FAIRY TAIL WEEK

The sun kissed skies shined down covering the city of Magnolia with its light. The city was a buzz as Fairy Tail's birthday was scheduled to take place later that week. Located at the rear of the city lied Fairy Tail's huge guild hall. Within it laughter and drunken chatter could be heard. The wizards couldn't contain their excitement as this festival was very different from the previous years they had celebrated. This year would mark the first time Magnolia's treasured Rainbow Sakura Tree would bloom that very same day. The tree was said to have been planted the day the First Master Mavis had created the guild marking their shared birthdays.

To mark this historic event, the guild's Third…I mean Sixth master Makarov had declared this week Fairy Tail Week! The week would allow all guild members to celebrate by randomly picking a name of another wizard from the guild's request board and treating them and appreciating them for what they bring into the guild.

As the members' drunkenly laugh and tease one another, Mirajane happily rolled out the board and placed it in front of the bar. Holding a bag she pins each paper individually with the names facing the board preventing anyone from knowing who they would pick. Done, she happily turned around and makes the announcement.

"Ok everybody! You ready to start Fairy Tail week?"

Gray casually walks over to pull a paper.

"Hey Mira, by chance you can't give me the smallest of hints of where Natsu's name would be?"

Nastu was a bit shocked that Gray would want to pair up with him.

"Gray…"

Maybe all this hanging around doing quest together had finally changed him and he has acknowledged him to be one of the strongest…NO! The best wizard of all time!

Pointing an accusing finger she amusingly replies,

"Uh uh Gray! You know I can't help you in picking your partner!"

Gray looks over to her confused.

"Partner? Who the hell would want Natsu as their partner? Waste of a paper if you ask me."

Suddenly with no warning a fire covered punch nearly lands across Gray's face who barely dodges it.

Natsu angrily presses his forehead against the ice wizard's and in a threatening manner asks,

"You looking to start a fight!? I'll give you a fight!"

"Oh yeah! What's a puny lizard like you going to do about it!?"

"ENOUGH!"

Both men freeze as the familiar voice fills the guild hall.

Freezing in fear they look over to the woman who menacingly walks over to them.

"Er-Erza!"

"If you two are not going to pick a name, then I will."

She proudly strolls over and rips the piece of paper and gives it a glance.

Smiling she lifts the paper and shouts.

"Wendy!"

The Dragon Slayer nervously smiles,

"Me?"

Crumpling the paper, Erza begins to shake with anticipation.

"How can I properly show a young Dragon Slayer a form of appreciation that won't only last a week, but instead, a lifetime?"

Wendy confused asks the S-class wizard,

"A lifetime?"

Slamming her fist into her hand, Erza shouts with excitement,

"OH! I KNOW!"

The whole Guild jumps as Erza points directly at Wendy with determination and fire in her eyes.

"I will teach you how to fight! I will go all out! NO HOLDING BACK!"

Both Wendy and Carla nearly jump out of their skins after Erza explains her plans to the young inexperienced wizard.

"WHHHAAAAA!?"

"Yes. And after we can go to the bakery and get some cake! That's IF you survive."

Wendy couldn't help but hug Carla in fear of what her day with the great almighty Erza would entail.

Erza's excitement fires up Natsu as he rushes forward and grabs a name.

"I GOT-"

The fire dragon takes a moment and looks over his paper and snickers,

Mirajane continues to smile and asks,

"Well? Who's the lucky wizard?"

He raises the paper above his head and screams,

"Lisanna!"

Mirajane and Lisanna shared a shocked looked that quickly changed into smiles,

Mirajane could only giggle and say,

"Oh my!"

Before Natsu could say another word he was pulled into a violent hug by Elfman.

"To pick the name of a Strauss is MANLY! You take care of my sister!"

And again without saying a word Natsu is nearly flung across the hall as Elfman 'lovingly' pats him in the back.

Despite all the fuss, Mirajane looks over to Gray,

"Ok Gray! You're up!"

"Alright, here I go."

Unbeknownst to him a certain water type wizard nervously stood in the back.

(Oh my darling Gray…is this is how destiny envisioned us? To have you pull my name and scream with admiration of your love for me!? OH! The thought of it all has me-)

"Hm…if you'll look at that?"

Pushing everybody aside Juvia runs towards Gray with hearts in her eyes.

"My love! I knew destiny would-"

"Carla."

Juvia violently crashes on her face.

The Exceed surprisingly looks up.

"What? Me? But I'm-WILL YOU PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON!?."

Gray looks down in surprised to see that he has stripped down to his underwear.

"AHH! SORRY!"

Pulling herself together Carla continues,

"But I'm not a wizard."

Mirajane continued to smile,

"Of course you are! All of Fairy Tail is included. That includes you, Happy, and Pantherlily."

Taking one last shot, he slams his mug on the table.

"If that's the case I'll make sure to grab Lily's name!"

The steel dragon proudly walked up and grabbed a random paper.

"Let's go Lily!"

Mirajane grabs a hold of Ganjeel by the shoulder.

"You didn't even read the name on the paper!"

"Don't have to. I already know I got his name. It's an ability we Dragon Slayers share with our Exceeds."

Natsu shouts out,

"That's total bullshit!"

Ganjeel stops what he's doing to yell back,

"Oh yeah! How much you wanna bet Lily's name's on this paper!? Not my fault you and your lame ass cat don't have what we have!"

Lily could only nod his approval.

Ganjeel was too focused on Natsu to realize a certain blue cat creeping up on him.

"If you'll excuse me! Lily and I got some training to do-HEY!"

Happy grabs the paper and glimpses at the name.

Flailing his arms, Ganjeel attempts to grab back the paper and shouts at the blue Exceed,

"Give that back!"

Happy couldn't help but giggle and blush.

"OooOoooO! You're going to LOOOOOVE the name you got!"

He flips the paper around and shows the name to all.

"He got Levy."

A blush creeps across Levy's face.

"I…um…I mean if those ARE the rules to the game I guess…I guess we have no choice but to be a pair. By pair I mean…I mean a pair of wizards who…um are friends. JUST friends!"

Ganjeel could only growl as Happy continued to gush over the newly announced pairing.

Too pissed to say anything, Ganjeel storms out.

Just as he's about to exit he stops.

"So…what're you waiting for? An invitation?"

Levy realizes he's talking to her and blushes.

"Oh! Right!"

She gathers her stuff and chases after the Steel Dragon.

One by one more wizards are called out.

To Juvia's dismay she was paired up with Lucy.

Elfman with Evergreen…despite their public outcries that they aren't seeing one another only to be followed with everybody in the guild rolling their eyes.

To see his beloved Carla paired with Grey, in defeat Happy walks out with his partner.

"Are you ok Happy?"

"No offense Lily, but I was hoping to get Carla."

"Ah. As I with Ganjeel. I will just have to train harder and build up our psychic connection."

Happy annoyingly looked at the other Exceed.

"You know that isn't a thing, right?"

The papers continued to dwindle until there was just two left.

With everyone continuing to get drunk and sloppily approaching the board without publicly announcing who they received, Mira lost track of who the two names could possibly be.

At closing time, Mira stayed behind to clean up.

Looking at the clock she noticed it was time for her to head home soon.

Placing a tray of empty mugs by the bar, she looks over to the board.

"I guess now would be the best time to pick my partner's name.

Reaching up she tears a paper and turns to look at the name.

Her eyes widen.

"Something the matter Mira?"

She clutches the paper close to her chest before turning around.

"Laxus!"

Placing his things down, he takes a seat by the bar.

"Closing shop early?"

Taking a deep breath she nervously places a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"With the master's blessing he allowed me to close early so that I could enjoy the festivities."

She goes around and prepares the man his usual.

"And besides, with everybody out celebrating I'm stuck here all alone."

"I'm here."

She lets out a small smile.

"That may be true at the moment, but that's only because you finished your mission late."

Despite Mira attempting to clean the bar and leave, Laxus allows himself to get comfortable by removing his fur lined signature jacket.

"Yeah, well you try taking on the mission I just finished and let's see what time you get in."

Finishing up his drink, she glances over at the man.

"That wasn't what I meant by it."

She places down his drink and gently passes it to him.

"Thanks."

Taking a sip he looks over and notices the board with a piece of paper.

"What's that on the Quest Board? A Mini Quest?"

Looking over Mira's eyes widen.

"Oh! I forgot! You weren't here when the Master went over Fairy Tail Week."

"Fairy Tail what now?"

"It's easy. In honor of the Guild's birthday and the Rainbow Sakura Tree's blooming landing on the same day, Master thought it would be wonderful to celebrate by incorporating Master Mavis' beliefs. One of those was to appreciate your fellow Guild Members."

After all that explaining Laxus didn't seem impressed, but more annoyed if anything.

"I'll pass."

"Wha-no! You can't just pass! Somebody will be missing out on a partner!"

Ignoring her he continues to chug down his beer.

Peering one eye open he sees her angrily standing there glaring at him with her hands on her hips.

Rolling his eyes he places his beer down.

"Fine. If it means that much to you."

"Thank you."

He walks over and rips the paper. Sighing he looks down. His mouth slightly opens.

Curious Mira walks over and asks,

"So? Who did you get?"

He places the paper in his pocket and turns to face the woman.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

Not expecting that type of answer, she blushes with embarrassment.

"Well whoever it is, I kind of feel sorry for them."

She quickly turns around and continues to clean up the remainder mugs.

"Hey, that's not very nice."

"Your answer wasn't very nice."

Taking his seat back at the bar he returns to sipping his beer.

"I think I would make a great partner."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

With little to no warning a thunderous sound and a bright shot of lightning fill the sky.

Mira not expecting the sound accidently drops the mug shattering it to pieces.

"LAXUS!"

The man throws his hands in the air.

"Wasn't me!"

She strolls over and looks out the window.

"Looks like it's about to rain."

"See? Always so quick to judge."

She simply rolls her eyes at the statement.

"And I forgot my umbrella. Oh well…looks like I have no choice but to walk in the rain."

With Laxus done drinking they both walk out with Mira locking the door behind them.

The rain had picked up and it was now completely pouring.

"Looks like the rain isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Well, goodnight Laxus."

She turns to leave but stops when she feels a gentle hand touch her shoulder.

"Don't be silly. I'll walk you."

"You don't have to. I'll be fine. A little wet, but fine."

"Come on. Let's go."

He removes his jacket and holds it above them.

Smiling, she places herself under the jacket.

"Ok."

The walk was enjoyable. The pair shared things they never knew about the other. For one Mira never knew Laxus had particularly loved the rain. Despite its depressing nature he had vaguely explained how it reminded of him of the best times of his life.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at her doorstep.

Jumbling with her keys she finally opens the door.

Despite their best efforts, they were still a little wet.

Laughing she looks up at the much taller man.

"Thank you for walking me. That was very kind of you."

"Don't think too much of it. I don't live too far from here so it was on the way."

Typical Laxus is all she could think to herself.

"Goodnight Laxus."

"Night."

She closes the door leaving the man to walk the rest of the way home alone.

Once there he quickly removes himself of his wet clothes and takes a long hot shower.

Satisfied, he steps out and dry towels himself and changes into a gray tank top and yellow shorts.

Plopping on his bed he looks over to see his soaked pants.

Hesitant, he slowly gets up and walks over to pick up the discarded pants.

Sifting through the pockets he retrieves a small piece of paper.

Lying back down, he fiddles with the paper in one hand as his other hand rest behind his head.

It was as if he was in a trance.

Stopping he takes a moment before opening the paper and revealing the name,

"Mira…"