Author's Note: Weeeell after a very busy Friday and Saturday I failed to upload my first chapter ever...I'm disappointed in myself. I apologize for doing that and hopefully it won't happen again. Now back to Magnolia!
Also I do not own Fairy Tail.
Chapter Seven - Fun With the Team
"Oh I'm so excited to move into a new apartment, Natsu!" The Star point guard's younger sister Wendy expressed major excitement as she and her brother were being escorted through the building of their new home.
Located in a very urban section of downtown, Central Magnolia was home to the city's most overly priced housing and rental options. Towering skyscraper after skyscraper made this end of the town a highly desired residential area for young citizens, especially for professional athletes. Now, Natsu and Wendy are quickly being shown to their new apartment for their new lives in Magnolia.
As Wendy smiled with glee, her brother simply laughed at her remark. "Gee Wendy, I was actually pretty worried that you wouldn't like the idea of moving towns. I figured it was bad enough entering high school this year, but now I'm makin' ya transfer schools all together."
Wendy shook her head. "Nah, I'm fine. Like you said I'm going into high school, so it's not like I was familiar with the one back home, anyway."
Natsu appreciated her excitement with the entire move. He even made sure to enroll her in the local private school to ensure her joy, because as a brand new professional athlete, money wasn't a concern to the youthful spirit. Finally, after lugging the smallest bags inside the building elevator, the bellhop finally had them arrive to their floor.
Once the door opened, the employee continued to guide the two Dragneels through the corridor and down to the last room in the hallway. "Okay, Mr. Dragneel. I hope everything is to your liking."
Natsu smiled with praise. "Yea I think it'll all be good. Thanks for your help by the way!" Natsu had already seen the room when he made the tour a week ago, but now he had the opportunity to watch his little sister's reaction as she entered into the new living space for her very first time.
The tiny blue haired girl had golden eyes once the door opened. The living room/kitchen area was the biggest room she had ever seen, and everything inside was completely modern. There was also a hallway that went to the right, and led into a series of new rooms including three bedrooms each with separate bathrooms and finally a main bathroom right inside the main hallway.
Wendy lit up like it was Christmas morning. "OH NATSU THIS IS AMAZING! How much was this place?"
"Hehe…" The very young athlete never liked this part of the conversation. "I'll tell you in a few years…"
He then tipped and shook the bellhop's hand, and let the man return to the moving crew downstairs in order to help them ship all of Natsu and Wendy's luggage up to their new home. Wendy on the other hand ran right for the large bay window that overlooked the large section of downtown Magnolia. The skyline made the tiny girl "ooo" and "ahh" in delight as she tried collecting the entire image before her.
Natsu walked up behind her and directed her attention to the very large oval shaped building at the heart of the concrete jungle. "Look there's South Gate Arena! That's where I'll be making my new living, hehe!"
Wendy smiled at that thought. "Ooo I can't wait to go to your games! I wonder where my new high school is? This place is huge after all!"
Natsu thought about that for a second. "Huh? I think it was more in the suburbs…it's one of those fancy obnoxious schools if I can remember…"
Wendy then changed her expression from excited to anxious. "Oh don't say that! Now I'm worried I won't fit in!"
"Hey! Don't start up with that crap, Wendy!" Natsu declared in his defensive state of mind. He really loved his little sister, and although her old school treated her very well, the depiction of the suburban private high school did not leave Wendy or Natsu with a comfortable attitude.
Wendy finally forced a smile to comfort her brother. "Awe, you know what I mean. I'm just a little nervous is all…if worst comes to worst I can just skip school and come watch your games all the time!"
Natsu rubbed her head with a bright smile on his face. "Skip school? Heck I'm gonna make you go to all of my games regardless, even if they're during your school or not!"
Wendy smiled back and gave her older brother a large hug as they both watched the Magnolia sun set off into the west.
Now, it was later that night, and although their first official practice wasn't until the next day, the coaching staff had and early draft of plans for their new roster.
"Man, we're having practice without being told what for?" The regular small forward Jet said with concern. "I hope now one's in trouble."
Droy on the other hand took matters into his own state of mind. "Awe man! I knew Makarov was lying! He's gonna fire all the old players!"
Bickslow howled with laughter. "Ah keep your panties on, Droy! We're just gonna have a scrimmage or something. It's only for an hour, so it can't be anything too serious."
Freed nodded in thought. "Yes, that's quit the observation…what do you suspect, Laxus?"
The large blonde center never sat up, or even opened his eyes as he answered Freed's question. "I think you all need to calm down. Who cares what the meeting's for? Either way it's probably gonna be important."
He then held his next thought inside his mind. "Except I know the old Geezer better than anyone…and I know for a fact he never stays out this late during the off season…"
On the other side of the bench, all the new players decided to make their own group separate from the Magnolia veterans.
"No way, you're actually Jellal Fernandes!" Gray Fullbuster exclaimed as he looked to see his new teammate.
Natsu smiled as well. "Ha! The Meteor Man comes to Magnolia! Man there's no way we're gonna lose this title now!"
Jellal smiled with both pride and self-restraint. "Well, I thank you both for your praise, but I imagine I'll be on the bottom of the roster with a group like this." He then looked to his new friend Gajeel. "What do you think?"
The large black haired power forward sat with his arms crossed in wait for the coaches. "I don't really care as long as I get playing time."
Natsu rolled his eyes. "Yea, that's the mentally we need as a team…"
Gajeel raised an eye brow. "I'm sorry, is the little Salamander from Acalypha trying to start something?"
Natsu made no restraint in standing right in front of Gajeel's view. "As a matter of fact I am! I can already tell I don't like your attitude, buddy!"
Gajeel rose to his feet as he stood a few inches taller than Natsu the point guard. "Look I don't know how you little prep boys did it in college, but here in the pros, we tend to mind our own business or shut the hell up. As far as I'm concerned, this town is only good because it kept me from playing another lousy year in Okatown. Anything else is below me…"
Natsu didn't like the negative energy. "LOOK PAL I DON'T HAVE TO BE SOME TEAM VETERAN TO KNOW YOU'RE A…!"
"SILENCE!"
All ten players stopped what they were doing to look up to the main tunnel onto the floor, where a single figure with feminine red hair stood with two arms placed firmly on her hips.
Gajeel immediately turned from Natsu and nudged Jellal in the chest. "Great, no wonder we're here so late..."
Jellal didn't know how to answer that, but either way he was actually happy to see the new guest. As she approached the players, he let out a faint grin. "Well, I'm glad you're running practice. Maybe we can continue out reunion from…"
Erza looked to Jellal with a serious expression. "I don't have the time for your concern, and I need to see you all play before the season begins. We can save it for another time."
"AGH!" Jellal was nearly left speechless by Erza's serious expression, almost as if she threw out all humanity and became the spiting image of a perfectly crafted coaching machine.
Natsu scratched his head. "I don't get it? Did you think you had a shot with the new coach?"
Erza looked right to the loud mouthed Salamander. "Why don't you save that little chatter for after my practice, rookie."
"ROOKIE!? WHERE DOES SHE GET OFF!? Natsu nearly fell over in confusion and slight embarrassment. Gray, Gajeel, and the familiar Fairies on the other hand simply shook their heads and stood up for their first practice.
As the ten players stood in wait, the very demanding assistant coach held a single basketball in her hands. "Okay to get a nice feel of the lineup, I want all five of our former players to form their regular line up. As for the five newest additions, I would like to see you all form a separate team of your own."
Elfman nearly fell over in confusion. "HOLD ON WE DON'T EVEN KNOW EACHOTHER!?"
Erza never changed her expression. "I'm sorry, was that supposed to change my decision? Five v Five. Old vs New…don't make me say it a second time."
Laxus rolled his eyes as all 9 other players ran frantically into their starting positions. Right away, the tall starting center found himself squared right up with Elfman in the center circle.
Elfman tried to force a laugh. "Hehe…you don't have to go so hard on me, man."
Laxus forced a smile. "Look, just because Bickslow and I are dating your sisters, don't think we're gonna go easy on you."
Bickslow smiled and added on. "Yea! And same goes for the rest of you newbies! Jellal and Gajeel get it, but there are a few things you gotta learn here in the FBA…"
Natsu smiled while looking rather confident with himself. "Oh yea? What's that?"
Erza threw the ball in the air as Natsu was finishing his sentence, and once it left her hands, Laxus swiped it over to Bickslow, who ran it right into the net for a slam dunk.
As he hung on the rim, Bickslow smiled back. "You gotta learn how to focus, boy!"
As their long but minor scrimmage went on, the Fairies seemed to accumulate a tiny crowd of two in the box seating area.
"Well this is pretty lame…all the new players are getting demolished!" Lucy Heartfilia exclaimed as she pointed to the only scoreboard lit up at the center of the ceiling.
Levy continued on some of her paper work as she smiled. "Yea, I kinda figured they'd have chemistry issues. I mean don't tell anyone this, but Erza will probably give most of the new guys starting positions anyway."
Lucy looked puzzled. "Well that makes total sense…anyway, where's Coach Dreyar? And for that matter why won't he make the decision himself?"
Levy took off her glasses. "Well, although he intends to keep coaching for a while, Makarov said he's going to sort of lay back this season. He's really giving Erza and I free reign over the team…so hopefully we'll win?" She admitted that with both half confidence and half embarrassment.
Lucy gave her a comforting smile. "Oh don't worry, if we end up with the same record as usual, you two will be fine."
Levy liked the sound of that, especially from the daughter of her new employer. "So tell me, I hear you're into journalism?"
Lucy tried avertting her eyes. "Oh yea…I mean it's nothing serious, just sort of a stupid kid dream or something."
Levy frowned. "Lucy you can't talk like that. This is your senior year in high school! You know how many kids your age don't have their future planned out? The fact that you have a goal sets you up perfectly for the future!"
Lucy sighed. "Yea? Well I can't say my goal is the one that matters…"
Levy snapped her figures. "Oh I know! Why don't you try interviewing one of the new players! I'm sure they'll give you a comfortable experience!"
Lucy sank lower in her chair. "Ahaha...eh let's just say I've tried, and no it was not."
As the two girls continued to chat, the scrimmage was rounding up. Erza had watched the Magnolia veterans dominate the entire show with a rough 30 point lead, and it also appeared that Jellal and Gajeel held most of the new players' points as well.
Natsu was starting to get really frustrated, more so after he missed every single shot taken. He was told that Gajeel had the best rebounding skills in Fiore, yet every time he missed Laxus or Droy would snatch it up first. And why did Gray always have to fumble his passes? You think after playing with each other for nearly 13 years Gray would be able to keep up with his speed. Jellal was playing well, but you could tell that he spent a couple years outside the league. Finally, Elfman was simply acting way too nervous to do anything at all, so as a result Natsu took it on himself to try and manage the team's scoring…and it got them a losing game of more than 30 points.
Freed took the ball at the top of their point as Gajeel yelled out with painting breaths. "Come on girl! Let's cut the crap! This isn't even a real practice for god's sake!"
Erza made no sudden words as she kept watching the game. Freed peered through the field as Natsu ran in to take the ball, and then after collecting himself, he managed to take a good scan of the court once again.
"Natsu is over thinking everything, so dispatching him isn't a major concern. Jellal is far too stationary to make a difference, but Gray and Gajeel are too physical to throw near…" He then landed on the very awkward match-up between Elfman and Laxus.
Freed finally grinned has he spun around Gray and launched the ball to Laxus's chest, who in response quickly grabbed the pass and tried pivoting inward to score the next point.
"Okay little Elf, I hope you're ready for number 15!" He was referring to all the dunks he had made over the tall center's head, which didn't help the rookie's motivation.
"Yea…?" Elfman held his hands high as he waited for Laxus to make his move. "We'll go ahead and get it over with…"
"HA! If you say so…!" Laxus grinned, and as he did just that, the center pivoted to the outside and tried to roll back around to posterize Elfman right above the net, but as he did Elfman got even higher and swatted the ball straight from his hands and into the lower seats.
Up in the box, Lucy gasped and Levy remained speechless as all the players stood around with gaping jaws.
Bickslow held up a hand. "Oh come on that's gotta be goal tending!" He then looked to his assistant coach, who let out a satisfied smiled and nodded.
"No, but that will end the practice. Good work, team…" She never gave them another word as the scary coach turned and left for the exit.
All 10 players sat with confusion as Natsu ran over and high fived Elfman. "WHOA MAN! THAT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME!"
Elfman smiled with minor pride. "It was? Man I was just trying to do it all game."
Gray smiled. "Yea? Well either way you ended the reign of Coach Dictator for the night…man I don't think I can handle her all season long."
Gajeel scratched his head as they all wondered over to the bench. "No kidding, she went nuts tonight…Jellal you're gonna have to knock her down a few pegs and get her back on our side."
Jellal couldn't find the right words as he was taken away by Gajeel's very forward comment. "I-I mean we're all her players…I think someone else can…"
Natsu patted Jellal on the back before he could continue. "Hehe, now I know why you came to Magnolia! Oh man, how about we take this discussion down town? I'm starving!"
The four new players smiled at that suggestion as Natsu then turned to the five veterans. "Whatta say guys? How about a little team building?"
Jet and Droy, who didn't appear to have very many points in the scrimmage both nodded and looked at each other. Jet spoke first. "Sure, why not? Off field chemistry is pretty important too after all."
Droy turned to the three remaining players. "What about you guys?"
Laxus was silent as he took off his shoes, and Bickslow was too busy laughing at Laxus to give Droy an answer.
Finally Freed spoke first. "You all can go on without us. If we change our minds we can send you a message."
They all shrugged and slowly began walking out of the room. Right then Bickslow let out a very verbal howl.
"OH MAN! YOU LET LITTLE STRAUSS SWAT YOU AHAHAHAHAHA!" The tall shooting guard with black/purple hair couldn't contain himself has he smiled with laughter.
Laxus clicked his teeth. "Tch…yea well whose saying I wasn't just trying to let practice end for everyone. I knew what the red head was thinking, she just wanted to see the rookies make a big play."
Freed crossed his arms and smiled. "If you say so Laxus…after all from what you told us it sounds like the Coaches already have their roster decided."
Laxus held his head down in frustration. "Yea…and I'm already starting to get pissed at our new point guard's attitude on the court."
Okay some new team angst has emerged from the fighting powers of the Fairies. I think we've made it long enough without a real FBA game. Let's start the season with the next chapter!
