Hey Everyone! I'm back with the newest story of my collections, the sequal to Fair Weather! Sorry it took me a while to write this, and before you read this story I would like to make a note now, just to clear a few things up: my previous story 'Fair Weather', as I had started writing it in 2010, takes place even before Wendy joins Fairy Tail. I would say it happens just before the Paradise arc. and 'A Festival in Red' follows closely after it to fit in with the story line.

There you go~ soooo...without any more delays, here is:

A Festival in Red

It was beneath a large canopy of browning leaves, speckled with a variety of red and yellows, with multiple picnic rugs laid out over the expanse of decomposing leaf-covered forest floor that a hefty group of mages gathered to drink the day away and celebrate another season.

Sitting upon a purple-checkered rug somewhere closer to the outside of the circle of mages, a lazy grin plastered on her face as she gulped from a wooden tankard that was originally filled to the brim with beer, but now as Cana Alberona brought it to her lips again she frowned with dissatisfaction to only have a few scant drops fall into her mouth. With a sigh she dropped the tankard next to her and pulled the top of her silky black yukata with green trimmings down slightly while fanning herself. Beside her, Elfman was setting out a large sum of freshly baked pastries and cakes with peculiarity and setting two cushions carefully in front of his display.

Cana glanced over at Elfman's work and seeing the variety of baked goodness she reached over to take a muffin that was sitting precariously on top of its stack while carelessly calling out to him, "Elfman, did you not bring any butter?"

With an irritated and loud yell, Elfman pulled the muffins out of her reach and slapped her hands away while shouting, "These are for Nee-chan!"

As the two of them began arguing over the muffins Master Makarov was busy setting up a stand full of prizes for the later games they would be participating in with Mirajane and Laki, the latter using her Wood Make to help create the stand.

Erza sat cross-legged on her own rug in a Yukata specifically for the occasion decorated in elaborate patterns of orange and gold and her hair fell like a fountain down her back, crimson contrasting brilliantly with the deep green ribbons braided into her fringe and flowing across her shoulders. She delicately stabbed her fork into a piece of strawberry cheesecake as Levy chatted animatedly beside her, her own yukata a brilliant shade of violet. Jet and Droy hung by her shoulder arguing as usual over who got to go on the 'vacation' that was a two ticket prize for bingo if Levy were to win.

Most of the members of Fairy Tail had already assembled on the leafy ground, conversing loudly and laughing and sharing drinks, while a few particular mages had yet to make and entrance.

"Natsuuuu…" The teen Celestial mage banged with her fist on her own bedroom door that Natsu had locked himself in after letting himself into her house via her bedroom window. Lucy blew on her throbbing knuckles before hammering her bedroom door again. "Come out! We have to go…and I still need to get dressed!"

There was a silence for a moment as Lucy waited for a response, and as none came she sighed in resignation and sank to the floor. Leaning against the door with her back she whined loudly enough for Natsu to hear her. "Everyone's probably already there…" she mumbled to herself, staring down at her bare feet that were glowing slightly red in the hints of cooler weather as autumn came upon them.

Lucy smiled sadly before speaking loud enough for the fire mage on the other side of the door to hear her. "You know, it wasn't your fault. Everyone makes mistakes. It's what makes us human. And you know I already forgave you, I told you that as soon as I woke up. Because it's true, it wasn't your fault Natsu. I'm the one who followed you and I'm the one who couldn't take care of myself." She sighed again as she remembered the disaster she and Natsu had gotten into only four days ago.

Ever since that fateful day in Balsador where Fairy Tail lost a precious member of their family, Gray, Natsu never forgave himself. Lucy assumed that was the reason why she hardly saw Natsu at the guild anymore, and why he was always taking on such dangerous jobs ever since they came back to Magnolia. She understood it was his way of avoiding the acceptance of his best friend's death. And she couldn't just sit by and watch as her best friend put himself in harm's way repeatedly just so he could feel something other than emotional pain.

She could still remember his words after their last mission went wrong and Lucy was caught in a collapsing building along with the bandit they were catching. Natsu had pulled her out of the rubble and held her firmly against his chest while a tear rolled down his cheek and he constantly mumbled apologies to her.

She couldn't remember anything after that. When she woke up in Fairy Tail's infirmary the next day she was surprised to see the fire mage fast asleep sitting upright in an armchair in the corner of the room. He woke up after she had gently called his name and worriedly fell beside her bed to check on her. Lucy had smiled at him and said she forgave him and that she didn't blame him at all for her injuries, despite the fact that it was Natsu's handiwork that collapsed the building.

As they had sat there in silence Lucy carefully brought up the subject of all the missions Natsu was taking by himself. She can remember Natsu's reply as though he had said it just a second ago. 'I like going on missions. It's the only way I can feel alive, after what happened. These injuries…they're nothing, compared to the pain in my chest. Feeling this physical pain helps relieve it sometimes. That's why I take all the dangerous ones, and I'm sorry you had to get caught up in it all Lucy. I truly am sorry.'

Lucy tumbled forward slightly and yelped in surprise as she felt her bedroom door push against her back. She glanced up hopefully as Natsu sauntered past her and held the door open as she clambered to her feet to stand before him. Natsu's face pointed to the floor as he moved aside to let her into her bedroom. Lucy hesitated before reaching a hand out to his shoulder. Before she could comfort him at all she was distracted as Natsu murmured, "you better get in there and change. I'll meet you downstairs."

Before Lucy could react he left. She stood there watching his back as he made his way to her kitchen. She frowned before turning on her heel and closing her door behind her to find her royal blue yukata with gold trimmings hanging on its hanger on the knob of her wardrobe, the bottom of it splayed out on the floor.

Carefully folding her clothes, Lucy sashayed herself into her yukata and pulled her hair up into a neat bun where she put in place a pink flower clip to help keep it firm. She inspected herself in the mirror and winked at her reflection. "My, my…don't you look sexy, Lucy," she commented with a sweet smile.

She glimpsed once more at the mirror before hurrying downstairs to her kitchen where she grabbed her picnic basket filled with biscuits and a rug and glanced around her to find Natsu who wasn't there anymore. Lucy raised a brow and cautiously peered out her front door to see Natsu sitting by the side of the river with Happy by his side looking sadly up at him.

Lucy stepped into her sandals and closed the front door behind her with a soft click before wandering towards the fire mage and calling out to him. "Come on then, Natsu. We're already late."

Natsu turned around and for the first time in a long time, when he saw Lucy standing waiting for him with her picnic basket clutched in her hands and her blue yukata fluttering delicately in the light breeze, his lips lifted into a small smile and he stood up next to her with Happy close on his heels as always. "Yeah, let's go."

Thank you for reading, I really appreciate all your support. I hope you like this one, and I hope you follow it all the way to the end like all my faithful readers of Fair Weather, and hopefully this will prove to be even better as i practice my writing style more..so please review and give me some honest feedback! :)

lots of love from xxxx