Author's note: Here we go! Chapter 9! And this Chapter is gonna be LONG! Enjoy!
Chapter 9: The Carnival
The First Bank of Crocus was having a quiet day, more quiet than usual to be exact. A few people would come into the bank to put things away in their safety deposit box, or take money out or put in money. It was considered a normal day. While the tellers did their work, the doors slammed opened and there Gajeel stood, pointing his gun around.
"Alright fuckwads!" Gajeel screamed "This is a bank robbery! I want all the cash in the registers now!" people hit the floors in fear as Gajeel shot at the ceiling "Give me the money now!"
The alarm went off as Gajeel made his way to the tellers and pulled out a sack.
"Just you wait Kurogane!" one of the tellers screamed "The Sheriff will get you for all of this!"
"I'm not in the fucking mood for your bullshit! Give me the cash now!" the teller put all the money Gajeel requested into the sack and for some reason, it was slower than normal.
"Hurry the fuck up! I gotta date later today!" he pointed the gun at the teller's temple which made him put the money into the bag a lot faster than before.
Once Gajeel got enough money, he closed the bag and flung it over his back.
"Thanks for the cash!" Gajeel smirked "See ya ya ugly fuckers! Gihihihi!" He ran out of the bank and made his way to his horse. He put the bag onto the back of his horse, hopped onto him and began to run from the scene of the crime before the Sheriff could get to the scene. As he rode away, he started to notice 3 horses with their riders gaining on him.
"Shit!" he whipped the reins on his horse tighter to tell the horse to go faster, which it complied.
Gajeel went at an amazing speed throughout the pathway in the desert, doing whatever it took to get away from them. Two of the riders managed to catch up to Gajeel and were beginning to cage him, they made their horses grow closer and closer to Gajeel. Sweat began to bead down the bank robber's face as these jokers grew closer to him, and he could tell that his horse wasn't going to be running at this pace for much longer. As they continued through the desert, Gajeel noticed something out of the corner of his eye; dust. The dessert was dusty! It hasn't rained in months! With a quick boost in speed, Gajeel made sure his horse kicked up enough dust that it created dust clouds, causing the three men after him to stop in their tracks and Gajeel to get away from them.
"That was close." Gajeel muttered "Better head back to town so they can't find me." he slowed his tired horse down to a more reasonable pace and eventually made his way back to Magnolia, where their citizens were beginning to set up for tonight's Carnival.
He made it to the front of Fairy Tail Saloon at high noon and walked to his usual spot where Levy already had a drink waiting for him.
"No need to pay Gajeel." Levy smiled "This one's on the house." a grin appeared on his lips and he sat down on his chair, downed the shot, left Levy a tip, got up and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Love to stay longer Shrimp," Gajeel whispered "but I got some shit I need to handle. See you tonight." he tipped his hat to Levy and made his way out of the bar.
"Seems to me like things between you and Gajeel have been going well." Lucy, who suddenly came out of nowhere said "Too well to be exact." a blush appeared on Levy's cheeks at their words.
"W-what?!" Levy gulped.
"Yeah," Mira chimed in "you two have been getting along a lot better lately."
"W-we made up ok."
"I don't know..." Cana said in a fake suspicious tone "I saw him kiss your cheek." the girls surrounded Levy until her head was down and her face was a bright shining red.
"Oh my God!" Lucy squeaked "Something happened between you two!" the girls squealed in delight as Levy's hair turned a shade even darker than Erza's.
"When he was drunk he told me he had feelings for me ok?! Happy now?!"
"Very." Erza smirked now joining the conversation "What did you say?"
"I told him I didn't know. I'm confused at the moment; but I asked him to The Carnival tonight."
"Are you going to wear anything special?" Lisanna asked suddenly. Levy shook her head in response.
"It's just a Carnival." Levy explained "I'm going to just wear one of my dresses-"
"That won't do!" Mira screamed out loud suddenly (which scared the girls) "You need something better! You have to be ready for this spectacular day!"
"Mira, it's just a nigh-"
"Mira is right." Erza said in a serious tone "It's a date Levy, and you need to be prepared for it."
"Juvia will help her friend get ready for her date with Gajeel-kun!" Juvia screamed happily.
"Guys..." Levy tried to reason but was stopped when the girls grabbed her and took her out of The Saloon to be pampered for tonight.
Gajeel was waiting outside Levy's cabin in his best vest, his black cowboy hat, a lariotte necklace, simple pants and cowboy boots. He was holding a medium sized box that looked a little expensive. He heard rustling noises come from Levy's cabin and looked into the cabin, witnessing several shadows working on Levy such as tightening her dress, working on her hair or powdering her face with makeup. Gajeel blinked at the shadows he witnessed before they went to the door. Gajeel returned to the door and watched as it opened. The moment he saw Levy walk out the door, his breath hitched, his heart skipped a beat and his cheeks turned bright red.
She was wearing a frilled orange gown with a low collar, a nice trim all across the dress, a choker pendant on her neck, the dress made her rear portrude more, she wore tight high heeled boots, medium length gloves. The dress also showed the frills of the underskirt and her clevage poked out of the dress. Her hair was held up in a messy bun with strands falling out, pink lipstick on her lips with a small amount of blush on her cheeks.
"H-hey Shrimp." Gajeel gulped while trying ot to blush. He couldn't believe how beautiful she truly looked like this.
"How do I look?" Levy asked a little insecurly. Gajeel gulped and looked away as his cheeks turned bright, shining red.
"Y-you look-" he gulped and tried to think of something that didn' make him sound like a pansy. Gajeel began to sweat and pulled at his collar "D-did it get hot out?" for the record, it was actually quite cool for a summer night. A small smile appeared on Levy's lips from his comment, showing her makeover was a sucess.
"This is for you." Gajeel said. He handed the box over to Levy who opened it, she gasped at the sight of what was in the box, it was a beautiful platinum necklace with blue sapphires and tiny diamonds. A large pendant in the center and smaller pendants decorating the sides of the necklace. Tears of joy streamed down Levy's face at the sight of this beautiful necklace.
"I love it." Levy smiled. She walked over to Gajeel and kissed his cheek to thank him (which of course made Gajeel blush) Levy turned around ad allowed Gajeel too place the necklace onto her neck which left a beautiful touch to her wardrobe.
"Ready to go Shrimp?" he held out his arm for her which she linked to his and they made their way to the Carnival.
Wired lights decorated the festival as stands with foods, drinks, or items to be sold were up at the fair.
"Step right up!" a one said "Win a test of strength, win a prize!" he spotted Gajeel as he and Levy walked into the Carnival "You look like a strong man! Come and give it a shot!"
"Go on Gajeel," Levy smiled "I think you can win." a smirked appeared on Gajeel's lips at Levy's compliment. He pulled out a nickel and payed the carnie the fee. Gajeel took the heaviest hammer in the group, swung it high in the air and landed it on the metal plate which caused the lead piece to soar into the air and hit the bell. Gajeel took the stuffed bunny on display and handed it to Levy.
"Thank you." Levy smiled.
"Hey Levy!" a familliar voice called out. Gajeel and Levy looked to find Natsu and Lucy running over to them "Enjoying the fair?"
"Hello Lucy, we just got here a few minutes ago."
"Seems to me you've already won something." she pointed at the stuffed bunny in Levy's arms.
"Dang that thing looks hard to find." Natsu muttered before turning to Gajeel "Gajeel, their having a shooting contest, winner gets a new Smith & Wesson Schofield!"
"This shit I gotta enter!" Gajeel smirked, the four ran to where the contest was being held and watched as people gathered around and watched others try to shoot the targets and fail miserably.
"Step right up!" the spokesman shouted while holding a shot gun "Shoot the targets and win a new Smith & Wesson! Brand new, right out of the gunsmith! A man with dark hair and pale skin walked up to the spokesman and take the gun "You seem like a good shot young man! Give it a try!" the dark haired man eyed the targets as they moved on the platform.
"You can do it Gray-sama!" Juvia screamed "Juvia believes in Gray-sama!" the man named Gray targeted the first target and shot it. The second target started to pick up a bit of speed and again, he shot it. The third and final target moved at a fast pace and when Gray shot at it, it only slightly nicked the target.
"Oh! Better luck next time!" Gray sighed and handed the gun back to the spokesman. Gajeel walked up to the stage and snatched the gun right out of the spokesman hands.
"Gimme the fucking gun." Gajeel grumbled. He aimed at the targets and shot at all three targets and missed miserably "Fucking rigged." Levy felt terrible for Gajeel at this point, she could tell he wanted this gun badly. With a decision made, Levy took the gun from Gajeel's hands and began to aim at the targets.
"Oh what do we have here?" the spokesman said surprised "A little lady wanting to give it a shot? Let's see if she wins."
"Shrimp!" Gajeel called out "What're you doing?!" at that moment, she quickly shot at and hit all three targets, winning the Smith & Wesson, much to the chagrin of those around her. Suddenly developing a new found fear of the small bluenette, the spokesman handed the Smith & Wesson to Levy who happily jumped off the stage and gave the gun to Gajeel.
"Shrimp," Gajeel said surprised "you won this for me?"
"Of course," Levy smiled "you looked liked you really wanted it and I won it for you." Gajeel gave her for what he felt the first time in his life, was a genuine warm smile; this was the first time someone did something nice for him in a long time.
"Thanks Shrimp." he quickly bent down and gave her a loving kiss on the cheek.
"Levy," Natsu suddenly said "where did you learn to shoot like that?"
"I had watched a few of the Sheriffs in my old town shoot growing up." Levy shrugged "Eventually, they taught me how to shoot."
"Got to admit," Gray, who suddenly joined the conversation said "you have skills Miss., Gray Fullbuster by the way."
"Levy McGarden." she grabbed Gray's hand and shook it in a friendly manner.
"You're the new girl Juvia told me about?"
"Yes sir. I arrived in town about over a month ago."
"Well, I might be a bit late, but welcome to town Miss Levy." he bowed slightly in respect to her before leaving with Juvia.
Gajeel and Levy spent the rest of their evening playing games, going on something called "a roller coaster" (which was a simple pleasure ride), and of course, enjoying the food and drinks provided by Fairy Tail Saloon. Around 8pm, Gajeel got both he and Levy some freshly cooked chicken and some malt whiskey to munch on. They found a secluded spot that was slightly away from the Carnival and began to enjoy the cooking.
"Gotta admit," Gajeel said while pulling apart his piece of chicken with his teeth "that Demon Wench knows how to cook."
"Mira's a talented cook." Levy smiled " I rekon it's a gift from God."
"You having a good time Shrimp?" Levy took a sip of the whiskey and smiled at Gajeel.
"Yes, I haven't had a good time since I left home. Thank you for asking." a moment of silence passed before Gajeel said something.
"Shrimp?" he suddenly asked.
"Hnn?" Levy replied.
"If you don't mind me asking, why did you leave home?" Levy took a deep breath and let out a sigh.
"I guess you can say I come from a well off family, have a perfect life back home and everything. But I wanted to make my fortune my own way and get a life I always dreamt of; a simple one. So I bought a ticket for the train and made my way here."
"How'd your folks take to it?"
"They were a little upset; but they supported it, I keep in touch with them still." Music played by a local band suddenly began to play and the two looked up to find a wooden dance floor, a stage where the band played and people dancing on the wooden floor.
"Oh Square Dancing!" Levy said in awe "I heard this is the latest fashion!" She got up from her spot and offered her hand to Gajeel "Care to dance?" his eyes widened at her sudden offer.
"Tch," he tsked "I don't dance short stack." sighing in defeat, Levy was suddenly surprised by Sheriff Jet and Deputy Droy who appeared before her.
"Hello Levy," Jet suddenly said.
"Oh! Hello boys!" Gajeel watched this scene begin to unfold with his eyes and suddenly felt a twinge of jealousy hit his heart.
"Are you enjoying the Carnival?" Droy suddenly asked.
"Yes," Levy smiled "I'm having a wonderful time!" a moment of silece passed before Jet said something.
"I noticed you out here just being a wallflower." Jet blushed "I was wondering if you wished to dance?"
"No way!" Droy screamed "Levy is going to dance with me!"
"Dream on bacon butt! She's going to dance with me!"
"No me!" having enough of this scene, Gajeel suddenly grabbed Levy's hand and took her to the dance floor.
"If you wanna dance so badly Shrimp," Gajeel grumbled "I'll give ya a dance you'll never forget." surprised, Levy allowed Gajeel to take her to the dance floor where they were beginning a new session of Square Dancing.
Gray and Juvia lead out to Erza and her boyfriend who visits every now and then Jellal did a series of movements with them. Gray and Juvia then proceeds on to Gajeel and Levy and then Natsu and Lucy and performed the same series of movements with them. Then Erza and Jellal lead out to Gajeel and Levy and did the same series of movements with them, and so on. Allemande left, right & left grand, dosido, star right/left, star promenade, pass thru, u-turn back, box the gnat, ladies chain, and right & left thru. The dancing that night was repetitive, but it was fun to dance under the stars, the music and the lights that lit the dance floor. The fiddler played his fiddle at an amazing pace, people who were standing at the sidelines stomped and clapped to the rhythm of the music, and as the song progressed the fiddler picked up the pace, causing those who were dancing to pick up the pace with the music.
Levy and Gajeel laughed and smiled at the fun they were having that moment, they felt like they could do this all night without reprocussions in the morning. And to be honest, neither of them wanted this night to end. Gajeel looked at Levy with a small, warm smile but that stopped when he heard the music abruptly stop, multiple horses whinny with their riders riding into the center of the dance floor, ending the dance once and for all. The man leading the pack got off his horse and looked at the horrified faces; it was none other than Acnologia.
