Characters belong to Hiro Mashima
"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire; it is the time for home." ― Edith Sitwell
day 07 - sledding
After the first good snowfall every winter, the winter enthusiasts of Magnolia gathered at the hills outside of the town. A hike up the tallest hill would ensue, and once at the top, they paired up and prepared themselves for what was to come.
"So I talked to some of the locals." Mavis looked up at Yuriy from where she sat on a sled, tightening the laces on her boots. "We gotta pair up, one sled per pair, and then wait in the lineup for the races."
Tying off the last knot, Mavis jumped to her feet and breathed in the crisp winter air.
"This is going to be great!" She said enthusiastically, a grin spreading across her face. A fond look crossed Yuriy's face at her excitement and he reached out and tugged her hat down over her eyes. Mavis huffed in protest, glaring at him as she fixed her headgear.
"It's gonna be even better once we kick everyone's asses," Yuriy said confidently, ignoring the seething looks Mavis was giving him. He picked up the rope to the sled and started walking over to where the rest of the sledders were gathered, and Mavis followed eagerly, anger discarded.
Warrod and Precht were already standing around and chatting with some of their Magnolian neighbors. Although they had been in town for a few months, the Fairy Tail members were still learning about events that happened in the town, and spent time talking to and making connections with the people who already lived in Magnolia.
"The sled races are tradition," a boy around Yuriy's age was telling Warrod. "It's not winter until someone's crowned king of the races."
"Or queen," Mavis interjected as they approached. The boy glanced at her and nodded in acknowledgement.
"Or queen," he amended. "You're the little girl who's the boss of the new mage guild, right? I'm Henry. My dad runs the woodworking shop in the middle of town." Henry pointed to his sled lying on the snow a few feet away. "That is his newest creation, and it's going to win us first place."
Yuriy's mouth settled into an arrogant smirk. "Oh, really? Well, me and Mavis are going to turn these races upside down with our incredible sledding."
Henry only smiled in response, although Mavis could feel competitiveness and determination radiating off of him. She shared a look with Warrod and Precht, who shrugged passively.
"I look forward to racing you then! I've got to find my sister. Best of luck!" Henry waved as he walked away, tugging his sled behind him.
"Why did you say that, Yuriy?" Mavis asked as they were directed into another group of sledders. "You know I've never been sledding before; I could be the worst sledder in history."
Yuriy scoffed at her words. "You're pretty smart; I'm sure you'll figure it out it no time. Besides, he was pissing me off, thinking he was going to win because of a sled. I had to say something."
Mavis rolled her eyes, watching the first teams take their places at the starting line. "You're hopeless."
Their first two races went by without a hitch. Yuriy's prediction was spot on; after a few moments of panic as they picked up momentum going down the hill, Mavis quickly learned the best way to position herself to get to the fastest speed possible.
"One thing," Mavis breathed as they trekked up the hill after winning their second race. "That I could do without," she paused for a moment to catch her breath. "Is the return trip. Someone needs to develop a better method."
"You're just upset because you're short and get worn out quickly," Yuriy snickered.
Mavis scooped up a handful of snow and lobbed it at his back, feeling satisfied when he yelped as some went down his shirt. "You'd get tired too if you had to wade through snow up to your knees."
"Not my fault you're freakishly short."
"Excuse me! I am average for my age. You're the freakishly tall one!"
After minutes of bickering, they reached the top of the hill, where the remaining teams were milling around as they waited for their turn to race. Mavis and Yuriy walked to the end of their line, and it wasn't long until they were at the forefront again.
"This should be a good race," Yuriy commented as he looked over at their opponents.
"Right back at you," Precht quipped as he seated himself at the front of his and Warrod's toboggan.
Mavis smiled cheerily as she took her place at the front of her own sled. "Good luck!" she sang, the fierce glint in her eyes betraying her sweet persona.
Warrod sat down behind Precht as Yuriy did the same. "No hard feelings, right?" The dark haired man asked, earning a grin from the other.
"All's fair in sledding and war," Yuriy replied. The referee check to make sure both teams were ready before raising his arms to start the race.
"And no magic!" He called, knowing that both teams were from Fairy Tail. The referee swung his arms down and Yuriy and Warrod pushed off, sending their teams careening down the hill.
Mavis felt the snow and wind whip past her as they flew down the slope. She felt Yuriy shift behind her and then heard him shouting over the wind. "They're gaining on us! Let the rope go slack and lean as far forward as you can without falling off." Complying with his commands, Mavis looked over and watched her guildmates slowly fall back. They reached the bottom a second before Warrod and Precht, and Yuriy took the chance to brag the entire way back up, Mavis throwing in the occasional comment.
"For the last race of the day, the reigning champions, Henry and Violet, versus the rookies Yuriy and Mavis!" The sledders cheered and crowded around the edge of the slope as the two teams took their places.
"I guess we'll finally get to see who's the better sledder," Henry grinned.
"I already know the answer; you're going down!" Yuriy shot back.
Mavis caught the eye of Henry's sister, Violet. She looked about her brother's age, but that didn't stop her from sharing a defeated smile with Mavis at the boys' antics.
"On your marks, get set, go!" The crowd yelled, and then they were off. Mavis and Yuriy took the lead straightaway, pulling a few feet ahead of the siblings. Halfway down, Yuriy glanced over at their opponents, just in time to see them streak by.
"Lean!" Yuriy yelled.
"If I go any further, I'll be off the sled!" Mavis cried back. Try as they might, the duo couldn't make up for the lost distance. They came to a halt and Mavis hopped off the sled quickly as she felt Yuriy's temper rise as his pride was damaged.
"You cheated!" Stomping over to Henry, Yuriy pointed a finger at him.
"And how exactly did I do that?" Henry fired back. "I didn't take you for a sore loser, though I guess I should've seen it coming."
Mavis sighed as Yuriy shouted indignantly in protest. She grabbed the rope to the sled and began the long hike back up the hill, promising herself to win the next sledding tournament she entered with Yuriy - if only so she didn't have to hear him complain.
A/N: Headcanon that Magnolia has annual sledding tournaments. They're super hardcore and are taken very seriously. I needed a name for Henry's sister, and 'Violet' popped into my head; ten points to anyone who gets the reference~ Reviews and comments appreciated and encouraged!
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