?”

But Rosie’s words were muffled, her vision was blurred, the pain was excruciating.

“Izzy!”

Darkness.

[Cirno]

As Cirno and Daiyousei were getting drunker than a oni they giggled blushing and laughing in good joy.  "Hey Dai-chan *hic* Want to go to war with humans? *hic*" Daiyousei laughed as she sloppily said yes as she wrapped her arm around the ice fairy. They started to walk away from the beach after drunkily changing into there normal outfits and then walking slowly to the portal to the nexus.

cirno and Daiyousei have left the thread now. It was fun thanks Guu!

[Oleander]

The young woman turned her eyes onto the small number of people this close to the gate. She looked longer than Takezo thought necessary, but when she shrugged, his shoulders fell. "No one's naked here, just a bunch of bikinis and a few poorly chosen speedos..."

The blast from the past furrowed his brows as he gestures to the woman herself. "You call this clothing? You are wearing less than underwear. A peasant prostitute wears more clothing."

She scoffed, covering her ample bust - mainly to defend the sakura flowered bikini she wore. "This so happens to be my favorite swim suit! It reminds me of my village back in Camelot!" She huffed at him. "You look like you're my age, but you act like an eight year old prude!" He had clearly insulted her. He gave her the What's your problem? look. "Look," she sighed, heartbroken her pick for DA is not quite as fantastic as she thought. "Just... look around... shop a little... go for a swim and WHATEVER YOU DO... don't call women prostitutes..."

Takezo was left abruptly by the insulted woman, who still covered herself. He was not quite aware of the talent he had for turning a conversation so far south so damn fast. Only after the woman rounded a corner did he realize that she never told him the name of this place.

Sigh. So this is happening. It was not necessarily bad, but extremely awkward. Now and then his eyes would be drawn to... things. Sometimes in awe, sometimes in disgust. One woman takes notice of his gaze and grinned with a cheeky wink before walking off with an excessive emphasis on the sway of her hips.

It might have been nice if that was it, but the man that was walking with her was not so quick to walk away. "Get you're fucking eyes off my girl's ass!" In an instant, the swordsman's gaze flicked up to the obviously inebriated man. Though he wore his sword upon his hip plain as day, the unarmed man goes in for a wide left hook. Takezo quickly grips the handle of his sword and draws.

The blade did not find flesh. Instead, drawing with his left hand the hilt slams into the man's gut, knocking the air out of him. The tip had not even left the sheath before the rest of the blade slid right back in. After the light click, Takezo places his hand upon the tall caucasian's head and nudges. His foot simultaneously slips behind the man's ankle and pulls. Down goes the lumbering giant.

Salt was tossed into the wounds as Takezo's bamboo sandal found the man's barrel chest. The woman who he had eyed up a moment before had stopped to watch the 'fight' ensue. The beach goer was still seeing stars. "Since we have become best of friends," the ronin's sour attempt at humor dripped venom for the drunkard, "would you mind pointing out where I can purchase clothes, healing and food?"

[Gildarts]

“Phew, now that that’s over,” Piqui said with her eyes on the man whose arm was shoved through the glass of a carnival dunk tank. “I’m kinda surprised you didn’t douse it with magic, but I guess that’s beyond your capabilities.”

Gildarts blinked, “Hm, maybe when Dust and I train I can ask him to light me on fire to see if I can do this with magic,” the sass was retorted? By GILDARTS? Piqui was dumbfounded, what exactly had she missed?

Still the little exceed was hovering next to Gildarts’ shoulder and said, “You saved your arm, and the tips, but you didn’t save the booth.”

“Dust was in charge of the booth, though I think I saved his life by shoving him in the dirt, Piqui did you see what happened to catch it on fire? This pier hasn’t been very safe since I arrived, starting with the giant sign about to fall on people, and then the cotton candy man harassing me because I’m a prime,” Gildarts surmised, “Now it was either lit on fire from the sun magnifying it, or someone performed a hate crime. Dust could’ve died!”

“Gildarts you never talk this much, did somethin’ happen to you?” Piqui said answering her own question, “Though I assume Dante’s Abyss probably changes a man.”

“Uh… Piqui we’re investigating a crime! Oh- I just realized the boardwalk is still on fire. Guess I’ll disperse that really quick,” Gildarts said and cast some magic on the still-lit smolder. He’d aimed only for the wood that was still on fire, cutting a big chunk out of the boardwalk, and letting the scattered bits fall into the ocean where they were immediately snuffed out.

“There, all better, and now I’ll go back to my investigation: YOU!” Piqui announced. “Wait who is this cotton candy guy and why was he harassing you because you’re a prime?”

“Uh… He said he’d give the cotton candy to us free because I saved his cart and life when the sign was going to fall, and then he asked me for a favor, one thing lead to another and I’m pretty sure he had evil intentions. I need to find a better way to determine that. Maybe if Tearen comes to the island tonight.” Gil concluded.

“Island?” Piqui parroted.

“Uh… Yeah, I doubt I can drink without blowing things up and-”

“DRINK? Gild, what happened that made you want to get drunk in the first place?” Piqui said, at least she had announced how snoopy she was being.

“Uh… Just uh, wanted to let loose for a bit. For a vacation after Dante’s Abyss. I know it’s funny I’m going right back to an island, but it is the only way I know people will be safe and not come up to me like on solid land.” Gildarts informed her.

“Let loose huh?” she mimicked suspiciously, her cat eyes narrowing into slits of diamond, Piqui then suggested, “Next time try the Endless Dunes, huge desert out there. Huge. No one will come upon you for days.”

“Yes, but if it was bad timing and there was a sandstorm or I didn’t see them and I accidentally cast my magic in their direction, they likely wouldn’t recover. Now, I’m waiting till the evening so that way I can see the lights on the boats, plus I think I’ll make one of those… What do you call them, radars? Just to be safe.” Gildarts continued.

“That’s uh… Oddly responsible of you. You sure nothin’ changed Gildarts?” Piqui asked.

“Everything has changed.” Gildarts said gravely, looking down at his hand, still plugged into the dunk tank, he pulled out the metal arm and water came pouring out of the unplugged hole.

“Is this cause you killed that guy? Or was it cotton candy guy who gave you the revelation?” Piqui always knew how to keep a conversation going.

“Killed? Oh. OH. Yikes I did do that didn’t I?” Gildarts blinked, remembering the flash of light, then the red fog that followed, then being tackled by some large brawny man with fabulous tattoos.

What had the man announced when he’d tackled Gildarts? “The rock… Smash?” No no, that couldn’t have been it.

“Like, DUH, but it seems you already forgot about it, which is rather typical, so I guess I shouldn’t worry too much. There are consequences when you take a competition too far though Gil-”

“WAIT, Molly saw that? She was watching the entire thing? Oh no, that’s bad for kids to see! This is why I always left Fairy Tail to go on missions!” Gildarts began to panic, “What other murders did she witness?”

“Uh, well, what was that one guy’s name? Hmm… And then… Oh no, most of the people lived this year, but the fighting was merciless. One guy took his own arm off and used it as a bomb!” Piqui said with an excited smile and a swatting paw-punch to the air.

“Oh Gods help me…”

[Isabelle]

Isabelle opened her eyes, her vision blurred to the bright blue sky. Rosie was over her, so were a dozen others, looking down at the colapsed doggy.

"Izzy!" Cried out Rosie, her face covered in tears as she saw her eyes flicker open.

"Ahhhh, I'm awake." She said, dizzily as she vision slowly comes to focus.

She tried to move up to rub her eyes but her arms were pressed against her sides as the cat gave her a big hug.

"You scared me!"

"Oh, sorry, I just had a-" she paused to think. She wasn't sure what the heck that was. "Brain fart?"

Rosie pulled away to look her in the eyes.

"We need to get you to a doctor!" She yelled out.

"No no no, no point to it." She said, remembering the fact she was practically an immortal that can heal. Whatever this was, it was probably going to be gone before the end of they day anyways. "Let's just get back to some beach fun!"

"You sure?" Repeated Rosie, concerned.

Isabelle climbed to her feet and smiled, offering a paw to the cat.

"I don't want to miss another moment!" She said.

Rosie's grin spread a mile wide as she blushed. Her enthusiam was almost intoxicating at that moment. She took Izzy's paw and stood up herself.

"Well, alright! If you're willing I'm willing!" She said, firmly maintain a grip on Izzy's hand.

The pair ran off down the beach, filling their minds with fun thoughts of the coming hours. Isabelle had completely pushed out worries of what just occured from her mind, it was now she wanted to escape for those dark clouds hanging over her head. She was on vacation afterall.

[Oleander]

The grounded man proved reluctant to talk, so Takezo left him on the ground. He did not pay much attention to the blonde beach woman either, despite her eyeing. Instead, he moves closer to the hustle and bustle’s main bulk.
 
It was difficult to hear one thing out of so many, but he heart chitchat reminiscent of shopkeeping. “How much is this?” and “Does it come in red?” as well as “One order of noodles.” Clothing was a definite must. The relatively short swordsman had to crane his neck and rise to his tip-toes to see into some of the shops over the heads of the crowd. He was not too short to see the signs, but those with odd names like “Barnello’s” left him in the dark about what they actually sold.
 
Eventually he discovered a clothing shop with maniquins bearing more than thongs in the window. Not long after he entered, Takezo was fascinated by the strange material that many of the shorts were made of. They were like some sort of silk, but not quite as fine. Not only that, but they had strings inside them, like belts made right into the shorts. It was almost ingenious, if not obvious now that he had witnessed it. The cloth pants came with pockets, a feature only noble born would know in his era.
 
There were so many scattered through the store, and dozens of each kind. He could not imagine how many children this store had crammed into the back to fill these shelves. There were at least twenty or so people walking around, plucking items off of shelves and racks. The simple swordsman was bewildered by this modern achievement.
 
“Can I help you find something?” A young man with tanned skin and sun kissed blond hair greeted inquired.
 
Takezo turned, eyeing him up for a moment. “I need clothes and new shoes.” The bamboo slats were soaked with blood and beginning to tear from wear.
 
The salesman eyed Takezo up in turn, then without a word guided the swordsman to a back rack. “You sir, look like the king of the beach type, so I suggest some King of the Beach wear. This here is our top-of-the-line G-string men’s line, meant f—“
 
“No.”
 
“But—“
 
“I said… no.” The swordsman glared at the strings this man dared call Men’s attire.
 
“Well…” the clerk sounded a bit defeated. “How about these?” He gestured to the slightly-more-than-string underwear next to the assortment of strings.
 
“No.”
 
The clerk sighed. He turned away from the wall of man-thongs and gestures to the nearest rack of swim trunks. “Then by all means, look through our various assortments of quick-dry swim trunks.” Takezo was not giving him much to work with.
 
“I believe that is what I was doing before you suggested I try to tie my cock and balls with twine.” His words dripped with venom. He snatched a pair of shorts from the rack and held them to his hips. Their black background with red splatters caught his attention. They looked the right size, enough that the string would keep them up. “These are fine. Where are your shoes?”
 
Before the clerk could get a word in edge wise, Takezo had already spotted a wall with sandals. He left the man trying to speak. Takezo did not need a “king of the beach” offer in footwear either. The sandals that caught his eye were woven like those he wore now, but in a much more uniform manner. He took off a pair and placed them against the sole of his current sandal.
 
Close enough. “I want these.” He gestured to the clerk, who begrudgingly showed him to the register. Even as the man was ringing up the items, Takezo dips his hand into the small poucn at his side, hidden beneath the scraps of his clothing, and retrieves a handful of coins.
 
“Keep the change.” The coins are dropped onto the counter, with one or two rolling off. The swordsman continues onwards and outwards, departing the clothing store in favor of the nearest outhouse.
 
It smelled absolutely rancid… yet even this was nicer than the outhouses he remembered. Takezo was quick to change his attire, retiring his old, bloodied scraps for the new, odd material. After the rushed change, he escaped to fresh air, gulping it in.
 
That was definitely a familiar sensation. He dumped the old wardrobe in the nearest trash can to be done with it.
 
It was odd how light this cloth felt on his hips. He wore nothing beneath so it felt as if he were absolutely nude, waltzing about in public. Was this why Dust wore nothing more than these trunks?
 
Dust. He had almost forgotten about the giant. Lately he had only met foul characters who dominated his attention span with disgust and malice. I wonder where he is now. His mind wondered for a moment. Takezo expected the man to be off in the distance, wondering some other verse.
 
Instead, his attention turns in the opposite direction of the gate. Dust was close. Dust was very close. Takezo held firm to the scabbard and brought it in close as he again pushed through the crowd. The sense of direction lasted for only a few moments before becoming vague.
 
The sand beneath his feet was hot. He peered across the beach, looking for a giant. His gaze fell upon the back of a familiar head. “Dust?” The Swordsman announced his presence as he approached.
 
The smiling contractor turned to a familiar voice. “Takezo! Woah, you look like shit.” He eyed the man’s wounds of varying freshness. There were a few that were only a day or two old. One particularly nasty scar over his heart appeared to have just barely healed over. The rest were anywhere from months to years old and almost faded to mere lines across his olive skin.
 
The swordsman had on attire similar to Dust’s, carrying his weapon in hand by the sheath. “I should have known I’d find you in a place like this; surrounded by nearly naked women.” The swordsman chuckled.

[Gildarts]

A bittersweet fog contaminated Molly’s heart and weighed in her stomach. Dust’s world sounded solemn, sad, and… So truly flawed. Even a ten year old girl could see that much.

“Well you know, sometimes we have to grow even when the world around us is held back, and sometimes that means we’re meant to be the catalyst for change,” Molly said with child-like simplicity. “And I guess while the Omniverse is not perfection, it does have its pros. There’s a mishmash of everyone here, some smile, some frown, some are evil and only want to do bad things. But hey, at least you remember your home world, I was taken rather young so I don’t remember much. Only thing was, my parents didn’t ‘come with’ so I had a real struggle on my hands. I had to learn how to survive at a young age.”

Dust’s smile wavered with concern, he was glad and they were both lucky she was alright now, so far, the Omniverse had proven to be fatal to people who didn’t have the means to protect themselves. If Dante’s Abyss was any example.

“But then Gildarts rescued me, oh! Oh, Dust don’t worry, I didn’t have to do that, I sold my hacking skills for money, and then this group of people found they could use me if they kidnapped me, so I stopped going to school and became their secretary. The pay was good, even if their business was cheap.” Molly waved his concern off rather embarrassedly, “Everything turned out fine. And now I’m friends with the best primes in the universe!”

Dust nodded, the darkness children were forced to see would always concern him. They were two of the same, more or less. “Gildarts rescued you?”

“Yeah, if I remember correctly he exploded the building and… Stopped the porn people,” Molly surmised with a finger on her chin.

“Porn… People?” Dust blinked.

“Yeah, that’s who I was working for. ‘Course they have a name, its copyrighted though,” Molly smiled and took a big ball of cotton candy to her mouth and then stated, “They cottn’ canny guy gave dese to us for free.”

“Did he now?” Dust said, it was nice to not have to entertain, but instead, to just listen to the waves around him, the birds above. Molly was a nice girl who had endured hardship and even overcame it. That was an impressive feat, he almost admired how she didn’t let her past weigh her down.

“He did, the guy said it was from the billboard, but then he got real mad when Gil said he wouldn’t do somethin’ for him. Kinda wierd, but Gildarts can sometimes enrage people, y’know?” Molly said licking her candy-tinted pink lips.

“What did the guy want?” Dust blinked, so far this was odd, and yet, somehow believable. Molly wasn’t the type to lie, though maybe he’d been a little wrong about that, but for sure, this sounds like it was something Gildarts would do.

“Well… I wasn’t supposed to be listening,” Molly said with a mischievous smile, “But the guy wanted a potion to make him younger. Gildarts wouldn’t give it to him, like I don’t know if where he’s from if that’s bad magic, or if he didn’t like the guy, but they got in an argument and stuff. Piqui texted me and said she saw him totally kiss a storm trooper. Buuuut, you didn’t hear it from me. Or Piqui.”

“Who’s Piqui?” Dust asked. Gildarts’ plan was working, Molly was getting to know the man she’d kissed, and Dust was getting to know the girl he’d ‘victimized’ it was one of those things. A little time spent with someone could mean more than a single kiss. Life is about the bonds people share and knowing how valuable it is not to break them.

“Oh, Piqui is an exceed, which like, where Gildarts is from, is like, a cat with wings. They have magical capabilities, but Piqui is still just a kitten, she can’t fly people around just yet, only lighter things, unless there’s an emergency. It really tires her out. She’s also my best friend and fellow Ambrosian. You know, Ambrosia is a village that Guu helped settle, it is a safe place for misfits, people without a home. You know, until they start to live there and it becomes your home. In some ways, Gildarts doesn’t really have a home, but I like to think his heart lives at Ambrosia.”

“Is Guu Gildarts’ wife?” Dust asked, recalling the uncommon name that spiked through his memory.

“Not that I know of, though I doubt they’d tell me if they got married. Gildarts doesn’t seem like the type to settle down, though I guess, in a past life, he did.” Molly reflected.

“Ambrosia sounds really nice, will I get to meet Guu?” Dust asked, hoping to see Molly smile again. Humoring kids was always rewarding, the way their eyes lit up when they saw the world, and their smiles were oddly and wonderfully contagious.

“Hmm, well, I mean you can if you want. Aren’t you on a mission with Gil though? He doesn’t always act this way and I thought maybe he was doing it for intel,” Molly spoke again, like being part of the Prime lifestyle was some sort of secret. It was cute.

“A mission? I think our mission is stay here for a little while and relax, though Gildarts did imply he was going to train me, and take me to a super secret island too,” Dust said, again playfully talking to Molly so he could see her excitement.

“Oh my goodness! You’ll have to tell me all about it! That is so cool! Guu says it’s too dangerous for me to go on missions but when Gildarts saved me we went to Coruscant and stuff! I felt like a grown up! Don’t tell Guu, because I’ll get in trouble, but I,” Molly leaned in and whispered, “I mentioned I hack things, right? Well, I’m working on getting even better. Someday I’ll likely even have a bounty. While Ambrosia is great, when I grow up, well, you’ll see. I’m gonna be going on missions just like you and Gildarts, I’m so excited and ready, but I want to know everything first to prepare. Even Tangled, where Ambrosia is located, is dangerous. And I uh… Kind of snuck out to be here today. Vasty Deep is dangerous, I was picking up some wierd reports on my phone, but I’ll tell you about those later, maybe.”

Molly smiled like she was ‘one of the grown ups’ and it melted Dust’s heart, behind her, he saw a pink pony trodding along the beach, and realized, “Oh! Will you go check on my newly summoned for me? I left him sitting over there all alone with no food.”

“Doll?” Molly parroted. “I may be a little girl, but I know dolls don’t eat.”

“Heh, this one does, and he might get lonely, I’m not entirely sure yet,” Dust said with an embarrassed smile. “He’s the blond one right over there,” Dust pointed with his nose.

“Well, I’ll gladly go check on him and bring him back her with some food. Leave it to me!” Molly launched herself into the air, kicking sand into Dust’s face, and rocketed off at high-speed to her mission.

Dust watched as she left, as though pretending she was on a mission of Prime importance.

Molly ran across the hot sand, her sundress swimsuit coverup blowing in the breeze that her momentum blew behind her. Meanwhile, she’d caught Pinkie Pie’s eye.

“Hi!” Molly said, still running with a smile. Pinkie Pie picked up her trot and sprayed a cloud of sand behind them.

“Watcha running for?” Pinkie asked, somewhat inquisitive in a parental-chaperpony sort of way.

“I’m on a special mission Pinkie! Retrieve the doll! And stop at our umbrella fort and get snacks!” Molly said as she slowed to a skidding stop.

“Whew! That was a good run!” Pinkie said with glee.

“So how was surfing, I saw you rocking the waves up there, oh, where’s Piqui?” Molly said, suddenly a little concerned for her cat-friend. Water was her natural nemesis, after-all.

“Hm? She said she had to use the litterbox, but then I realized that could mean anything since the whole beach is sand, better watch where you step if you know what I mean,” the pony winked, “OH! And surfing was phenomenal! I think one of these days we should have a surfing party!”

“That sounds like fun,” Molly agreed to the magenta pony with a smile, “Mission time!”

Molly walked up to the humanoid doll and coughed awkwardly, “Uh, I’m Molly, Dust sent me here to retrieve you, and invite you to have snacks with us.”

“Hm?” The doll gingerly stood up, “Okay.”

Molly blinked. That was it? She assumed the prime-sent mission would be more of a challenge and then continued to walk over to the shade of Molly’s umbrella, expecting to see Piqui lounging there. She wasn’t, but the snack bag on ice was still intact. With some struggle, she wheeled it across the sand with Pinkie Pie and Dust’s doll by her side.

“I didn’t see Piqui, but we did get some snacks!” Molly said as she returned to Dust. “Your doll was nice on the way over, he didn’t give me any trouble. Hm? Who's this?"

There was an unexpected guest in front of her. However, she continued her duties.

The little girl smiled like a parent who was hosting a playdate and then began to fish out the food. Molly wasn’t sure what Pinkie Pie would like, so she showed everyone the variety of food she had brought, feeling a little void that Piqui wasn’t around to see her successes with Dust.

“For sandwiches we have PB&J, turkey and bologna, and moddle-berry, for snacks we have Cheeze-its, celery sticks, purple berries, blue berries, yellow berries, orange fig, an uncooked potato… Hey what’s this doing in here?” Molly said with an embarrassed laugh, “Must’ve been from the haste of our sneaking, let’s see, we have the s’mores supplies for later, we have watermelon, kin-melon, strawberries and whipped cream, kippy chips, orgasmic mushrooms, flirshing pops, and well.. A few other things that are at the bottom under the drinks.”

“So, what does everyone want?” Molly said, getting a little tired of listing.

“Oh, what drinks do you have?” Dust asked.

Molly nodded and began to list off more drink names, “Durry berry punch, kipple pony punch, cilly soda, blue deeps punch, green kipple punch, Sierra mist, Pepsi… As endorsed by Dante’s Abyss in past years, let’s see, plain water, something raspberry…”

[spoiler]Gildarts sighed, today hadn’t really gone as planned, and he hoped he hadn’t ruined it for Mo- the realization that Molly could’ve been in the kissing booth while it was caught on fire horrified him. He hadn’t seen the cause of the fire, and Gildarts doubted if his investigation would lead to much, considering the entire boardwalk was a deathtrap waiting to happen.

“Something wrong?” The floating cat said as she carried the glass jar full of golden change and bills. Cats were in-tune and highly empathetic creatures. They could read people better and play with laser pointers at the same time, most likely.

“Yes, Piqui, there’s so many people out there who are doing the wrong things, for the right reasons,” Gildarts began.

“What do you mean? Like… The bad guys? You shouldn’t feel bad for kicking their butts, even if you destroy a few buildings in the process. They’re out there, have the potential to level cities if they’re allowed to. It’s people like you, who are strong enough to stop them, that help people like Molly live their lives in peace.” Piqui said insightfully.

Gildarts’ chin tucked below him and his eyes fell to the ground. He felt an awfully lot like Pagliacci the clown.[/spoiler]

[Dust]

Dust was alone when Takezo approached, he looked up from the sands and smiled up at his friend. Then laughed with a bit of red to his cheeks at the man's comment about being surrounded by beautiful women. He was one of the only two who knew the specifics of his power, who or what he told after he vanished was a mystery. Deep inside his heart, the contractor was full of excitement at seeing his oldest friend approaching him. If he hadn't been buried neck deep in the sand by Gildart's he would have thrown his arms around his friend in greetings. Maybe it was best he couldn't move under the threat of Gildarts smiting him proper. "You are a sight for sore eyes." He said, just taking him in, noticing his clothing change. "Ah, and you adapt well! Look at those fancy trunks." He teased.

The ronin made his way around to face his friend so the immobile man didn't strain too much. He was looking at the man's neck puzzlingly.

Another laugh escaped Dust when he realized what a sight he must be. "I am in time out." He offered.

"Time out?"

"Yes, for kissing a girl I shouldn't have." Dust offered, sheepishly.

"Does this happen often? You seem pretty calm."

Still smiling, did the man ever stop? "Well, I can't complain too much. It was Gildart's daughter, after all, I could be a head in the sand that doesn't talk."

"Gildarts? The strongest Prime!"

It wasn't exactly surprise, it wasn't exactly shock, but something close that peaked Takezo's voice. It understandably sounded like a pretty stupid thing to do in hindsight. Had he known she was Gildart's daughter adopted or not he might not have proceeded in kissing her. He knew something had to be up when she was trying so hard to convince him it would be fine. Wolf saw no harm in it though, as it was just a kiss and for fun of all things. He understood that was no excuse and should have gotten a signed permission slip or something, but that's why he was here in the sand wasn't it? To reflect on his actions.

He's never had to do that before.

Another short laugh. "Yeah, that's the one." He said, going from silence to smiles in no time. Then he realized he didn't get to tell Takezo any of the stuff that happened to him because his friend had been killed during the game. Again, he couldn't feel sad at all. "Oh. That's right. I have so much to tell you!"

This was when Molly appeared once more, pulling his Doll along behind her while an oddly colored pony escorted them with a picknicks worth of things in tow. He was thrilled to see the boy wasn't bright red and amused by the fact that he was clutching the bottle of sunblock. The short blonde sat down and began to explain that his mission for her wasn't hard at all and that they had food. It wasn't until he saw the sandwich in their bags, cut corner to corner, that the entire party around him could hear his stomach. Even under ground, it was loud and beastly. "Heh... I'm just a little hungry." He said, then turned to his friend. "Sit with us Takezo. Gildarts should be around soon enough to let me out. He's an awesome guy and it would be rude not to introduce you to the man who's going to be training me."

All these new faces and new concepts struck Takezo into bewilderment. Dust was clearly a man who could get along with anyone if he could be friends with a son-of-a-bitch like him and a powerhouse like Gildarts. Before he could decline, or accept, he felt the little hand of the girl grab him and pull him to sit down. Beside him sat a very pale youth with dulled eyes. This male was very easily the only one not dressed for the occasion of a picnic on the beach. He wore a black jacket but with nothing under neath, the hood being on his back and letting a head full of wispy silver hair float on the breeze. All except a single braid bound by a complicated silver clasp bead. His teal colored eyes settled on the ground between him and Dust. He also seemed to be the only one who wasn't aware of his surroundings. The ronin had very little time to question it before a sandwich was put in his hands, the silence nameless figure got one as well.

"You think Gildart's would be mad I freed just one hand?" He asked, looking to Molly who had a face of uncertainty. This made the man's face twist back, but then he looked up like he found a loophole. But even if he liked it a great deal as a counter argument, he frowned again and decided he shouldn't disobey or else. He turned to the Doll and was going to ask him to feed him, only to freeze at the idea of not knowing what to call him... He looked like a statue, just looking at the ground. At that, he wondered what kind of medium the guy needed. Didn't they have to be some form of clear substance? He looked at the sandwich in his hand and willed his stomach to remain silent. "Staring at it won't help, just eat." He said.  The Doll looked up with eyes that looked like clouded unrefined gems. "Hoseki." slipped from his lips and he looked away. When he thought about it though, it was a good enough name...

"I'll help you, Dust." Molly offered, smiling at him and then offering the corner of a turkey and bologna sandwich. His eyes lit up as if she were his angel of mercy and took a careful but eager bite. It was as plain as could be, but he took another one right away. He smiled happily at her as he chewed, his cheeks poking out as he did. She just laughed at him.

After a half of the sandwich was gone and a whole fruit juice box as well, Dust was ready to put his hunger pains aside to start. "Oh, Molly. This is Shinmen Takezo, he's scary but he's my best friend." He said, then looked to Takezo. "And this is Molly. She's Gildart's daughter." The girl in question looked more related to the silent man beside the demon - who has slowly been consuming the peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the same size bites a mouse would make - but Takezo just nodded at her politely instead of suggesting she looked nothing like her father. "Crazy cute, isn't she?" He added, but the other man wasn't sure if he was meant to comment on the cuteness level of a 10-year-old.

'I guess I'll start with when you left." He started. It was shortly after that that he found Gildarts so it made sense. "After you got culled, Yuki and I headed into the mountains. We found Calamari and her friend in the mouth of some cavern and chased them in. Did you know there was lava on that island?" He stopped momentarily to take a drink of the empty juice box, frowned, and then moved back into his story. "I decided taking care of her other tentacle was the best thing to do, so I did that. Then she kicked me below the belt, and while I was down she fell into the lava." He frowned. "Sorry I couldn't push her in myself..'

'I don't know what happened after that exactly because next thing I know Yuki's on the ground and there's no more cave. I decided to take her to the closest safe house, but since our target was downed and I was hoping to get a few more points in I went to the nearest spot and found Gildarts." He paused to smile, apparently really excited about the idea. "I was going to fight him, Takezo. I really was." He expressed how sure he was.

There was no doubt in Takezo's mind that he would have. "But then why didn't you?"

Dust's smile only grew. "It was more fun to follow him." He said confidently. This made the older male let out a hearty laugh before he bit back into his own sandwich. It was a paste or two kinds of pastes, slapped between two oddly shaped carved pieces of bread. The flavors blended finely enough, but nothing like the Japanese buffet at the facility.

Actually, I never got to see Gildart's fight, unless you count the Bear. I don't. But we finally found someone in that forest, before Gildarts got culled. So it was me and his friend against this fairy." He explained but decided not to go into too many details as it wasn't his proudest moment. He had proven his worth to Illidan he believed, but he had not been happy about killing an obviously weaker target. At least he could respect making it quick and easy instead of dragging it out. "We won." He said, his tone dipping far enough down to show some remorse. Only to pick back up when he saw their faces. "Of course we did." He added. "Karl teleported us to the safe house we met Yuki in, and while he took a nap I met this girl." He stopped the moment he remembered Tamsin. Takezo watched as Dust claimed right up for once and while still shining, he turned hot red and looked away like he was smitten with whoever the mystery woman was.

[Oleander]

That was one hell of a story. There was much to take in. The twitterpated expression on Dust'Dust's face suggested whomever he met must have pulled at his heart - or the very least his loins. It was amusing enough to earn a smirk from the vagabond. A great deal has happened since their separation.

"You have had fun, I see. Not much has happened since my return from Oblivion." There were a few things, but not nearly as much.

"I did meet up with the bushy-browed boy. He was weak and being engaged by a healthy foe. I stepped in and proved my strength fresh from Death's door." The Robin chuckled. "He asked for time to summon a weapon, but instead chose to fly!" He punctuated his disgust in the man with a sharp laugh. "Pitiful. He then dares to try and recruit me as his Samurai."

He shook his head. "After that, it was walking and training till I arrived here. I did manage to channel this Omnilium magic into my swordplay. I have no reason to fret those who no longer walk the ground." The smirk told tales of the man's pride.

"But I digress. My return to life has been uneventful. After that man ripped the beating heart from my chest, the .... entertainment value of day to day life has gone down. I only regret I could not finish the game." His words were true and casual. He did not seem too heartbroken over the loss of the fight, only losing so soon.

Dust's brows rose and for a moment all eyes were on him. Takeo glanced around, a questioning expression upon his features. "What? Have I said something offensive?" Meanwhile Dust was eyeing that brutal death scar across his friend's ribs with new wonder. The swordsman covered a decent fraction of the ax wound with an empty hand. "Weak stomachs?"

[Gildarts]

It was a beautiful day on the beach, the sun was swooping slow for the horizon but wasn’t quite there yet. And yet… Gildarts felt his mind plague him with chains and darkness. What was it, a form of depression? He felt slightly meaningless, like every punch he threw was not his choice. Suddenly he was evaluating the meaning of freewill, the illusion that it was, and the sick game of life that he was in for the long haul.

But he had chosen the life of a wayward hero and he would likely die for his lifestyle. Fulfillment from his endeavors gnawed at the edges of his mind, the thickness of reasoning fogged up the world around him and Gildarts found himself looking over at the sea wistfully.

Life had been so simple, he’d not had a care in the world, other than destroying it. Now, every choice was a domino, and the fallout of life was unavoidable. Chaos, destruction, death. Everyone always pretended like they had a choice through it all, but no one, not even killers, really had the choice. Control was an illusion. Death was an unfortunate, well, usually a consistency. And destruction was the one thing Gildarts Clive had ever known.

He pulled his eyes from the spray of ocean and brought them down to his silver fist. The burden weighed on his shoulders. That of truth. That of all he had denied. That of the wrongs he had committed when he’d not been strong enough to fight against his own power.

Now it was all clear. Clear as the sun in the sky. Gildarts had never felt like more of a monster, than when he’d felt the full reality of his humanity.

“Gil, what’s wrong? Weren’t we going to see Molly? I’m getting tired of holding this guy’s money,” Piqui huffed.

“Wrong?” Gildarts felt his eyebrows crease together. What wasn’t wrong? How were all these people on the beach smiling and glowing and burning in the sun while he was there, standing without words, feeling sorrow drench his heart? Could they choose to forget every moment? Were they all drunk? High? Maybe they didn’t care about the world’s injustices.

Gildarts finally had his mind to himself, the freedom to think on his own. And thinking had revealed more or less everything he once believed in to be a lie. A crushing reality.

“Yeah, you’re looking off into the ocean like someone stole your fish,” Piqui said, cats love fish and this was a grave offense to their feline kind.

“I think… I just need a drink. But I’ll get one later. You’re a good friend, thank you for your concern,” Gil’s steel hand pet the scruff of her neck which was still floating in the air with the rest of her wing adorned cat-body.

He didn’t feign a smile, but maintained his usual ‘Gilface’ which may as well have been a mask that delivered societal approval, but to him may as well have been ripped off and buried in the sand.

“A drink? Hmm! The Abyss must’ve gotten you good then, but you made a friend, so there’s that!” Piqui stated.

Gildarts nodded and saw them a few feet up the beach. Takezo’s lips had formed the name of the crashmage and Gil felt his nose itching. Unable to hold it back, a rocket of magic shot forth toward the patch of uninhabited ocean and sand. Particles of beach were unearthed in a dense cloud of foggy dust, while the ocean was sliced up and then fell back together. Both were more fluid substances, the destruction magic dissipated and no one who hadn’t seen him shoot a virtual tornado out of his nose would’ve known any better.

“Oi! Dust!” Gildarts sauntered over, “What are you still doing in the sand? I thought you’d be out decades ago.”

His little joke. The strongest prime smiled but felt it waver, unlasting, burdened by the darkness of free thought also meant true, unadulterated doubt. He’d never had that before. It was a bitter shot to swallow.

“Oh, I-uh…” Dust looked at Takezo whose jaw was still slack after seeing what the mage had done with a sneeze, back to Gildarts and wasn’t sure to take the mage literally.

“Here,” Gildarts said, mercifully pulling the lycan free by shoving his organic hand through several feet of sand and then pulling Dust out of the ground like he was nothing but a weed. “How does freedom feel?”

Please. Tell me the answer. Gildarts felt himself beg for a brightside to his own newfound freedom. The answer fell on him unexpectedly. People had learned to be happy in their misery, as Dust had learned to smile as Molly fed him food, which Gil had saw from across the beach. Dust had taken the hand he had been dealt and had not shaken his fist at god, omni, or any other deity that the universe held. Instead, he’d dealt with it like a man should, more or less. Molly had even fed him, reducing him to nothing but a toddler status, if that.

Dust shook off the sand as a dog might’ve water, then, Gildarts eyes fell across the sweep of people. There was that doll that Dust had summoned, a magenta pony from Ambrosia, Molly, Dust himself, and a stranger with a sword mounted on his back.

“Oh, Piqui saved your tips for you,” Gildarts had held onto the large gold coins which were still brimming with heat in his metal hand and Piqui, the flying cat, had extended her paws out to Dust who happily took it. Piqui’s eyes hadn’t missed a thing, she saw the pinkness that flushed Molly’s cheeks. She was in the company of an attractive boy and Piqui had missed some juicy details.

“Save them?” Dust blinked, unsure.

“I was standing near your booth and it suddenly caught on fire, I’m not sure if it was intended arson, or if it was caused by the boardwalk’s cramped design. Good news is, I put it out. Bad news is, your booth didn’t survive.” Yeah, and neither had the rest of that half of the dock, Gil felt himself too embarrassed to say.

“What?! On fire?! Good thing I didn’t have any customers in there!” Dust exclaimed.

“Yeah… Good thing,” Gildarts had however, come very close to having a customer in there. Temptation had been warded. One right choice. Proven right by circumstance alone. Time travel hadn’t been invented, and meddling with it with magic was more or less against the rules, but had it, Gildarts wasn’t sure if he’d go back and change his life, or let himself climb like the stairs he had, again.

“Oh! This is Takezo, I’ve known him for a little while now, he was also a participant like us in Dante’s Abyss,” Gildarts flinched. He didn’t need PTSD right now. He had enough on his mind. Honestly, the once-oblivious prime had a tough time deciding which was better to anchor his mind, instead, he needed to figure out how to make his mind sail.

“Greetings, Gildarts. Your reputation precedes you,” the swordsman formally tilted his head with a respectful nod.

The mage however, had no idea what reputation that was. Social constructs, right. “Oh, thank you, it is nice to meet you as well,” Gildarts said, feeling himself desire isolation more than ever before in his life, which was terrible, because he’d always sought solitude in order to not decimate entire cities in one sitting.

“Hey, are you okay Gildarts? You’re tan but your face is looking kind of pale. Maybe you need some water? Molly packed us all snacks,” Dust suggested.

But the words fell on mostly deaf ears. The kindness was appreciated, but the man was still plagued with the density of existential depression. It was unpleasant. With his chin up, Gildarts braved the pain and pretended to be hungry.

“Did you make them yourself?” Gildarts turned to the young blonde and was met with an eager grin.

“Do you like peanut butter and jelly?” Molly asked happily.

“Hmm. Not sure, I think I should try it and find out,” they shared a smile and Gildarts stole the chair under the shade, looking off into the distance of the ocean. Still unsure about the world around him, but at least he’d have a sandwich in his hand.

…

“Mmph, this is quite good. You call it peanut butter?” Gildarts said through a mouthful.

“Well, I’m sure it would taste good to you, your cooking skills… Could use some improvement,” Molly stated.

“Hmm.. The sun is starting to go down, maybe we should all play some volleyball before, what did you call them? S’mores?” Gildarts asked. Humanity, it seemed they were all about processed foods, sugar, and competitive sports like politics or anything that held the shape of a ball. He was doing his best not to feel bitter, and bringing the sight of the Ambrosians and his Fairy Tail guildmates back into his mind.

“Oh you remembered!” Molly exclaimed, “I’m so glad. Yes, of course we will ALL play.” Molly said with a growl over her shoulder, “So who’s the two team captains?”

“You and I.” Gildarts announced. “Anyone who doesn’t want to play can sit on the sidelines, right now though, we’re choosing teams. You go first Molly.”

“Okay Gil. I pick Dust for my first.” Dust blinked, it wasn’t really fair that Gildarts was going to have equal players and he was on the side of a little girl, though it might turn out she was particularly skilled in the game. Knowing Gildarts he’d probably end up deflating the ball several times while he tried to spike or punt the ball.

“Takezo,” Gildarts said with a confident ring. The swordsman didn’t appear to know the rules, and continued to look at Dust quizzically, who just gave him an expression that read, just play along. He did feel fortunate though, to not be going up against the strongest prime in what sounded like a competitive event.

“Pinkie Pie,” Molly stated.

“Piqui,” Gildarts called, he’d picked up on the picking order rather quickly, “You’re aerially inclined, you’ll make a good ally.”

“So these are the teams? Pinkie Pie, me, and Dust,” Molly said, “And Gildarts, Takezo, and Piqui?” They seemed pretty fair, though if Piqui could fly, she would have a lot more versatility.

Perhaps the depression-plagued prime would take solace in a competitive sport. Though at this point, he just hoped it wouldn’t go too far.

“Say, Dust does your doll play volleyball? I wouldn’t want to exclude him,” Molly said with her hands on her hips.

“If you want you can have him on your team, if he plays,” Gildarts said.

“Uh, maybe it’s best he sits the game out, he’s been in the sun pretty long,” Dust excused his doll.

“Works for me, the teams are even now anyways, Gil, no using your magic!” Molly instructed. “And if you break the ball you have to make us a new one.”

“May someone please explain the rules to me?” Takezo spoke up.

Molly nodded. “This is the ball, that over there is the net. You can’t let the ball touch the ground, the goal is to not let it go out of bounds, which is the rectangular lines we’ll be playing with, as well as you want the other team to drop the ball, because that’s where you get points. So if I hit the ball over the net to the other side and Gildarts doesn’t catch it and pop it back over the net, or to one of his allies like you, and it hits the ground, my team gets a point. You can’t grab the ball, you have to bounce it. Any other questions?”

Gildarts too, was glad to be briefed on the rules. He’d never played any sports in his life. It had to be a lot like either fishing, or combat. Maybe a little of both. Still, Gildarts was primed and ready to drown his sorrows in a little competitive match.

[Isabelle]

Isabelle and Rosie spent the next few hours at the theme park. The mad cat wasn’t satisfied unless he road the rollercoaster at least five times. Izzy considered the ferris wheel a blessing after that.

While the dog was fighting a headache, she quickly learned that her partner may be way too enthused about flying. She had her arms outstretched as if she were the leading lady of Titanic, her eyes closed as the high air ocean breeze rustled her. She wasn’t even paying attention the stunning view the ride was giving her. Then again, neither was Isabelle. She just watched Rosie the whole time, her look of bliss was awfully cute.

Afterwards, the pair had corn dogs for dinner as they merged back onto the beach. As Rosie bit into her breaded sausage on a stick, she got a few words out between chewing.

“Thank you so much for today, Izzy!” She said. She swallowed it all with a big gulp, then gave Isabelle a side hug. “This has been the best day I’ve had in a long time!”

“Thank you, two for letting me come along!” Said Usopp, causing the pair to jump.

“Captain? Since when did you come back?” Cried Rosie.

“Come back? I’ve been with you guys the whole day?”

“The whole day? I don’t remember you when I passed out!” Retorted isabelle.

“I was getting you guys waters at the time!”

“You weren’t on the rides!” Rosie added.

“Well, yeah, I waited outside for her guys, didn’t look like my thing.”

There was silence between the three, Isabelle and Rosie just stunned that they had a third this whole time.

“D-did you seriously forget I was here? You even bought me dinner!” He said, pointing at his corn dog.

The two still didn’t respond, just dead eyed at the apparently lack of perception. Finally, Rosie broke the silence.

“Hey look! A volleyball game!” Called out the cat.

“Don’t change the subject!”

“Let’s see if we can join the game!” Called out the dog.

“You guys totally forgot me, didn’t you?!”

The pair run up, hand and hand over the protest of their pirate friend. The two approached the net.

“Hey! Can we join?” Called out Rosie.

“Oh, sure!” Responded Gildarts. After Ambrosia, he wasn’t phased by cat and dog people anymore. “If you’re fine with being on separate teams!”

“That’s fine.” Isabelle said.

The two looked each other in the eyes, smiled and then parted their hold hold, going to separate sides of the nets. Rosie took the side of Molly, and Isabelle took the side of Gildarts.

[Jak Mar]

Jak had cut his anger and crying to a standstill once he found out Dax was gone but not forgotten. He and ash had become better friends (in a way). Desman had run over and then in a flash was unconscious as ash wrapped her hair grapple around Desman.

Jak smirked “Well that works.” He had to remember that next time des sasses him.

Jak groaned “well let's get moving to the beach.. uh yeah..”. Costa del Sol was close and everyone was groaning. The ragtag group of robot, knife ear elf and storm demon.

The nexus was bright and annoying as the crew moved to the vastly deep, costa la sol finally showing itself. Time to change to swimsuits

[Dust]

Volleyball.

It was almost the first thing Dust had done with his freedom. He vaguely remembers Xavier at this point, how he and his mouse friend had went their own way so long ago but when they had been there she the mouse had taught him the game. He had been ready to inform his friend about the rules, only for Molly to step up like an information pro. He didn't mind at all that she explained the game, and was ready to explain anything Takezo didn't understand in another way that might be easier for him to get it. He was all ready to give what advice he had to offer when suddenly Molly and Gildarts started picking teams in rapid fire. There were only the six of them, but he had been chosen first.

By Molly no less. He didn't have time to argue - not that he wanted to - before the ronin took his spot at Gildarts' side. His mouth moved but no words came out.

Shortly after that they were getting up to move over to the court, leaving Dust and his Doll. Both had half finished sandwiches, the difference being this was probably his 6th and Hoseki was still on his first. Wolf frowned, and then put another drink next to the Doll. "Finish your food and just watch the game." He instructed, knowing that the boy was still human and had basic needs. He wanted to say more, but had no idea how to approach the problem at hand. He didn't really want to worry about it right now either, he would have plenty of time later. He adjusted the shade a bit for the kid and then ran off to have fun.

When he arrived he found the cat and the dog from earlier, each one had taken a side randomly, Rosie was on his. He felt a nervous strain of grief run down his neck remembering how forward she been with the kiss. Which turned him more red when he thought about the dog's kiss, too. Funny how they would pop up like this again. He shook his mess of hair freely to get his head in the game, then moved into position on Molly's side.

That's when the question of who goes first came up, and almost everyone decided Molly should serve first.

So, there they stood in their loose formations, she with the ball, the whole non-existing crowd's eyes on her. She was determined, prepared. The warm sea-scented wind blows through her sun-dress while she stares her father down, his cape catching in the wind and scene prepared for war among the strongest worriers. Team Molly vs. Team Gildarts. Molly takes hold of the ball, staring it down and getting herself hyped for the best serve she's ever done in her life. This had to be epic to fit the epic situation! She tosses the ball into the air with little warning, waiting for gravity to do its job, and then with the mightiest of slaps - hand making solid contact with the ball - she sends the ball flying!!

..Right into the net.

The colorful ball catches in the net for a moment before it bounces back at her team, falling uselessly in the sand and rolling into Dust's foot. Everyone is silent, except some seagulls that cry out somewhere on the beach.

"Was that supposed to happen?" Gildart's asked, honestly not sure.

Molly was already hanging her head in shame.

Dust leans down to pick up the ball and smiles up at the other team, addressing his mentor. "No." He laughed. "But given her height and the distance of the throw, technically it was bound to happen." He said, then offered Molly his signature grin. "Do you mind if I serve first? I bet you are way better up here in front than I am." He wasn't lying, but she could tell he was trying to make her feel better. That was enough for her, he was tall enough to play any position and be good at it. She gave him nod, looking less defeated as they switched places.

Hokori tested the weight of the ball, giving it a few test tosses into the air once he took his position. Inside he was also working out who to throw it at. It didn't feel fair to throw it at Takezo who might still not understand the sport fully, and the idea of accidentally hitting Isabelle made him cringe. That only left the flying cat, which also made him cringe, and Gildarts. He decided that the mage could take it if it hit him, also it was only right to challenge the captain of the other team when they disrespect his captain!!

He took up position, perfect form, narrowed his eyes to let everyone know he was serious, and then tossed up the ball. It floated up into the air and back down. Ookami jumped three feet in the air like it was nothing and then gave the ball a powerful smack with his large hand, sending the ball flying at neck-breaking speeds across the court and at Gildarts. His aim was true, his challenge issued, and his lips twist into a wicked pleasure as he apparently enjoyed competition.

The ball was a blur, as any ball hit by a prime with his power would be, as it shot like a flexible cannon towards the crash mage. It looked like it would hit the man square in the face. Then as naturally as flexing his muscles, the red-haired man met Dust's challenge by punching the ball! His knuckles impacted the ball, which barely held itself together, and then sent it flying back at the student with the force of a man who was too strong for his own good.

On the other side of the court the contractor just landed when he saw this. He had no time to call the man out on his technique before the ball he had just held in his hands seconds ago comes across the field with mighty vengeance! Dust only had fractured time to escape ground zero as this game of volleyball quickly became a game of dodge ball. He lands outside the lines of the court just before they heard a loud pop and dirt explodes into the air. In Dust's place was a mini crater and in the center a very destroyed ball. Sweat formed at Volk's temple when he realized his mistake...

Should have served it to Takezo...

His team moves around him to make sure he is okay, which he waves them off with a smile and a nervous laugh. Molly was super relieved her ball didn't make it over the net now, but is quick to turn and face the strongest prime with as much fear as Dust had faced him with - none - and yelled at him. "You broke our ball!" She then pointed to the remains of it. "Now you better make a new one, Gil!" She demanded. Behind her they were trying to move the sand back into place so they could keep playing. "And don't think this means you get a point. It's still our serve." Molly notifies Gildarts, then goes to help with the crater.

[Oleander]

The short break it took to manifest a new ball, Takezo was busy formulating how this game should be played. By the rules he had been told, there was apparently one left out. No excessive force. Measured strength must have been an unspoken rule to qualify as a foul. He had paid special care to watch how Dust had served, though Gildart's return was... basically a punch, which the ronin did not believe an accurate way to attack the situation.

Gildarts soon enough had a ball in hand and was giving it a good toss to test its weight. "That feels about the same," seeing as he had basically tried to copy the previous ball from the brief moment he held it. He casually tosses it over the net at Dust, letting this first little mishap slide.

Dust caught the ball and was ready to serve again. This time he knew exactly who to serve to. His eyes flick to Takezo. The Ronin seemed in a slack position, unprepared and easy prey. He knew the Ronin was tough, he had seen it in action, and knew the man would not mind taking a hit to the face for fun. The scar upon the man's chest, kept past reincarnation, was clear he enjoyed competition. With a wolfish smirk, he tosses the ball. As it descends back to earth, his hand reaches to smack it across the net.

Takezo was already in motion. POW! The ball hurtles across in the blink of an eye, but Takezo had already leaped in a burst of movement to place himself in perfect position. His arm was up and by the time the ball arrived, he snapped an open palm to the ball with a sharp but mighty "HA!" In the span of a second, he had returned fire. Dust did not even have the benefit of regret before he feels a breathtaking force take him off his feet.

There was no crater, but he was knocked out of bounds and left gasping. After a moment of recovery, his chest burned! The broad red welt Takezo had left stung like a million hornets. The ronin retook his position as he called to the giant; "No hard feelings, my friend. I will not strike children. You are the only viable target on your team." He naturally assumes this is why Gildarts chose Dust as well. The warrior did not know you could simply aim for the sand. After all, he was supposed to make them drop the ball. That sounded like a test of strength.

Takezo flicked his hand a bit. Even he was not immune to the sting the ball had left behind. At least with as spread out as the impact was, on both ends, the ball did not pop or explode. Some of the stitching of the outer layer was coming undone, but it did not demand immediate attention. "N-no problem... We're good..." Needless to say, Dust was still reeling. After two high force impacts, he was somewhere between pain and adrenaline. He had to remind himself this was not a fight.

"I believe it's our turn now?" Gildarts chimes, a slight smirk at the Swordsman's display. The man's mix of brutal competitiveness and morality was almost uplifting. Almost. "Dust?"

"Yea, I'm up." With a flick of his tall form, Dust is back up on two feet. He still rubbed his chest. "Dirty move, Takezo."

"Me and a friend used to play a game similar. We would take the severed head of Generals and try to hit one another, without tripping on corpses." Takezo was grinning, but there were more than a few eyes staring at the man. His brow furrowed at the odd response. "What?"

[Ash]

Ash welcomed the feeling of the gates, sucking her through and transporting her to a new verse. It gave off the same high as Jacking-In and there was no addiction to it in her blood, but the thrill of fast moving data appealed to her. She held onto the grapple hook's braid firmly, in any case, keeping the robut properly leashed to her while they traveled. A moment later they were among crowds of people, some gasped at the sight of her, most sent them dirty looks. She shrugged, completely unfazed by this kind of attention, her company would quickly get the feeling this always happened or was a usual occurrence for the demon they kept in their group. They could also easily gather how little she seemed to care by how she just stood there with no shame. An older woman, in particular, was purely offended by her and gave her a look of disgust, Ash responded by winking at her. "This the place?" She asked, turning to Jak.

"Yeah," Jak grunted, wondering if his goggles could double as shades as he squinted at the crowd. Some of the citizens were looking at him, whispering to the secondary next to them.

It was at this point that Desman decided while he didn't hate being lead around by a make-shift leash by an attractive and confident as hell woman, just going with the flow wouldn't lead to any interesting results. He 'cleared his throat' and began to unravel himself from her disturbing weapon. "Well, yes! Here we are!!" He turns to Ash, "I appreciate you not leaving me behind and all, but I can move just fine on my own." He announced, Ash watched as he loosened the braid to the point he thought he was out, only to be snagged by the hair once more. He fiddled with it again, only to repeat this about three times while before it officially dismisses it. He looked perplexed before looking at her. She responded to his confusion with a smirk that told him she knew something sensitive. He didn't know what that was, but his memory loss only made it more likely that she did. This made him flustered. He turned away, finding Jak. He was delighted by the idea of the long eared man's company once more! Maybe he could help with the loss of memory? "Jak! Good to see you again!"

Jak catches the woman beside him glancing at him before he nods. He wasn't the pleasantries type. "We are going to wait out our sickness on the beach, did you want to join?" He thought he'd offer.

Desman looked the woman over. He was searching his internal list of names when hers came to mind finally. Ash. This was Ash. He remembers very little about her, including how little he knew about her. He stares at her long enough for her to cock her hip the other way and raise her pierced brows in a 'what 'cha looking at?' look. He turned back to Jak. He was ready to decline but then decided against it. "Sure." He finally said, then eyed the woman up and down again as best he could without making it too obvious.

That didn't change the fact that it was completely obvious.

They traveled together through the fun loving city, the bright sun already bearing down on them. While Jak was getting flashbacks from the sandy deserts from his past, Ash was fanning herself and quickly regretting the extra layers in her outfit, and Desman was taking in the sights. If her internal problem wasn't enough to drive Ash up the wall, the heat was pushing it. When they came upon the public showers, used mostly for washing off the salt water before heading home or to the bar after a day of surfing, Ash came up with a quick idea of how to take care of both problems. She pointed them out to Jak. "Over there. I bet a shower will make us feel better. And we can change into something more appropriate." She said, with no implication in her voice.

Jak hesitated... She has already shown how easy it is to change, but he had to admit. Between a week on death island, the prison break, and a week of being dead. A shower didn't sound bad at all. "Maybe.." He was a man of few words.

"What about me?" Desman spoke up. "I don't need to change, or need a shower to cool down." Stating the obvious in a very innocent tone.

Ash frowned at the interruption, but then let her tail curl and a smile crossed her face once more. She turned to the red midget who was behind her before and lowers her body slightly to make 'eye' contact, gravity adjusted her outfit so that he could get another shot like before. Someone might think she was about to tear him a new one, anyone who knew her brutality of the tongue would try to warn him. However, as a surprise, she smiled sweetly at him. "Great~! Because I'm starving!" Desman clearly didn't know what that had anything to do with the fact that he didn't need to shower, but she was ready to answer his confusion. "See, if you want and got us all some food while we take care of this that would be... Optimal."

He registered the tone difference naturally but was surprised by the seductive draw on 'optimal'. Either she thought that would get his gears going, or she thought efficiency was sexy. Something inside of him thought efficiency was sexy, suddenly. "W-Well... I mean... Obviously the more time we save here, the more time we can spend doing other things." He said, in more or fewer words telling her that her logic was sound. "What am I looking for?" That was an important question. There were a lot of variables when it came to food. Likes, dislikes, allergies...

Without skipping a beat. "Look for the longest line." She said with a smile, but her tone serious. "Obviously that's the best way to gauge where the best food is. If it's not any good, they wouldn't be lining up to get it."

Her logic and perception of things continued to impress him. "Good point!" He said cheerily, and headed off in search of a very long line!!

Ash's satisfaction grew across her face. She loved when a plan worked out. She glanced back over her shoulder, Jak wasn't meaning to stare, but just happen to be looking at her ripped pockets when she caught him. Her tail lifted up as if giving him permission. He turned hot before pointing to the showers she had been addressing, a cold shower seemed like the only remedy available. He struggled to come up with something to say, and just headed towards them. She stood back up and followed him casually, grinning like the sinner she is. He picks a random one, none of them seemed to be in use, and goes in. After clearing his mind with a few deep breaths and shaking his head clean of the thoughts he was having he gets to it.

The Storm Demon gives him a few good minutes before using her dagger to pop the cheap lock on the door and stepping in. Jak's ears weren't just for show, and when he heard the door open he turned around to see her enter, shutting the door behind her. He was down to his shorts at this point, and he looked more shocked that she was there than he was upset or embarrassed about her seeing him half naked. She briefly wondered how an average pair of boxers could hide his secret but didn't think too hard about it. "I just thought about another way to be efficient." She lied, taking off her jacket in the small area in front of the shower part. Jak's brow hiked up at this, he was listening. She noted the level of trust by how the only weapon he had on hand was the one she was interested in. "I suggest we save water, by showering together." She said, knowing full well that's not how that works.

Ash moved further into the tiny room with a grin on her face, and while he was technically cornered Jak could fight her if he felt threatened, He didn't. She's done nothing hostile towards him or his remaining friend. He was just a little concerned about if he was misinterpreting the situation. It was at this point that she made her intentions very clear, running her hands along his bare chest, scooping them behind his neck and looking him in the eyes, waiting for him to take the kiss that lingered on her lips.

He could see it as if it was tangible.

He wanted it.

Jak put his hands on her hips and pulled her into him, kissing her. Initiating it this time, he kisses her gently, easing into it... Slowly the world fades from his mind and it's only him and Ash.

---

A good hour later Jak emerges from the stall in his choice of trunks - because a speedo would be destroyed - water still dripping off the ends of his hair. He couldn't wipe the grin off his face, and it was harder even still when he thought about what they'd done. He still was amazed she had managed to stay so quiet... At least for half of it. Jak grinned harder and then shook his head in an attempt to focus on something else. His eyes come up and he looks for Desman. He should be back by now unless the line he found was really that long. Given his recent activities and how even more hungry he was, he would eat anything at that moment.

A few moments later, the door snaps open and Ash stood in the frame, hip cocked, legs crossed, and a sinful shit-eating grin. Dressed to impress, she wore a bikini naturally. Her top didn't change much, a solid black strip of cloth covered her chest, but around the back it was mesh. Silver chains, as thin as a necklace's, dangle in 3 loops down her sides, each one one slightly longer and spaced so the don't over lap. Her bottom was mostly mesh,  another solid strip of clothing to keep her decent, and three tiny chains connecting the front and back halves that set snugly on her hips. The silver matched her ever-present cuff  and the pre-existing piercings. Her wet medium length raven colored hair was pulled up in a high pony tail, a skull pin set on the right side of it. She grinned over at Jak before stepping back into the world.

If he paid close attention, he'd notice she was walking a little differently.

[Desman Black]

As Desman walked to get some food, he could have probably figured out what was happening if he thought about it, but he didn't, and even if he did he still probably would've gone and let Jak have his playtime, but let's stop focusing on what could've happened and instead focus on what is happening.

The line had to be long, that's what Ash said, the problem was, the problem was that there were no lines, anywhere. Everyone was too busy crowding around a game of Vollyball, so he decided to get candy floss... except the stall was completely empty besides a sign that said "The owner of this cart has been arrested, due to return in 5 minutes. NEVER!!!"

'Seriously.' The robot gives a sigh before just going to the closest food place, he could just explain the situation to his comrades later. "What do you have?"

"Well, we have this new 'hard lemonade' and it's selling like hotcakes." says the old dude with a beard that went all the way down to his feet casually. "We only have this singular bottle and the free sample jug left, do you want a try?"

"Sure." Desman says, grabbing the small plastic cup as soon as it's filled up. "That's actually pretty good. Also, your lying."

"What?"

"I said your lying, you have various packs of that drink in your stall."

"H-How could you tell?" The shopkeeper asks though whisper into where he assumed the midgets 'ear' would be.

"Well," Des explains in the cockiest accent he could muster. "1. My sonar can detect body shapes, which includes that of an inanimate object, and 2. you just told me."

The old man just groans that this comment. "So how many do you want?"

"Two packets please."

"Anything else, Sherlock?"

"I wouldn't mind some food."

"Here, have this 3l tub of Ice-cream on the house, now leave please."

"Don't you want the money for the dr-"

"JUST LEAVE!!!"

~~~15 mins later~~~

Des has by now summoned a towel to sit on, and a picnic set-up near the volley-ball game. The robot recognized some of them from Dante's Abyss, and judging by how she was with Jak, maybe she'd get distracted by them and he could finally talk to the eco-warrior about what happened during those forgotten times, they were quite hot males after all. In fact, if he was gay, Des would probably kiss them, who is he kidding, if the opportunity arrived he would probably kiss them anyway. Why did those last two thoughts sound like they were foreshadowing something, oh well.

And Des probably thought the dog was cute in that swimsuit too.

[Gildarts]

[spoiler]Before the game started, two adorable little talking animals wanted to join in, Molly and Gil gave them the thumbs up, and the match began…. With Dust serving instead of Molly, politely, and Gildarts breaking the ball.

It wasn’t unexpected, but that was why the NFL existed, so that players on a professional level could compete with people at their skill level. That… Wasn’t technically the case with Gildarts, he was just too OP. His reflexes weren’t a surprise, but punching the ball away wasn’t quite kosher, so he had learned. He wasn’t even using half of his power and already he’d broken something, while he was summoning the ball he flexed his fingers doubt forming in his mind. He couldn’t rightly make the ball heavier, Molly and Piqui wouldn’t even be able to lift it.

The main trouble was, starting out Gildarts foresaw himself having an easier time than controlling it mid-game, when the ball was whirling at him, his fight-mode was activated. Gil needed serenity. He was usually so good at control and execution, though most people who looked at him may have thought polarly. Inside the crashmage was a million natural disasters going on at once. When one was finally bayed, another usurped, threatening mutiny of Gildarts’ control. Nealaphh… Tearen had helped with that part alone, and with the Malefactor. But the prime was finding out there were simpler things that were the foundation of control that Gil had yet to harness.

The best direction for any of Gil’s balls would be up. It wouldn’t strike anyone without warning and would fall into the dirt safely, if they were smart enough they’d stand clear. But, that would be too easy and not really a test of Gildarts’ skill. Contemplation hit again, hard, and he was flexing his new brain muscles as his eyes fell on Takezo. Dust seemed to like him, Gildarts wasn’t quite sure. He seemed like a respectable chap, but within him there was something sharp as blade’s edge and dark and unyielding. Gildarts had initially chosen him first so that he could keep an eye easily glued to him. Now he was glad to have done it. If his last move had hit anyone other than Dust, Gildarts would’ve put him in the dirt, but not left his head popping out.

[/spoiler]

“Oi, Takezo, take it easy, all you gotta do is get the ball in the dirt, just aim for the part of their territory that has the widest gap,” Gildarts, team captain, intervened automatically. Protective most of Molly. “If you sever any of their heads, I will not be happy.” An umbral shadow cast on the dark contours of Gil’s face. What was usually a fun, glorious man just got dark, the switch had happened faster than a blink. Even Molly felt the chill from across the net and shivered.

Yikes.

Dust sniggered, amused by the repercussions, tasting a little bit of revenge syrup, since he had just experienced Gildarts’ punishment, though, the lycan assumed he would be more merciless to Takezo, especially regarding Molly.

It was Dust’s serve, it was passed and Piqui called it. With the powerful sway of her tail it battered back in the air, where Isabelle, the cutest most fluffy puppy in the world and in a swimsuit, pawed it back to the air. Up and over the net where it fell between Dust and Rosie, both who dove through the sand for it, and rammed noses.

“Owowow!” Rosie whimpered and Isabelle felt her stomach churn.

“Are you okay?” the doggie asked.

“Yes, just a little knock, that’s all!” Rosie said confidently, though her eye was still squinting.

“Uh, I’m okay too,” Dust muttered jokingly. Isabelle gave him the protective death glare of her close friend.

“Your nose isn’t sensitive like a cat’s!” Piqui complained and bantered back to the kissing-master.

Dust smirked with amusement. Thatmuch was true.

“Point for Gil’s team! Nice one!” Molly shouted to Isabelle.

“Who serves next?” Gildarts asked Molly, too trusting, for she could’ve warped the rules, for it was mostly she who knew the rules.

“It’s my turn!” Pinkie pronounced. Whether that was true or not, well, the look on her face was enough for Molly to pass the ball over to her softly. “They don’t call me the ninja pony for nothing.”

Just who called her that, Molly wasn’t entirely sure. But if she had the outfit for it, which the young girl had a hunch, well, anything was possible.

With the determined squint in the pink pony’s eye, you could tell she was calculating the best place to toss. Anything near the big scary mage was more of a red zone. Everywhere else was free game. The pony’s body tensed, her glutes raised to the sky, and in an instant, she’d tossed the ball in the air and then swung around with a daring ninja-esque kick.

The ball was flung off the the other side and the soldiers on the volleyball battlefield rallied. The ball was falling up and over the net, toward the front, where Isabelle and Takezo positioned themselves. It was swooping in on Izzy, who was preparing her bounce-back.

Takezo, the noble, allowed her to take the kill, or rather, strike.

The pup readied her paws for the intercept, “I’ll pop it into the air,” she said, recruiting help and teamwork. Her paws were slippery from the dangles of fur, and the ball collided, albeit more into Gil’s territory than Takezo’s. Whether or not that was a relief, they would find out soon enough.

“Got it.” Gildarts claimed quickly, and people knew to get out of his path. The crash mage’s speed and execution were startling, but those alone weren’t the qualities that killed people. Holding back, Gildarts blasted the ball over the net and it arched higher than the covenant’s.

The ball quickly faded to into the blue sky and out of sight.

“Whelp, you lost us another one, Gil.” Molly rolled her eyes, “I should make these things points for our team.”

“Aww don’t do that ref!” Piqui proclaimed.

“It’ll come back, my aim was perfect.” Gildarts said. Suddenly, no one doubted it.

The other side began to fidget, looking afraid for wherever it may land. How big of an impact would it have on the beach? Would it obliterate the net or bury them in a flood of sand? Pinkie Pie and Dust appeared at the ready. Did they really plan to intercept it on its collision course with earth? It was… More like a meteorite than a ball now, momentum and gravity kicking in on amazing levels.

Finally, the dot came back into sight and Molly tugged Rosie protectively to her side, “Let’s let Dust and them take it, they’re probably a little better suited.”

Rosie nodded, still feeling her bonked nose and they stepped out of bounds. “Dust, don’t worry about it if you can’t get this one.”

“DUST?” Pinkie huffed, and declared, “This one is all ninja pony!”

Dust blinked, “Gil hit it… Uh, pretty high up there…”

“I. Got. This.” Pinkie stated confidently and her eyes narrowed. The rival team waited pensively for the ninja pony’s action, everyone was curious to whether or not her attempt would be successful.

“HA!” Pinkie Pie jumped up toward the net and with vigor, the ball was steamrolling right for her with added wrath from gravity. Next, the volley pony tilted the net in her teeth and prepared her jump. Trajectory was everything. Treating the net like an elastic band and angling it like a trampoline, the strategy was to let the net take the brute force and use its own whiplash to hit the opposing team’s side.

With just enough ‘ninja pony’ finesse, the plan was executed.

The ball nearly tore through the net, but since it was made with the same omnillium fibers as the ball, nothing was ripped, and it equalized. Like a fly swatter, Pinkie released the net from ther mouth and BAM! Before Gil, Isabelle, Piqui, or even Takezo could do anything about it, Gil’s own plan backfired and a massive crater dented their side of the field and covered everyone in a massive pile of freshly untrenched sand.

“WHOAAA!!!” everyone choired together. It was one thing to make a save, but Pinkie Pie had just done the impossible against Gildarts.

“You’re my hero,” Molly pronounced. Rosie and Pinkie high-fived.

Dust’s jaw was still gaping, some sand had been tossed in. “I cannot believe… You just did that.”

“Is that foul play ref?” Piqui asked.

“Well, technically the ball never left your bounds, either way, it is a point,” Molly surmised. How could she not give it to Pinkie Pie after that marvelous show of tenacity and craftiness.

“Your serve, team Gil!” Molly said, “Well, once you dig out the ball and remodel your entire field. Ha!”

The gloating was real.

As their ball endlessly passed over the net, the big ball of light in the sky fell on its axis and closer to the horizon.

It was getting dark. They had time for maybe one more round. The score was tied with each side having nine points.

Every time one team did something, another pushed back. Dust had proven particularly inspired after he’d witnessed Pinkie Pie’s amazing show. Gildarts and Takezo had formed a good partnership, communicating every time they wanted to plan to spike the ball, though never using proper volleyball terminology.

Molly and Rosie had made some great saves, Dust had served a one-hitter that had landed directly on the bound’s line. Molly had called it in, and not because he was cute.

Isabelle and the flying cat Piqui had bonded too, Isabelle’s best friend was a cat so they had plenty to talk about during the times when Gildarts had broken be ball, or some other sort of repair needed to be made, which as rather frequent. So far, the pole had been dented, three or more balls had been replaced (only Molly was counting) and everyone had a bruise somewhere, except Gil and his rock-hard muscles.

“Is anyone else hungry?” Molly asked to her team before there was an outroar.

“No! We need to assign a winner, we can’t end on a tie!” Piqui said, perhaps she had gotten a little too competitive with the match.

“I worked up an appetite,” Dust poked his voice between theirs.

“Food sounds pretty great,” Isabelle agreed, her paws were tired from a long day in the sun.

“Did I hear there were s’mores?” Even Pinkie was ready to end her volley mission.

“I assume most of us will be unable to play if we cannot see the ball,” Takezo reasoned.

“We can make it glow in the dark? And paint ourselves with glow stick goo! Come on guys!!!!” Piqui begged.

“As much as I’d like to beat Gildarts, I think I’m too tired to even serve again,” Dust said.

“Soo, it’s over? A tie?” Rosie asked.

“We would’ve won,” Piqui crossed her arms, and everyone hoped there wouldn’t be a catfight. Rosie wasn’t aggressive though.

She smiled, “If you say so little guy.”

Piqui blinked. By comparison to Rosie she was rather small.

“What a story this will make!” Molly said, immediately typing on her social media device, “Aww I should’ve got it all on camera!”

“Shoulda, coulda, woulda!” Piqui flew over and landed on the youth’s shoulder, “I’m pooped, I can’t eat the chocolate in the s’mores but I think if I replace it with fish it’ll be just as good.”

“We have diet-friendly options of all kinds!” Molly said loud enough so that Isabelle and Rosie could also hear.

“Who’s gonna start the fire?” Molly looked expectantly at the boys: Takezo, Dust, and Gildarts.

[Gildarts]

“Well, can’t we just create fire?” Gildarts said, “It’s what we’ll have to do with the wood anyway.”

Molly had put on her sassy pants, and her arms were crossed swifter than the gates of heaven. “Oh? Just for that you need to make two, one for the group, and one for you because you won’t be sitting with us!”

“Uh…” Gildarts translated the mean girl terms in his mind. “Really?”

“Nah, but it is cooler if you make it yourself, you can use a lighter if you want because friction on the wood would probably chaffe your hands… Gildarts what is THAT?!” Molly exclaimed.

“Uh, what?” Gildarts blinked as she pointed to his right pectoral.

“Did you get stabbed?” Molly’s eyes widened, “And you played volleyball like that?”

“Yeah, I wasn’t wearing a shirt so you could’ve noticed then as well,” Gildarts pointed out.

“Mhm, I was a little preoccupied with kicking your butt!” Molly exclaimed.

“Oh, okay…” Gildarts’ brows came together in a masculine pout.

“My point is, what are you thinking?!” Molly’s inner maternal instincts were coming out.

“It’ll heal eventually, I’m magic, and I guess my body’s made of Omnillium too,” Gildarts pointed out.

“It’ll heal eventually,” she mimicked with her eyes cross-eyed, “Gil, is that how you lost your arm and leg? Probably of gangrene or INFECTION!”

“Oh, I’m a mage, my blood has magic build into it, I don’t get sic-”

“I DON’T THINK SO GILDARTS CLIVE!” She said like a nagging wife on DBZ, “I think you’re afraid of hospitals.”

“No… I’ve just never needed one,” Gildarts said. The first father-daughter argument. The crash mage couldn’t quite see how this was relevant, but from a human’s point of view, he probably could’ve gotten a better understanding of her perception if he tried.

“Tch! Boys are sooo difficult,” She said and realized Dust was probably watching from whatever perch he was on.

“That’s why you can wait till you’re married to get one,” Gildarts stated with a satisfied smile.

“Uh-HEY! That’s not even fair! Your sense is worse than normal!” Molly burst, pointing again yet.

“Molly, I appreciate your concern, if it hit an artery or something I would’ve known because the blood wouldn’t have stopped, but despite the appearance of a hole in my chest, I’m fine,” he pat her back to show some fatherly comfort and asked, “Instead of worrying about me, why don’t we build the fire together? I used to do it a lot when I was on the road. Say, what is a lighter?”

“What? Really?” her mood changed with the tides, and they were sparkling with excitement, “You’ll show me how to survive in the wilderness all by myself?”

“Uh.. Maybe we’ll save that for another day,” Gildarts said, Guu would likely never approve of that. Camping in Tangled wasn’t exactly… Safe.

“Wow! You just promised to take me camping in the Tangled Green! Can we go far away from Ambrosia on a little mission and everything? Just the two of us?” Molly jumped up and down with her energy tapped glee.

“Did you just twist my words?” Gildarts said with an amused smile.

“Can’t prove it!” Molly said with a smile.

“Oh, you really are growing up,” Gildarts said with a smile.

“Let’s see if we can collect some driftwood, Omnilium is the easy way out!” Gildarts stated, he could make fire out of pretty much anything. It was one of his rare skills, if it was soaking wet, he could do it with sheer skill. Perhaps he had the magic touch.

“Oh boy!” Molly jumped up and signaled Piqui with a beckon of her hand.

Gildarts looked at her go for a moment and his eyes fell on the half-sun dipping into the ocean. He felt a longing to live in this moment forever, it was a nice feeling, seeing his legacy grow before his eyes. The prime held a solemn expression on his face though, lines of age bore worry and regret for a life well-lived but not well spent.

This moment would not last forever. When would be his time to finally cash in a well deserved rest? Endings, like moments, were fleeting and would not last forever. He took comfort in it for a moment, and then his utterly drained, tired bones of Omnilium reminded him, he couldn't ever take the final slumber.

[Gildarts]

“How’d you do?” Gildarts said, expecting Molly to turn around with a few twigs.

Instead, her arms were full of sizable fragments of deceased tree and dried out segments of branch. “Look at how much I got!” Molly found her rendezvous with Gildarts was more or less in the center of the camp with everyone around. She dropped her stack at her feet and fished something out of her pockets, “Look! Look at these!”

Molly pulled out a giant’s palm sized handful of seashells, “I’m gonna keep these and use them as decoration so I always remember today!”

“You collected all those shells and that driftwood in the last few minutes?” Gildarts raised his eyebrows, impressed.

“Yup! Piqui is carrying some of the shells too!” Molly mentioned and Gil’s eyes hovered over to the floating cat who had a plastic bag full of seashells.

“Wow, you’ve really outdone yourselves,” Gildarts smiled, “Ready to make some flame?”

Gildarts felt his mind cast to the memory of Natsu and had to force himself to appraise the saline treated driftwood. A few sticks and branches, but there weren’t any shrubs around to use as logs, a fire’s main course that could be added on after the kindling.

We’ll use the driftwood first but I will need to make some more wood later. Gildarts noted and dropped his own hoard, which was about half the size of the young girl’s.

“Let’s do this!” She said with a beaming smile. “I’ve seen this on OmniDiscovery channel, you get some sticks and you rub em together really hard and fast!”

“That’s definitely one way to do it, but fire is an art, destructive, eats what it touches and scalds what it can’t eat,” Gildarts and Molly both sat on the sand across from one another.

“So you’re saying that fire is a creation and it can only come about when two sticks make love?” Molly inferred.

“No no, you have to rub,” the man’s eyes widened, she was too young to be thinking so much about making love and kissing boys.

“Like this?” Molly said, watching Gildarts’ set up.

The man had created a bed of kindling, picked out a good fire starting friction stick and set it between them, so that Molly and he could take turns when revving up the friction. Surrounding the kindling was an organized scatter of sticks.

“More like this, now you have to channel the friction with heat and movement, which’ll catch against the kindling and spark fire.” Gildarts stated, and began the rolls between his palms. After a speedy moment, he was smelling smoke and passed it over to Molly. Ushering her to make the final push.

“On OmniTelevision they also blow on it,” Molly said.

“It’s too early to do that, that’s only if your smoking embers don’t have a draft. The ocean breeze provides plenty, if you blew now it would snuff out the staring of the flames,” Gildarts informed and then reminded himself to smile. Life was a process meant to be lived one step at a time.

“Right,” the pigtailed girl nodded and fixed her gaze on mimicking Gil’s every movement, rolling the piece of wood into the other smoking pieces with vigor.

“Is it easier for you to do cause you don’t have a hand?” Molly asked.

“Uh… I mean technically my hand is made of steel, which makes it harder, no fingerprints to help me grip the wood,” Gildarts usually forgot about the lack of his appendages, since he’d lived most of his life with them. The main times he was reminded of his lack of, was when he had phantom pains, thankfully, it wasn’t as often as it was when he’d first lost his limbs, but he’d learned to repress pain very well throughout his life of fighting and creating destruction.

“There! Keep that pace! Remember creating fire is the transference of one energy to another, which will burn the wood to keep it sustained, there! There!” Gildarts was getting excited as spouts of flame were catching on the dead brush he’d set as kindling.

“Yay! Look Gil I’m doing it!” Gildarts couldn’t have been more transfixed, not by the fire, but by the fact that she had learned so quickly. So this is what it was like to be a father.

“It’s catching! Molly wonderful job! I’ll build the wood around it,” Gildarts said and his hand reached over to the pile they’d merged.

As Gildarts was creating the tent-shaped tipi, Molly had jumped up and glomped Gildarts, tackling him into the beaches sand, “You’re the best, that was soooo fun! Thank you!”

This was the first time Molly had ever shown him gratitude, he soaked it up, feeling his insides warm to goop, and Molly shrieked, “Ew! I touched your icky bloody wound! Germs! Germs!” She ran off toward the ocean, and those who had watched were either laughing, or had roused a soft smile.

Gildarts wasn’t used to being the center of attention and had bided his wait time by creating more logs for the fire, he was grateful when Molly came back and asked, “So, everyone’s set up their chairs?”

Gildarts was the only one who hadn’t set up proper accommodations. Molly rolled her eyes, it figured. “Now that my hands are free of Gil’s blood, who wants s’mores?”