The Cards Started It
Lady Countryrose
Ch. 7
The men that had gone to the Heartfilia estate had found themselves back the guild. Glad to see that the two women weren't there. They had glanced around before making their way towards the bar. Seeing Mira smirking at them, making the group believe that she was hungry. It wasn't the type of hunger that they could easily just go out and give her what she wanted.
No; what she wanted, it was something far more life-changing than they would like to admit. She wanted to see marriage in children in the future. Not for her own marriage or children. No, she doesn't work that way. She wanted others to have these more than for herself.
Gajeel chuckled darkly; it sounded so low, it was nearly hard for the group to hear it. "Who do you think she has such thoughts for...I wonder?" He glanced at the men around him. "I would hate to see...what future she has already have envisioned for ya."
Midnight shoved his hands into his pockets. "It's a good thing that I'm only the...special effects guy." He shivered after seeing the dark look that she was given them. "Otherwise I hate what she has...planned."
"Thanks," growled Cobra lowly towards his friend. "You're not leaving me to face that woman...alone." He saw his friend wanting to wiggle out of the group, but he reached for Midnight and brought him closer to himself. "You're going to walk this road with me...or I tell her to speed your...romance along."
"No," gasped the two toned-haired male with a glare in his eyes. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Don't test me," growled the poison slayer.
Bickslow gave his signature goofy smile before he marched up towards the counter. "Hay Mira!" He leaned over the hardtop, as he leaned towards her. "How's it going?"
Her smile only grew darker than it had before. "I believe…" She looked towards the guys before her, as her eyes raked over them. "I have two men...to dress up?"
Gajeel laughed, he threw his head back. His laughter being bounced off the walls of the guild. Causing many within to look with worry towards the dark-haired dragon slayer. Making many to believe that nothing good would come to those that had caused such emotion. He moved his way towards his corner of the guild, knowing that he would be left alone.
Natsu glanced around at the group that he came in with. Shivering in his sandals, not wanting to take part in dressing up in fancy clothes. He really hated being around them, even if he wasn't going to wear them. It still made him want to itch. "I'll wait for you guys…" He looked around the guild. "...here." Then he went off to sit down at a table, which held the rest of this team (minus Lucy).
Mira still had an evil looking grin on her face. Knowing that she still had three of the men in front of her. "Looks like I still have three…" Her eyes flashed with glee as she saw them before her. "..to get dressed for your night of activities."
Midnight glared at Cobra with a heated glare. "I hate you, you know that." All he got for his troubles was a raised eyebrow. Causing the sigh to leave his lips. "Oh, all right! I can see I have no other choice in the matter."
"No," growled his old friend. He glanced at the goofball of a knight at the bar, who he saw the look of worry in his eyes. "What shall we do now?"
"Sadly," Bickslow grumbled darkly, which surprised many with his tone of voice. "She will be dragging us across town." He glared at the bar maiden. "Why can't we wear...I don't know, one of our bests?"
"That's not going to happen," stated Mira with her sweet sounded voice. Then a moment later her she-demon came out growling at the men before them. "YOU'RE NOT TAKING THIS FROM ME!" She then turned back to her normal sweet self. "You're going to every shop that I take you and you're going to enjoy yourself."
The guild at large had stopped whatever they were doing. They had seen the two sides of Mirajane, it was enough to let them know that she was angry with the men before her. It was enough to let most of the guild to stay out of it. All but one…
Evergreen made her way towards the bar with her devious look in her eyes. "Mirajane," she called out sweetly. "Let me help with this endeavor," she then fixed her harsh eyes towards her teammate. "Since I'm usually the one that he listens to."
The barmaid gave her fellow female guildmate a knowing look. "Why Evergreen," all the men, not just ones before them to step back or duck under a table. "I would be delighted to." Every man shivered down their spines, as they heard Mira's voice. Knowing that no good would come to those that were on the receiving end of her sights.
The two women came towards the three men. Grabbed them by the collar of their clothes and dragged them out of the guild. Each one of the three men were grumbling. Hoping that someone, anyone would help them to get out of the hold that they had found themselves in. But none would help them.
Hours later and the three men came back to the guild. Each one of them looked rugged from their ordeal with the two women that took them all over town. A massive voice called down to them, as he laughed. "What the HELL happened to YOU three? You act like someone was pulling your teeth or something?"
"More like someone pulling our balls in the swinger," declared Cobra. Glaring at the blonde calluses upstairs. "How about you get your ass stuffed in things that are stiff enough to walk on their own?"
Laxus laughed, turning his head to where he was able to Cana passed out in a coroner. "No thanks slither brains…. I have more than enough to handle." He chuckled darkly. "Is pleasing a woman, worth everything you dealt with today?"
Bickslow gave his old friend the one finger salute. "It's worth every jewel I own to see her happy." He allowed a sigh to leave his lips. "The day she showed up here...I think I might have made a promise to myself." He shook his head, seeing everyone was looking towards him. "That I would do anything to see...her happy in some way."
He then glanced towards the ground. Not really wanting to see that they were seeing… As if it were the first time...it was maddening to see. "She told us that she was in a middle of a war...before coming here." He gulped hard, remembering how lost she looked when she woke up. "I don't want to see her like that...again."
Cobra closed his eye for a moment. "I know what you mean, Soul Boy." He shook his head. "Knowing that she's Bright Eye's cousin...it was still enough to make me think for a moment… What if that was her. Not the Librarian that was harmed." He glanced towards the foolish looking knight. "So, I know what you were thinking."
Their tag along spoke up from where he had fallen onto the floor. From his own experiences with being dragged around Magnolia for the other two's women. He allowed a tired huff to leave his lips. "I know...at least knowing their history. They do need to be spoiled...at least for a night." He saw understanding from the few that had left the guild. Who had gone to the mansion to seek answers for ideas to surprise the girls. "I wish I could go back in time...wishing now to not being the man...I once was. Not being the Midnight that...Blondie knows."
Everyone within the guild was seeing many shades of those that...they had viewed as enemies at one point. If they had to reflect on everything they knew...the answer for them changing was simple as seeing the light of day. It was because of Lucy...at least in some way. Even Natsu, who everyone had known to just run in and do the job without really helping anyone out. It was all because of Lucy since she came into the guild...even the fire-breather had changed. It was because of him; threw her influence on him, he was able to change others as well.
Sure the guild was known for being a family. But none of it had really sunk in. Not until their 'Light' came and joined for it to really become true fact. Lucy Heartfilia had become the true heart of the guild without conscious. But seeing her cousin being carried in by the arms of Cobra. On a faithful day as she was brought in, they truly didn't know that Lucy could show such sorrow.
It was enough to know that as a guild, they weren't willing to see that side of her again. Sure they had seen during the 'games' how heartbroken they've been to see her hurt. Experiencing a small loss of her being held captive at the capital because of her being a Celestial Mage. But for some reason, seeing her lost and broken for someone else. It was enough for them not wanting to see ever again.
Gajeel sighed from his corner of the room with a heat-filled look. "I think as a guild," he took a gulp of air as he struggled for words. He then glanced towards Natsu for a moment. "I hate you, you know that Salamander! I was never one for...words." He shook his head for a moment. "We should help Cobra and Bickslow with this surprise they're cooking up."
Midnight raised an eyebrow for a moment. "Gajeel, you do know that I was going to...bring a...image for them to relive." He glanced around, trying to hide a blush. "At least in some way."
Mira gave a thoughtful look. "What about they have a quiet night with...their men." She saw the hard blush from the two men in question, she gave a giggle at their discomfort. "But we could have a week-long party...for the rest of the guild to take part in." She saw the disbelief from all the members around her. "We could have a 'Lover's Ball'?"
The master had been sitting on the bartop, drinking his tankard for some time. Keeping watch as Mira had been dragging the men around town. He glanced at Mira with a thoughtful look. "It would give a chance for everyone to have a celebration of finding their...true love." He raised his eyebrows after hearing a lot of groaning throughout the guild.
He chuckled, "I see that may be a stretch for some of...your imaginations. But I do declare what I hold dearly in knowing." Makarov took a drink. "Love is something to be treasured...regardless if you're a dragon slayer or not. Love is something that can only know a precious gift that can never be taken lightly."
"You just want great-grand-kids, old man!"
The little elder glanced up towards the man, who was standing in his loft of all places. "That may be true and all, Laxus. But an old man like me would like to see this guild to be overrun by little feet. Even from our own members, as they bring their own little ones into the place." He looked around for a moment. "I would like to see life to be brought into the world… A world that we've seen enough darkness for one as me, to last a lifetime."
The blonde mass of muscles looked like he was thinking for a moment. "Ahh, man."
He grumbled for a moment before making his way down the stairs. Making Bickslow slightly uneasy. He trusted his friend and all, but there are times that he knew Laxus could be a loose cannon at the time. Once the blonde stood before him, Bickslow was surprised to see warmth in his eyes.
"When did you grow up," Laxus asked. After seeing his friend's red eyes from under the visor, he took a deep breath. "I mean...you usually find the fun in all situations." He waved towards his friend that he had known for years. "You've never spoken anything that was not without humor. I have to ask, have you grown up?"
"Shut up," Bickslow grumbled before shoving the massive man away from him. "I can be...non-humorous at times." He glanced around. Trying to hide a blush that he knew from being the center of attention when he didn't want to be. "I can act like a regular adult."
Freed chuckled, as he leaned across the bar. After wiping his hands on a rag. "Bickslow," his smile pulled his lips. "You have to agree to some extent that you hardly show...your less than stellar attitude."
Bickslow sighed as he placed his helmet down on the counter top. "Forgive me, Freed. But it's hard for someone like me to deal with everyday life. Since I have known to deal with souls." He glanced at his hands. "Not everyone would ever feel comfortable about being around me. Yet alone, my magic. I'm just so..." He glanced up, showing his sorrow in his eyes. "Having fun was the only way I knew to lose myself...without resorting to… Something that might kill me later."
Evergreen smiled as she had gotten closer to the lost looking knight. Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, bringing him closer to her. "You know, I've always seen you as a brother. My every wish was to see you happy, Bickslow. I'm just glad it happened to be Lucy's cousin." Her brown eyes shone with happiness for them. "All I ask is that you don't lose that sense of happiness."
The two-toned haired man chuckled. "I don't think I would want to lose it. Knowing that brighter days are before me…" He shook his head, with a great smile on his lips. "I've never imagined that I would be this happy. Once I had found the one…"
Mira smiled warmhearted, causing many others to do the same. "Isn't it great!" She wrapped her arms around herself. "Having this feeling that is only making your heart feel light… There is nothing like it, I can guarantee it."
Midnight grumbled, "I love to butt in and stop...whatever the hell this is." He waved his arms around the room, to get everyone's attention. "But don't we have plans to execute before the girls come back to the guild?"
Cobra sighed, 'I would love to see what Lucy would look like…? All dressed up.' He had many images flashing across his brain. Not one of them could be close to what she could ever look like. Even though, she has become his personal angel.
'Hermione,' Cobra heard Bickslow's own thoughts. 'I wonder if you're going to be just as mystical as your name implies? You seem to have fallen from grace to be with the likes of me.' Cobra could understand where his friend was coming from. Since he had the same thoughts for her cousin.
The Poison Slayer walked up to his friend and nudged him with his shoulder. Where Evergreen wasn't standing near. Once he had gotten his Fairy Tail friend's attention, he gave a slight nod. "Same." They never really had to tell the other anything. Just knowing that they had similar thoughts and it was enough of a conversation for the two. It was enough to cause the guild to be worried at times. Just not the moment, since it dealt with the heart more than anything else.
Evergreen huffed, "You know, I hate it when you two do that." She pulled away from her declared brother, shivering. "It bugs the HELL out of ME."
"No kidding," stated Laxus with a worried look in his stormy eyes. "But you have to admit. It comes in handy when you want a surprise attack on the enemy." His voice grumbled as he turned and walked away from the happy group. "I sometimes wonder, how we ended up with the snake-breath at times."
Cobra chuckled darkly, his eyes glared towards his group's leader. "You know, I sometimes wonder the same thing there Sparky!" His purple eyes flashed darkly. "Just be glad that the council threw me towards you guys. You would hate having me as your enemy forever!"
"Don't I ever know it," cried out a voice. "You were always difficult to bring down. Even while we were battling against each other!" The male grumbled as he had gotten to his feet, making his way over to the group. "Let's get this going."
"Thanks for the bouts of confidence, Salamander!"
"Just remember," the pink-haired man hissed. "I'm only doing this for Luce." He glanced towards the floor. "I just want to see her happy."
Mira smiled even more so, even it was hard to see it. Believing that she would break her own mouth. Just to smile like she was doing. "Good, time to get everything together. I imagine that they will be here in a few hours…"
From that moment, everyone had gotten together to discuss things with Midnight. To see what will work with his illusions. Knowing that they needed to put together enough props to make it work or even more believable. Everyone knew that Lucy needed it more than anything. Growing up without a mother for so long could be hard anyone.
'I hope this will work…' A common thought had raced through everyone's minds that day.
