"There's this nice little ice cream shop at the edge of the square", Jellal said. "We figured an informal sundae would be a nice way to end this evening of finery." Erza agreed.
They arrived at the shop and sat themselves down at a small table outside. It was pleasantly warm that evening, and they decided they wanted to see the moon as they ate their ice cream.
"We'll go inside and order. You girls stay put and relax", Jellal said. Both girls smiled and waited for their escorts.
"I think tonight was lovely", Mira said. "Besides that comedy club."
"Don't remind me", Erza said. Mira looked at the moon in absolute bliss, which Erza did not fail to notice.
She must really love him, she thought to herself. She decided that they did make a good couple, and she was happy for her friend. It seemed to Erza that Laxus felt much the same way, though he would never show it so openly. They really do complement each other. She wondered what the future might hold for her and Jellal.
"So, Erza, when do you think you and Jellal will tie the knot?", Mira asked suddenly. Erza turned and stared at her friend, with a deep blush almost the same color as her hair.
"Mira! You can't just ask that sort of thing!"
"Oh, but I think you two look adorable together! Oh, you two could make super strong little babies, and they'd all have that cute face tattoo, and-"
"Mira, stop it! I'll tell the whole guild about you and Laxus!"
"What about me and Laxus?" Mira's blush was suddenly just as red as Erza's.
"Well, hello, ladies", they heard a voice call. They turned to see a group of five men.
Oh no, Erza thought.
The one in the center appeared to be their ring leader. He had a look similar to that of Bora the Prominent, only this man was much taller, more muscular, and had dark brown hair. His mutton chops were big and bushy, and he wore a sleeveless leather jacket with brown corduroys. His friends were dressed similarly, and none of them looked friendly. Erza and Mira knew what was going to happen next.
"What's a couple of lovely dolls like you doing all alone out here?", the man asked. He smelt of whiskey and cigarette smoke.
"What's a bunch of drunks doing outside their bar?", Erza responded, annoyed by their presence.
"Woah, hey now, a feisty one, huh? I ain't really into the fiery types. Grimly here likes that kinda stuff though. Don't ya big guy?"
"Nice and bitchy. Just how I like 'em", one of the man's cronies said. The ringleader looked Mira up and down with an expression that made her skin crawl.
"What about you, cutie? You look more like my type. Nice and quiet and sweet… I bet you'll scream for me." The men surrounded the two women.
"I'll have you know our dates are in the shop right now", Erza said. "So you'd best be moving along." The men began touching the girls' hair. One of them wrapped his arm around Mira's waist, slowly making his way between her legs.
"Oh, you're breakin' my heart ladies. Come on, how's about you ditch them and come with us? We'll show you a good time."
"Oh is that so?", an angry voice said from behind the men. Laxus and Jellal had just exited the shop, ice cream in hand. The men turned to look at the wizards and laughed.
"As a matter of fact, that is so. So step off, meathead."
"I wouldn't speak to him that way", Jellal said. "And if you were smart, you'd back away from the ladies right now."
"Oh, stuff it, pretty boy. What are you two gunna do about it?" Sparks began to fly around the second generation Dragon Slayer, and the former Wizard Saint's tattoo glowed as he charged his Heavenly Body magic. Some of the men grew weak with fear.
"Hey, Darro, I recognize these guys. That's Laxus Dreyar of Fairy Tail. He's the guy who beat Orga from Sabertooth, and all of Raven Tail during that Grand Magic Games. And that's Siegrain from the former Magic Council. He's a Wizard Saint like Iron Rock Jura. We shouldn't mess with these guys." Jellal chuckled at the group's complete ignorance of his true identity. Laxus laughed as well.
"Yeah, that's right", he said as the pair let their magic die down. "But it's not us you should be scared of."
"He's right", Jellal said. "I'd be more worried about the lovely ladies you tried to have your way with." The men turned back to Erza and Mira as red and purple auras began to glow around them.
"You see my girl with the red hair?", Jellal asked. "They call her Titania. Queen of the Fairies."
"Oh no", said one of the men. "This is the girl that took down the entire Pandemonium challenge?"
"Oh yeah", Laxus said. "And that sweet looking girl with the snowy white hair? Yeah, ever hear of the She-Devil?" One of the men suddenly smelt of urine.
"Good god… Mirajane Strauss! Guys, we should be running!" The men began fearing for their lives when they noticed the girls' Fairy Tail marks. The girls smirked. Erza quickly requiped into her Purgatory armor. Mira transformed into her Satan Soul.
It was over in less than two minutes. Jellal and Laxus just stood and shook their heads.
"Can't say we didn't warn 'em", Laxus said.
"Yes but… Don't you think they could have shown a little mercy?", Jellal asked with a nervous chuckle,
"Come one man. We're Fairy Tail wizards. Restraint ain't in our vocabulary."
"Of course not", the blue haired wizard laughed. The men went running when Erza and Mira were through with them.
"Well that was fun", Mira said, back to her normal smiling self, her dress and hair still perfect. Erza has requiped back into her own dress as well.
"I hope we were quick enough. The ice cream didn't melt, did it?" Laxus laughed.
"Still freezer fresh. Now get over here and have some." The girls made their way back to their boys. The ice cream was delicious. The air was pleasantly warm, and the lights of the square made the central fountain glow with a subtle, but pretty sheen. The full moon shined down on the couples as they finished their evening with laughs and sweets.
"So what are you going to do after this, Jellal?", Erza asked. He placed his spoon in the empty dish and leaned back in his seat.
"Meldy has a lead on a dark guild who is in league with a business man in Oak Town. He has them searching for old artifacts belonging to Zeref." Erza seemed a little upset. After such a wonderful night, Jellal was still focused on his work. Not that it made a difference. She knew they would have to part again. She looked into his eyes.
"Promise me we'll meet again sometime", she said. He looked at her.
"Erza, I-"
"Promise me!" He seemed ready to argue, but he relented.
"I promise", he said with a smile. Laxus and Mira started laughing.
"Hey, let them have their melodramatic moment, Laxus", Mira said.
"I guess even the horrible criminal Jellal has a soft side." Erza and Jellal started blushing.
"So Mira", Laxus said, "Gajeel tells me that he and Natsu are takin' Levy and Lucy out for a double date too." The whole group fell silent.
"Natsu?", Erza asked. "Our Natsu? He's into that?"
"That's what I said", Laxus replied.
"I personally think he'll be fine. I see how much he and Lucy care for each other", Jellal said. Mira remained silent for some time. Laxus grew worried.
"Hey, are you alright, Mira?"
"Oh, I hope they invite me to the wedding! I just knew Natsu and Lucy would end up together! Gajeel and Levy look cute together too, but oh what is that gunna do to Team Shadowgear?! No, they won't mind it as much anymore, and I know Gajeel will take such good care of her! This is so much at once, I can't believe it!" Erza and Jellal laughed as Laxus sighed in relief.
"Good going, Laxus, you got her started."
"Mira, calm down, it's just date. No one said anything about marriage."
"But you know how these things work out Laxus, first it's a date, then it's marriage, then kids!" Laxus and Erza both became pale and flushed. Mira kept rambling as thoughts of marriage passed through her friends' heads.
Jellal laughed at his friends' reactions. He looked up at the moon, his arm wrapped around Erza's waste. A slight breeze blew a cherry blossom across the central fountain as the stars glimmered in the night sky. He thought about his impending departure with Meldy to hunt down another dark guild. He thought of how wonderful this night had been, and of what Erza said to him during their dance.
Thank you, Erza.