Nightmare Key here! I'm truly happy that you guys decided to read this. I took a long time deciding who I wanted to pair up and what kind of surprise I should give them. Here it is, finally.
Presenting…Chapter 2.
Disclaimer: Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail, not me…sadly.
Spooky Halloween (part 2)
Fairy Tail Style
After Natsu and Laxus's nightmare, it was time to announce the next lucky person of the night. Everyone was glancing at one another, all too afraid that they might get chosen to do all these crazy tasks. The then laughing crowd became silent after Gildarts once again went to the ballot box, placing his hand in, letting it go a clockwise motion before pulling out a single sheet of paper.
He slowly rolled it open and read the next name…Erza. Upon the announcement, the whole hall was left with mouths agape and eyes pried open in respect for the student council president. The night's vampire queen. Nobody wanted to miss even one second. They were all wondering how Erza would dominate this 'Trick or Treat' segment that everyone feared. Erza feared nothing and no-one. They all knew that just like Natsu, Erza will never refuse a challenge and go head-on.
Erza got up from her seat and made her way to the center. The students parted into two to let her go through. She really was just like a queen. Her long dress dragged onto the floor yet she had no trouble sashaying to where she was supposed to go. All the boys' mouth fell on the floor as they admired yet feared at the same time, the one who dominated everyone to Jellal's annoyance. His irritation could burn a hole through the hall's roof.
"Treat." Erza said with such authority everyone was forced to look on and wonder who will be her lucky partner. Erza took the blindfold from Gildarts calmly even though inside she was so excited to find out what task she would be doing. She turned around three times with ease and pointed to her partner for the game ahead.
The crowd cheered as her desired partner made his way beside her. The vampire king and queen, they made the best team yet. "I have no choice, do I?" Jellal sighed, only met by a firm nod from Erza. As if he could ever refuse her, she was looking forward to this event all year. After she heard from the upperclassmen what kind of game it would be, she made sure she was prepared for whatever they might dish out at her. She did not have to be so gung-ho about it but it was Erza after all; no-one could stop her from doing what she wants. She was always like that, be it the Truth-or-Dare game or some other miscellaneous activity she always did her best for it. It was games like these that made them even closer so he was really lucky that they had been paired up.
If it was a girl she chose, he would have been fine with that. If it was a guy on the other hand, he really might say something even though he's not really the kind of guy who could say his feelings just like that. Sometimes he hated and loved that he could easily hide his feelings. It was one of his strengths as well as his weakness. With Erza though, he wanted to tell her, show her everything but habits are hard to break.
"Jellal, don't space out. I need you clearheaded right now. We need to beat this." Erza said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
He squeezed back, reassuring her that he was with her all the way. They were going to beat this, whatever 'this' was. Gildarts made his way to the ballot box labeled 'Treat' and drew out a bloody-red piece of paper. Nobody knew what to expect because every year the 'Trick or Treat' segment always had minor changes or some additions added to it to add a little spook to the Halloween fun. Gildarts hands were covered in the red ink and he had trouble trying to open the paper to reveal the task. The ink had slithered from his hands all the way to his elbow and was slowly dripping onto the floor. The drip-drip sound loud enough to wake the dead in their ever-so silent hall.
Jellal was wishing it was not like Natsu and Laxus's kind of tasks. If he did that with Erza, he'll probably die of embarrassment. Erza with her wishful eyes and her hands clasped together was so eager to see her task; she almost snatched the paper from Gildart's blood-drenched hands just to satisfy her enthusiasm.
"My…my…I wouldn't say it's not troublesome but you two picked up one of the two bloody pieces of tonight's special. You two can choose who would be the one inside our giant aquarium and who's going to be the one doing the task for tonight."
"I'll stand then. Jellal, you go and lie down. Leave it to me." Erza said, clenching her fist to her chest. She had an aura of determination but Jellal's next words shocked her.
"No. I'll be the one to stand. You should let the guy be the one to handle it. No matter how strong you are, you're still a girl. Depend on me for once. I'm not just a display at your side, you know. Rely on me from time to time. Let me be cool in front of you."
"Jellal…" Erza looked away, the blush on her cheeks as bright red as her hair. Before she lied down on the table, Gildarts ushered her to a waiting Aquarius towards the direction of the girl's bathroom. Miss Aquarius could not help but scowl even more as she led the excited-looking Erza to the ladies. She was angry that she had to miss her date with her boyfriend, Scorpio, for this so-called lame party. She commented that to the other staff many times that everyone could not help but keep their distance away so she would not release her bent-up frustration at them.
When Erza emerged again a few minutes later, the hall was suddenly filled with 'ooohhs' and 'ahhhhs' from both genders. She was wearing a crescent-moon with stars patterned bikini. Even in a bikini she still had a 'no-one-should-mess-with-me' aura and Jellal could not help but admire and stare at what they had made her wear. What the hell was she wearing a bikini? Don't tell me I have to do something weird to her while wearing that? Please, anything but that.
Erza held no trace of shyness only anticipation. Gildarts cleared his throat when Cana gave him a death glare from beside Levy. His daughter was really strict on him. He just could not help it. He loved women. He read the paper slowly, making sure that the fiasco everyone caused while looking at Erza clad only in a bikini had quietened down.
"Let's continue to the main task at hand. Erza, please go inside of the aquarium and sit down." As Erza began to sit inside, Aquarius brought out a huge container containing some red liquid-like substance.
"Miss Aquarius over here is carrying strawberry jam filled with red balls containing four different keys. One for each side of the padlocks that will lock our dear Erza inside that glass box." Erza was about to get up and demand what the heck they were trying to say when Miss Aquarius covered her only way out. She then padlocked all four sides of the human-sized aquarium and was filled with satisfaction from being able to carry out some revenge. Erza hit the glass with her fist and even tried kicking it despite the little space she had but that was of no use. Jellal grit his teeth and was about to burst out when Gildarts made a 'tsk-tsk' sound. Cana was shouting at her father but he paid her no heed. Luc who had finally made her way to Levy's side from jostling through the crowd was equally confused and worried like the rest. She hated the way Miss Aquarius had a smile so wide she looked like a Cheshire cat. Did she like torturing students so much? What was up with this? It looked serious this time even Natsu jerked up. He had probably already cooled down from the activity given to him beforehand.
"What the hell is this Gildarts? You trying to scare us or something? Bring it on! I ain't afraid of nothing." Natsu said, holding out his fist motioning Gildarts to a fight.
Gildarts grabbed a chair and hit Natsu square in the stomach. "That's Gildarts sensei to you, idiot!"
Natsu was left heaving and had collapsed on the floor. The impact probably knocked him out because he lied motionless even after Gildarts's comment and Natsu hated being called names.
"This is all part of the segment, you can count on that. It's different 'cause they picked that bloody surprise, got it? Not my fault that they got that unlucky thing."
"You're the one who picked that 'unlucky thing' in the first place, you stupid father." Cana shouted, her nurse outfit getting crinkled from squeezing on them too tight.
"It can't be helped. If you all want to rescue Erza, the only choice is to play the game. The only one who could do that is our lovely vampire prince over here. No-one can interfere, if not I don't know what would happen to Erza." Gildarts said, between breaths.
Jellal was so angry…no, he was pissed. How dare they lock Erza up like that? He wanted to really beat them up but she knew Erza would not approve. The only thing he could do right now is to complete the challenge set-up before him. This was the only right way to save her.
"What do I have to do? Just say it already! I'm tired of waiting for whatever shit you have next. Just tell me what I have to do to get Erza back." Jellal's eye was so fierce; Gildarts had had no choice but to listen to his demand.
"Basically, you see that container Miss Aquarius brought out. You have to get the balls containing the different keys inside using only your mouth. You have to get all the balls before you can start working on the locks. You have three minutes to do it. If you win, Erza will be saved. If not, well let's not put that up for discussion."
Jellal was about to take his place at the spot when Gildarts added, "Of course, Erza won't be doing nothing. The strawberry jam will slowly increase each second until she's fully submerged in it. She has to make sure she's elevated so that she won't drown. How long do you think she'll be able to last?"
Jellal controlled himself but he was so close to grabbing Gildarts and telling him to really go fuck himself. He knew he had to calm down but he just could not at that moment. Erza's life was on the line. Just what kind of sick game was this? Telling people that their important friend's life was on the line and if they lose, they lose them. What the fuck was this?
"You're all sick in the heads, you know that?" Jellal said, his face composed even though inside he felt a mix of rage and anxiety even fear. What if because of him Erza…no, he shouldn't even think of the possibility of losing. He had to win, no matter what. For Erza's sake. For his sake, as well. He looked over to Erza and saw that she looked pretty shaken up. She was trembling slightly but nobody seemed to notice since all the attention was on him. To see someone as strong as Erza break down even slightly was too much; even he had not seen Erza that scared before.
Just as before, Gildarts had the whistle on one hand and the stopwatch on the other. Just like during basketball, Jellal was already analyzing how he would conquer the game just like a vampire king getting ready for war to save his queen. Jellal kept his hands behind his back like what a soldier does awaiting his commander's orders.
Upon the sound of the whistle, Jellal dunked his head into the container trying to find one of the damn balls. The strawberry jam proved to be a tough opponent. It stuck to his face and he could not use his hands to wipe it off. He was as blind as a bat and it was difficult to catch his breath. He was getting irritated and fearful that he might disappoint Erza. He finally got the first ball and was getting frustrated by how slow-paced he was going. He had to do better. He had to go faster.
Everyone watched bated-breath as they kept glancing towards Jellal's never-slowing figure and Erza who was trying to push her way up as strawberry jam filled the tank. It was already up to her waist when kneeling. They were all praying that Jellal would hurry up. They were already on the one and a half minute mark when Jellal got his second ball. If this kept up, who knows what would happen to Erza. The audience could only watch as they cheered on Jellal, showing the Fairy Tail Family Spirit.
Jellal got the third and final ball at the two and a half minute mark. He stumbled his way towards where Erza lay waiting. Her head the only thing not yet submerged under all that sticky red jam. He swiped at the jam covering his eyes and made haste to open all the balls and tried it on the locks. He fumbled but his fear kept him steady and when the last lock was opened, the timer beeped time's up. Jellal lifted the cover and a jam-covered Erza stretched her arms towards Jellal trapping him in a sticky hug. He was too tired to say anything so he returned her hug, not caring whether his own costume was ruined by the jam's stickiness.
Jellal broke off from Erza's bear-hug and Erza fought a moan as Jellal's warmth went with him. Jellal took off his cape and covered Erza with it, carrying her princess-style out of the hall. Erza let him, also tired of the heart-rending task given to them.
"Thank you, Jellal. I knew you could do it. I believe in you. I always do." Erza said, burrowing her face deeper into the hollow of Jellal's neck.
"You didn't have to thank me. I almost didn't make it."
"You did though so thank you. By the way, when I was choosing my partner just now. I didn't choose you out of pure luck, I knew where you were. Let's keep this our little secret, shall we?" Erza smiled up at him and Jellal could not help but smile back despite almost losing her a few moments ago.
"You're really sly, as always."
What kind of horror will the next two face with? Who will it be this time? Stay tuned as the next two face it off with their wits and charms in the continuation of this Spooky Halloween.
What did you guys think? Please read and review. I'll try and update as fast as I can. If I'm not wrong there should be two more pairs but I'm not certain yet so stay tuned to find out. Nightmare Key signing off.
