"Master, the guild is packed tonight! You didn't tell us that you invited the other guilds women to this event too!" Mira was teeming with excitement.
"Well, yes since the New Year's Eve Bash is an open invitation to all the guilds, I thought we could make more jewel with more people bidding." The Master looked pleased with himself as he prepared himself to address the large crowd.
Mira had a little pout on her face as she adjusted Master Makarov's tie "Hardly seems fair that other guilds get to bid on our boys while we don't get to bid on any of theirs."
"Don't worry my child, there may be a few surprises in store tonight."
The guild members were in their places to help the festivities move along smoothly. Everyone was dressed classy in black-tie ensembles. Nab was manning the door while Droy and Reedus were at the registration table where the ladies picked up their numbers for the auction. Freed and Max were escorting the women to their seats. Alzack and Bisca were bartending for the evening with Jet and Warren as waiters. Wakaba and Macao were out back with the guys making sure they looked presentable and played as referee to keep any fights from breaking out.
Levy was waiting by the entrance of the guild looking a little anxious. She spotted Lucy just up the street. "Hey Lu! Over here, I waited for you before going in." The short bluenette was waving gleefully as Lucy approached the doors.
"Hope you didn't wait long!"
"Nah I actually just got here myself."
The two ladies entered the guild and were shocked by what they saw. The hall was buzzing with excitement and very crowded. They quickly realized it wasn't just the ladies of Fairy Tail participating in this event. "You've got to be kidding me." was all that Lucy could say when she saw the familiar faces from the other guilds.
"I'll say, looks like everyone came out to see this." Levy scanned the room noting that there was a separate section for people who just came to watch.
Happy came zooming through the crowd when he saw Lucy enter the hall. "Hey Lucy! Make sure you and Levy register to bid. There are a lot of other guilds here and the Master really wants all the Fairy Tail women to participate!"
Lucy and Levy went through the registration process and were handed their bidding paddles, they were then escorted to their seats. Cana spotted the ladies and waved to two seats next to her.
Cana was busy taking a swig of her beer as they were seated. "Well hello ladies, Ooo what numbers did you get?"
Lucy held up her paddle which had 777 on it "go figure, like this wasn't planned"
Cana laughed out loud "Ya, you should see Mira's number!"
Levy frowned looking at hers "Mine is just boring, nothing fun or ironic about 435."
Lucy spied Jenny from Blue Pegasus sitting a few rows in front of her "Why is Jenny in the bidder section?"
Cana scoffed "Ya, the Master opened up the bidding to the women of the other guilds."
"There is no way we can let them win any of our boys." Levy's go-team attitude made Cana roll her eyes.
"Do we even know who is up for Auction tonight?" Lucy glanced at each of her friends.
Cana leaned in toward both the bookworms with a salacious grin "I hear it's a night Dragon Slayers."
Lucy and Levy both looked at one another with a familiar knowing look. They had discussed many times their top choices for dateable males in the guild and they both agreed that they each had a favorite Dragon Slayer.
Master Makarov walked out onto the stage calling attention, "GOOD EVENING!" he boomed over all the chattering voices. "Welcome to the third annual Fairy Tail New Year's Auction. As you can all see we have opened up this year's auction to our fellow guilds across Fiori. The rules are simple, the highest bidder wins. Ladies, just raise your paddles to bid. This evening you will be bidding on a date for the New Year's Eve Bash." The ladies whistle and hollered restlessly, the Master's eyes flickered with a slight concern at their excitement levels. "Without further ado please let me introduce you to our host this evening, Master Ichiya of Blue Pegasus."
The crowd whooped and cheers at the introduction. The small robust man walked out onto the stage with a wireless gold plated microphone in his hand. His white suit is pristine pressed and rather poorly tailored. The pant legs were too short and pleated, the arms of the suit were far too short and he could hardly keep it buttoned over his torso. His chest hairs were displayed prominently since he was shirtless under his suit coat. "Good Evening Ladies, tonight we are here to see the finest display of MEEENNN that Fairy Tail has to offer. There may even be a delightful parfume of surprise this evening. Please have your bidding paddles ready as we introduce our first handsome specimen for this evening."
The lights dimmed and the ladies went wild with screams of delight. "Our first bachelor for the night is a member of the infamous Thunder Legion, ladies this maaannn loves to have a good time and will treat you to an unforgettable night. May I present Bixlow." Master Ichiya introduces him with a flourish of his hands. The spotlight turns to the tall broad shouldered male figure dressed in a sharp navy suit with gray pinstripes and a sharp green tie that matched the color of his eyes. At his introduction Bixlow bows to the crowd of women and winks while sticking out his tongue to reveal the Fairy Tail symbol tattooed to his tongue. The cat calls prompt him to spin around for the ladies. His babies dance around his head all wearing little bow ties all whistling wildly.
"Ladies, why don't we start the bidding at 10,000 Jewel."
Bixlow looks disgusted and yells out "I'm worth way more than 10,000 Jewel! What the hell!" the babies all repeating "Hell, hell, hell"
Cana raises her paddle quickly and leans into Lucy "He's sure as hell worth it and a whole lot more."
"We have 10,000 do I hear 11,000?"
A paddle in the back goes up "11,000 do I hear 12,000?"
Cana turns around bewildered "Who the hell just bid?"
Another paddle in front goes up "12,000 do I hear 13,000?"
Cana looks around "Seriously WHAT THE HELL" Cana raises her paddle.
"13,000 do I hear 14,000?"
The same paddle in the back goes up again. "14,000 do I hear 15,000?"
This time Cana was already turned when she sees Lisanna raising her paddle. She looks back with a scowl "Oh I don't think so." Cana stands up and yells "30,000!"
"Well ladies, we are now at 30,000 jewel anyone for 31,000?"
Lisanna now stands up "I'm not going down so easily." she raises her paddle high above her head "45,000" she turns toward Cana and sticks out her tongue.
Cana jumps onto her chair and pulls out a card from her back pocket. As she chucks it she yells toward Lisanna she yells "Sorry sugar tits, he's mine!" Lisanna tried to deflect but the second she touched the card, she found herself trapped inside.
Master Ichiya was unsure how to proceed so he continued with bidding "Anyone wish to bid 46,000?" Cana raised her paddle "Anyone else wanna challenge me?"
There was a small pause in the crowd, no one dared to challenge the card mage and befall the same fate as poor Lisanna. Master Ichiya broke the silence "46,000 going once… going twice... SOLD! To the magnificent Cana Alberona. Now my dear Miss Alberona could you please release Miss Strauss from her card dimension?"
Cana shrugged and snapped her fingers and Lisanna re-appeared in her same location.
"YOU CHEATED!" was all a fluster Lisanna could manage to yell.
Cana laughed, "I didn't see it in the rules for the auction, better luck next time." she said with a wink.
Master Ichiya sashayed across the stage with his gold mic in hand. "Ladies be prepared to feast your eyes on our next bachelor, he is a dark and mysterious maaannn. The winning bidder will get a chance to melt this Fairy's iron heart. Introducing Gajeel Redfox."
Gajeel sauntered onto the stage wearing his typical performance outfit of a white suit with smartly matching white hat. He stood tall scanning the crowd for his favorite bluenette. When he found her, he stared her down and then put off an air of not giving a crap about where he was or what he was doing.
Levy leaned toward Lucy with a knowing smirk, "If Gajeel is up there then I am 100% sure that Natsu will be too." Lucy just smiled and decided to turn the tables "So Levy, how much are you willing to spend for a date with Gajeel?"
Levy blushed "Shush!"
Cana leaned over and added, "I have my cards ready if any of these harpies try to steal your man."
"Cana, you will do no such thing. I am not cheating like you!" Levy harshly whispered in return." All the ladies snapped to attention when Master Ichiya opened the bidding.
"Let's start bidding at 10,000 jewel" there was a pregnant pause waiting for a response. Lucy and Cana were both eyeing the bright red face of Levy when a paddle went up.
"Excellent 10,000 do I hear 11,000?"
Levy immediately scanned the crowd to see Minerva smiling deviously back at her. "Lu, Minerva just bid on Gajeel!"
"Well what the hell are you waiting fo-" Lucy was interrupted when Ichiya announced, "11,000 do I hear 12,000?"
"No way that tart Sorano just bid on your man Levy!" Cana nearly spits out her swig of wine.
Levy was fuming at this point she stood tall and raised her paddle "20,000 Jewel!" she yelled over the boisterous crowd.
"20,000 ladies, do I hear 21,000?"
Minerva rose from her seat and looked toward Levy who was still standing "Is that all the dragon slayer is worth to you? HA" she turned to the stage "50,000 Jewel" she proclaimed as she rose her paddle.
"50,000 do I hear 51,000?"
It was Sorano's turn to rise "No one beats me!" she raised her paddle "65,000 jewel!" she turned to the two other women standing and gave them a dismissive smile.
"65,000 jewel do I hear 66,000?"
Levy raised her paddle "70,000 jewel!" the petite woman was starting to tremble in anger.
Minerva huffed "Well, he's not worth that much in my opinion." and with that, she sat down.
Sorano eyed Levy and before Master Ichiya could call for another bid she raised her paddle "75,000 jewel!"
Levy was seeing red at this point and before Cana or Lucy could say a word the small solid script mage she used her magic and wrote the word STORM directing at Sorano. This enveloped her target in a gust of wind which blew her paddle far away. With an air of triumph, Levy raised her paddle "76,000 Jewel thank you!"
The crowd was silent from the surprise that Levy would use similar tactics as Cana. Their attention turned to the stage as they heard Gajeel hiss "Ghihi, way to go shrimp!"
"76,000 going once… twice… SOLD! To the feisty Levy McGarden!"
Levy was grinning ear to ear and did a little jump and dance of excitement. Once she sat down Lucy leaned over "So much for cheating then huh?"
Levy looked back at her blonde friend "Like you wouldn't do the same for Natsu?" Lucy only retorted with a "Ha! As if!"
Master Ichiya cleared his throat to command the attention of the audience. "It's nice to smell the exciting parfuuume of competition in the air. Now if you could call your attention to the stage I would like to present to you a real maaannn, Elfman Strauss."
Elfman walked out from behind the red curtain looking nervous but still strikingly handsome in his tuxedo. He stood stiffly looking at the women in the crowd trying to spot who he hoped would bid on him. He grinned nervously waving to the crowd.
"Now ladies, let's open bidding at 10,000 Jewel!"
Evergreen looking toward the bar hoping for another drink raised her paddle in a nonchalant manner.
"10,000 how about 11,000?"
After a brief pause, Jenny from Blue Pegasus raised her paddle.
"11,000 do I hear 12,000?"
Evergreen showed a slight air of annoyance, it was hard to figure if it was because she was waiting for order a drink or the fact that she had competition for the oversized man in the tuxedo. She raised her paddle more firmly this time.
"12,000 do I hear 13,000?"
Jenny only smirked and raised her paddle.
"13,000 do I hear 14,000?"
Now she was getting mad. Evergreen stood up with her arms crossed over her chest. "Can I please get a damn drink." she forcefully raised her paddle.
"14,000 do I hear 15,000?"
Jenny let out a haughty laugh and stood to raise her paddle while looking at Evergreen "A real man can only be satisfied by a real woman you know!"
"15,000 do I hear 16,000?"
Evergreen snickered "HA that man doesn't need a real woman he needs a fairy queen!" and she slid her glasses down making eye contact with Jenny who instantly turned to stone. She then directed her attention to Elfman and raised her paddle.
"16,000 do I hear 17,000?" The room was silent out of fear of also being turned to stone.
"16,000 going once… 16,000 going twice… SOLD to beautiful Fairy Queen Evergreen!"
Elfman hollered loudly "That's how a real man would do it!" she glared up at him on the stage and yelled back "Shut it! I am all woman you buffoon!" and with that, she looked back toward the statue of Jenny and deactivated her stone spell. Jenny merely sneered in response "Stupid fairies!"
It could be seen that Master Makarov was speaking off stage to the host for the night Master Ichiya. There seemed to be a look of concern on both the men's faces over their discussions. With a nod Master Ichiya made his way back to the stage and with his most sultry voice he could muster he made an announcement "Attention please, to the beautiful women who are bidding in tonight's auction, we ask that you refrain from using your magic abilities to your advantage during the bidding process. Thank You!" Master Ichiya paused for a moment to let the announcement sink in, however, he had his doubts that it will do much good.
"I would like to call to the stage our next bachelor. This maaannn is no fairy but rather a fierce and predatory cat. I'd like to present the white hot Dragon Slayer and Master of Sabertooth, Sting Eucliffe." Master Ichiya bowed graciously at the end of his introduction.
Sting sauntered onto the stage wearing a pristine white finely tailored suit that fit his slim but muscular form very well. A black skinny tie accessorized his suit perfectly. His face wore a wide toothy grin and posed like a well-practiced model while winking to the ladies in the crowd.
"The bidding will begin at 10,000."
Cana leaned toward her guild mates "Damn if I knew this delicious piece of ass was available I would have SO waited." she elbowed Lucy "he's eyeing you up sweetie, why don't you take a shot!" Lucy looked up noticing that Sting had been looking in their direction but she doubted the look for her. Scanning around her she saw Yukino behind them. She leaned into Cana "Those eyes aren't for me, Yukino is two rows behind us." Levy chimed in "Besides, she needs to save her Jewel for Natsu! If my assumption is correct there are 3 slayers to go!"
Yukino had caught Sting looking for her and she raised her paddle rather skittishly.
"10,000 do I see 11,000?"
Lisanna eyed up the handsome Dragon Slayer and decided to make a play by raising her paddle.
"11,000 do I hear 12,000?"
Yukino raised her paddle and a bidding war commenced between the two demure mages. Much to the relief of Masters Ichiya and Makarov the bidding war was civil and resulted in a winning bid of 58,000 jewel by Yukino.
Cana, now on her fifth glass of wine for the evening yelled "BOOOOOOOORIIIINGGG"
The two girls merely shook their heads as Cana. Lucy leaned to Levy "You can't take this girl anywhere!"