Author's note: since it's the Holidays, I decided to write a story that takes place during This time of year. One that's unique, well, enjoy!
A Christmas Remembered
Chapter 1: I Hate Christmas.
The snow was falling peacefully in Magnolia. The cobblestone streets were coated with a light dust of snow, people were walking around town and buying gifts for the coming Holidays. For Levy, this was her favorite time of year. She walked down the snow covered streets, in a orange snow coat, a red hat, red snow boots, an orange scarf, a long pair of warm pants and a smile on her face.
She hummed a few verses of Sleigh Ride and headed straight for the Guild. Levy just couldn't wait to see how The Guild looked this year; they got so many new members over the years it was going to be the best Christmas ever! Eventually, Levy reached The Guild and couldn't believe her eyes.
There was a large Christmas tree in the center of The Guild, people were decorating the tree and everything! Reedus was making ornaments with his Pict-o- Magic, Lucy and Laki were stringing popcorn onto the tree, Natsu was lighting candles on the tree and eating the string popcorn (only to be whacked in the head by Lucy).
Erza had some ornaments from when they were kids put up, Jet and Droy were putting up a few of the lights along with Happy and Carla, and Makarov was searching several boxes along with his grandson.
"What are you looking for Master?" Levy asked.
"Two ornaments Levy dear!" said Makarov "One that's very special to me, and the other is one that belonged to The First Master."
"Master Mavis had a special ornament?"
"Yes! One that she created when she first founded Fairy Tail. I could never find it but I felt it was time to find it... Found it!"
"You found the ornament?"
"No, even better! The one that's important to me!" He pulled himself out of the box and walked over to his grandson, he was wearing a green Christmas sweater with red Fairy Tail marks all over it.
"This one your mom gave me before your first year!" Makarov said to his grandson. Levy looked at the ornament and couldn't help but feel it was cute. It was Laxus before his first year, he was sitting in a high chair, covered in baby mash, had a smile on his face and had blonde hair; Laxus just looked at it embarrassed.
"I don't even remember that." Laxus muttered.
"Heheh, I even have some home videos." For the first time in Levy's life, she saw Laxus' whole face turned bright red.
Levy looked around The Guild and noticed Gajeel, he was sitting in his corner alone, giving the tree the nastiest glare he could give. Levy could swear, she heard a low growl from him. What's going on with him? Levy thought. She walked over to the bar where Mira was cleaning the glasses.
"Hi Levy!" she smiled "What can I get you?"
"How about one non-alcoholic apple cider and one Cinnamon Ale?" Levy asked.
"Ooh, for Gajeel?"
"Yeah, might cheer him up."
"I don't know why but when we started decorating the tree, he just got all moody. I haven't seen him like this before." She gave Levy the two mugs and Levy gave her a tip. She walked over to the spot where Gajeel was and plopped the tankard of Cinnamon Ale in front of him.
"Figured you might need it." Levy told him. He stared at her and grunted a thank you to her before taking a sip "It looks nice so far huh?"
"Tch, nothing special." Gajeel grunted.
"Now that I realize it, it's your first Christmas as a member of Fairy Tail!"
"Your point?"
"Well, aren't you excited?-"
"Why should I be?" Gajeel cut "Christmas is just another excuse for people to buy gifts." Levy looked at him with wide eyes.
"Are you ok?" Levy asked.
"Peachy." he replied sarcastically.
"You don't sound it, is it the cold weather? I can help you with relief-"
"You want to know why I'm like this?!" the whole Guild stood there and watched the fight "I HATE Christmas! I always hated it! There's nothing good about it! Christmas is just a false holiday and a good excuse for people to buy and get presents! It's just another day in the calender! Nothing special about it!" They all looked at the scene before them, Levy looked at him; stunned. What's gotten into him? He let out a long sigh.
"If anyone wants me, which I doubt after my little outburst. I'll be at home." he got up, grabbed his leather jacket and walked out of The Guild into the snowy city.
"Gajeel..." Levy whispered.
Gajeel opened the door to his one floor cottage and slammed the door out of anger.
"Take it easy there big guy!" a voice screamed.
"I'm home Lily!" Gajeel grumbled "Where are ya?"
"In the Living room." Gajeel kicked his boots off and walked right into the living room. His eyes widened when he saw the Living room.
There was a medium sized tree being decorated with cat-related ornaments in the living room, the once dull gray walls were now coated in multi-colored lights, most were decorated to look like fish, angelic wings and the Extalia insignia.
"Lil, what is all this crap?" Gajeel asked.
"It's to celebrate the Holidays!" Lily smiled while flying up to the medium-sized tree to put up another ornament."
"Well, could you take this down? I'm sick of looking at Christmas crap-"
"It's not Christmas I'm celebrating!" Lily explained "That's a human holiday which of course I respect, but I'm celebrating Exceedmas!"
"The hell is that?"
"It's like your traditional Christmas." Lily explained "But we celebrate it as Exceeds, we have different traditions in some ways but some are similar to your holida-"
"Well whatever it is I want this out of the house by tonight." Gajeel spat "I hate the holidays and want nothing to do with them."
"Gajeel, where's your Christmas Spirit?" Lily asked.
"It died along with my childhood." he said in a gruff tone and plopped onto the couch.
"I'll grab you some traditional Exceedmas cookies. Might lessen your sour mood." PantherLily walked out of the room and soon headed to the kitchen.
"Oh, Gajeel!" Lily called out from the kitchen "For Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I'm going to the Exceed Village in the mountains. They invited me for the celebration and it's the first one I've been to one since I was considered a 'Fallen', you don't mind if I go do you?"
"No," Gajeel tried to say in a cold tone "I don't mind, go have your fun with your friends." Actually, Gajeel did mind. Christmas was his least favorite holiday and he didn't plan to go to The Guild and celebrate. Why celebrate a holiday he hates? But, he secretly didn't want Lily to go so he doesn't have to spend the holiday alone. God, he hated being alone. What Makarov told him when he found Gajeel in the ruins of Phantom Lord was true: "There are people in this world that enjoy being alone, but there isn't a single person who can bear solitude." God, he hated this time of year so much! He wished he could just hibernate like those bears and wake up in the spring only to have no winter to worry about, no stupid holidays or anything.
A knock on the door was soon heard, Gajeel got up from the couch and cursed under his breath. He walked over to the door.
"For God sake, what the hell do you want?!" Gajeel screamed only to realize it was Levy.
"Gajeel," Levy whispered "I-I just came to check on you." Gajeel calmed down for a moment.
"Come in." he grunted. Levy walked in behind him and removed her winter coat and hat.
"You were pretty angry at The Guild."
"Why shouldn't I be? I hate Christmas."
"Well why? Why do you hate it so much?"
Lily walked in with his traditional Exceedmas cookies.
"Ah, Levy!" Lily smiled "Good to see you, may I offer a cookie?"
"I would love one Lily." Levy took a red and green Exceed insignia shaped cookie and bit into it.
"I'm not gonna say a word." Gajeel grumbled.
"Why not?" Levy asked.
"Because it's no one's damn business."
"Well, we're your friends you can tell us anything."
"This is between me and the world Shrimp, I want no one to get involved."
"Gajeel you know this is unhealthy." Levy pleaded "Please, I'm literally begging you to tell us why you hate Christmas so much-"
"You want to know why?!" Gajeel screamed "Fine, the reason I hate Christmas so much, is because I never had one! Are you happy now!?"
Levy and Lily looked at the man with shock; what could they say? Levy couldn't help but think to herself:
H-he never had a Christmas before?