AN: Fairy Tail's Cooking competition time! Yahoo!
==[o0o]==
"Coool! It's that time again, Fairy Tail's Best dish contest! And I, Jason from the Weekly Sorcerer Magazine, will be hosting this coool event! Keeping you up to date with the scores! Coooool! "
Jason was pumped up for the contest, his bright pink shirt and yellow spike hair buzzing around the Fairy Tail Table that was now placed on top of a makeshift stage just to accommodate the crowd that had formed.
It was Fairy Tail's event for the festival, bringing a large crowd, the guild gathered around watching excitedly,
"Go Mira-nee! You can do it Elf-niichan!" Lisanna cheered as she stood next to Bixslow and Freed. Laxus looked at Mirajane and nodded appreciatively.
"Gray-sama my darling!, Juvia believes in you!" Juvia had a blue yukata with Gray's face plastered all around it, her obi was a deeper blue patterned with Gray's name all over it.
"Good luck Natsuu!" Lucy jumped up and down, her purple flowery yukata matched her hair beautifully, with the white obi complementing it.
"Erza-san, I'm rooting for you!" Wendy shouted her small pink yukata fluttering as she bounced.
"It was originally intended for two members to take part, however now that everyone wants a go, its even coooooler!" Jason held his microphone close to his face as he began commentating on the contest.
"Fairy Tails very own Master, Master Makarov will assist in judging along side former council member Yajima and owner of 8-island restaurant Cooooool!"
"Contestants get points on their presentation and tastes! Cool cool cooool!"
"First up is Mirajane one of Weekly Sorcerers models! Cooooool!, with her classic take on..."
"Daifuku mochi!" She proudly stated,
On Mirajane's platter in front of her, she had loving crafted the sweet glutinous rice paste balls, each coloured with a different hue. Filled with a red bean paste.
"Ohh my my I haven't had one of these in some time" Yajima looked excited and took a bite, his face went blue.
"Mmm, these look good," As Makarov popped one into his mouth, joining Yajima in a soured expression.
Yajima held up a small card stating 4 Makarov also gave Mirajane a 5.
Mirajane burst into tears, she didn't know why she got such a low score, Erza moved over to Mira and picked one up the scarlet haired woman's face went sour.
"Salty..." she got out in between chews, reaching for some water to rehydrate herself.
Mirajane remembered how Lisanna was asking her questions whilst she made them in the morning, realising she had used salt instead of sugar in the creation.
"It's OK Mira-nee!" Lisanna shouted unaware that she had subconsciously sabotaged her older sisters chance of winning.
"Next we have Fairy Tails Elfman! He thinks everyone should be manly, its so coooool! He has made for us..."
"Three Manly Meats!"
The crowd went quiet at the thought.
In front of the judges was simple looking plate of sliders, Makarov picked up the first slider, he silently chewed it.
Yajima went next, he picked up the slider and inspected it, "Why is it three manly meats?"
"All of its meat! Its more manly! The bread is meat! Super manly!" Elfman shouted rather proudly.
Putting it into his mouth Yajima nodded at Makarov 6 from Makarov, Yajima giving a 5
"Cool cool! So far Mirajane and Elfman have had their dishes tasted, Next up is Natsu Coooool! What could this dragon slayer cook for us today?!" Jason was pumped, as he shouted in the microphone for the audience to listen.
Yajima and Makarov were concerned about Natsu's dish. The boy didn't have a single taste bud.
Natsu beamed, on his platter were a small selection simple looking chicken wings.
Not very imaginative the two old men thought to themselves.
Picking one up between them they bit into the wings,
"Oooh! " Makarov exclaimed pleasantly surprised as he finished off the wing, wiping his fingers on the napkin provided.
Yajima "mmm" nodding in agreement,
Natsu ginned, feeling really proud of himself.
A few seconds went by before their heads blew off from the heat. Natsu's eyes boggled,
What was their problem?
Natsu laughed picking one up and eating it happily "I did want to add more heat... bit bland for me!"
The crowd stared in horror as Natsu offered the wings around to others, confused as to why no-one wanted to taste one,
"Lucy, did you want one?"
"N-no I'm full! Th-thanks anyway!" Lucy tried to say until Natsu was advancing on her, shoving the platter down her throat.
"Its good no?" he grinned a Lucy ran around with her mouth on fire, the crowd laughing.
After downing a large amount of milk both elderly men produced their score cards, 3 and 2 from Yajima.
"Coool Coool! Natsu didn't seem to do so well! Maybe Fairy Tails Ice-Maker Gray will have a better chance!"
Gray was looking proud, his shirt off with a Juvia desperately trying to get him to put his outfit back on, "Gray-sama darling! Please get dressed!"
"Ooh! It looks like Gray forgot to bring his to the table, Coooool!" Jason cried
The black haired man looked confused at Jason, "Its too large for the table. So its just next to contest table"
"We all thought it was part of the festival, but it turns out the statue of Gray standing on top of a knocked out Natsu is his dish for the contest, COOOOOOL!"
"Dish?" Gray cocked his head.
Makarov and Yajima looked at each other, "Gray... Is there anything we can taste?" Yajima asked,
"Taste? Well... No"
"Gray... This is a food competition, did you not realise?" Makarov had a small smile appearing.
Gray's face dropped. He went to put his finger up to answer, but turned to ice in embarrassment.
"Coool! Since Gray didn't follow the rules he doesn't qualify"
"Just a minute!" Makarov spoke
"He still gets a vote on the presentation...!" The old man's face gave a mischievous grin. Gray looked horrified, he didn't want a low score...
"Cooool since Gray did present something he's still in for a chance!" Jason was flitting around Makarov and Yajima waiting for the scores.
"Cool Coool Coool! Yajima gives 2 and Master Makarov gives him 1!" Jason was fist pumping with his spare hand as he buckled over shouting into the microphone.
"Now its time for our final contestant, Erza! She's our favourite Redhe-"
"Scarlet!" she interrupted staring maniacally at Jason.
"I mean she's our favourite scarlet haired wizard! Coooooooool! Today Erza has brought us!"
Sitting neatly in front of Erza was a cute little strawberry cake, with thinly sliced strawberry's around the outside, with a carefully cut strawberry on top, expertly crafted.
"Oooohh!" both elderly men went,
Admiring the work that went into making the cake. Makarov went first taking a small fork full, and placed it into his mouth, His face lit up, Yajima took the spare fork and helped him self. Joining Makarov in the taste of the cake.
"Cooool! Looks like they both have an idea for what final score they wish to give!, Lets run through the score so far! Out of a possible 20 we have Mirajane at 9, Elfman at 11! Cooooool Next up is Natsu with 5! Finally Gray with a total of 3! Looks like its all over! Coooool!"
Makarov spoke, "I'm proud of all of you brats!" Holding Erza's score of 9
"The food was definitely interesting" Yajima added, holding an equal 9
"Cool Cooool cooooool! Looks like Erza has stormed ahead and taken the top! With 18!"
The crowd cheered with delight, waving various Erza faced flags around, others with generic Fairy Tail emblem flags.
"As Erza is our winner of the competition I want to congratulate you on not killing us before our time, I also want to congratulate our loser! Gray Fullbuster!" Makarov stood on the stage, ushering Erza and Gray to the stage,
Erza happily walked up feeling over whelmed as she blushed for winning, Gray was pushed onto the stage by Elfman and Natsu as he was frozen stiff, terrified by the thought of what the punishment game would be.
Yajima handed Erza a small statue of a chef knife stood up blade down into the stands base covered in silver.
"Gray, for your lack of understanding in a food contest, you get to cook for the entire guild for two weeks whilst wearing a different girly outfit every day!" Makarov laughed loudly.
"But Gramp's!" Gray tried to beg
"Enough! Accept your punishment! If you don't it will be 4 weeks and you will wear skimpy outfits instead! Ohoho! In fact. I like that more!"
Gray cracked and started to float away. Juvia ran around trying to catch pieces of him "Gray-samaa!"
==[o0o]==
The guild had gathered around the large tree in the park, sitting underneath the lit up tree, candles floating around the trunk. Various flowers were littered about with lights glinting in between the leaves and petals.
On the grass lay large coloured rugs each decorated individually with various symbols. All laid in a large circle around the base.
On one rug housed Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Juvia, and Erza.
Another had Laxus, Mirajane Bixslow, Lisanna, Elfman, Evergreen and Freed.
To the left of them had Cana, Wakaba, Macao, Reedus.
Following round, Alzack and Bisca shared onto themselves.
After them had Wendy and the three Exceeds.
Levy, Jet, Droy and Gajeel sat on another.
As the rest of the guild members filled the remainder, all were laughing and chatting loudly waiting for the firework display to start.
The rugs were laden with food and drinks of all sorts, a lot of alcohol dotted about the rugs.
Cana stood up from her rug after peeling a label off the bottle, wondering over to Levy, she bent down, her breasts almost pouring out her top it hung loosely around her.
"Levy we had this on our rug, I think its juice, instead of alcohol, you'd best take it!" Cana grabbed the bottle of booze near Levy's lap and thrust the unlabelled one into the bluenette's lap, smirking as she walked back to her group.
Levy was mystified but she was enjoying herself too much, Jet and Droy had become more comfortable around Gajeel. Although they still were kept on edge when he was pissed.
Levy watched the boys quietly as they chatted, she poured herself some of the liquid that Cana had brought over, putting it to her lips, she sniffed,
Strong...
"Its definitely juice Levy!" Cana shouted as she downed one of the bottles she stole from their rug.
Taking a sip, she blinked slightly, but found it enjoyable, sipping it slowly as her cheeks gradually started changing colour.
"Levy!" Lucy shouted, "come join us for a bit!" calling over to the bluenette looking a tad bored.
She stood up and looked at the boys.
Gajeel had been ignoring her most of the afternoon since the market stalls and Jet and Droy seemed eager to get rid of her.
Straightening herself she wondered over barefooted to Lucy, plonking herself down, her head resting on Lucy's lap. Sighing before engaging in the conversation with the rest of the group, as Lucy stroked the bluenette's hair.
Droy and Jet looked at each other, giving a small nod in understanding, they had been thinking of the best chance to approach Gajeel, and public seemed to be the safest.
"Gajeel, I know neither of us got to speak to you after our job, but we want to thank you" Jet spoke up
"Huh?" Gajeel had been happily zoning out, as he sat cross-legged with his arms folded.
"Jet and I... We... Thought that ... Thank you for protecting Levy"
Gajeel opened an eye looking at them both suspiciously.
"I did what any responsible man should do." he gruffed.
The boys felt unsure how to respond, "We know.. And we are not those men..." It hurt to hear it, Droy winced as Jet spoke.
Taking a deep breath, Jet cleared his throat. "Whilst me and Droy were laying in hospital, we had a lot to think about... and our relationship when it comes to Levy..." he wanted Gajeel to look at him.
The long black haired man sighed exasperatedly. Opening both eyes looking at jet who had now gone white from fear.
Gajeel was sure making this tough he thought. Jet looked at Droy for support, why was he the only one speaking?
"We love Levy... But she has broken our hearts.. We shall always love her as a sister. I suppose you could say" Droy added gracelessly.
"Since meeting you Levy has always seen the best in you... Even when we never did. She helped convince us that you ..." Droy felt awkward, complimenting this guy was hard.
"Gajeel.. If you went ahead .. I mean... If you... Um..." Droy didn't know where to look.
Gajeel watched them both, were they giving him permission to be with levy?
"We know she likes you" they said together. Holding their head down with their hands on their laps.
"Don't make her wait any longer..." They looked up at him, waiting for a response. Gajeel closed his eyes, sighing slightly.
"Whatever."
"Aahh ahha!" a small laugher was falling around with Lucy,
"Levy.. what's got into you?" She asked concerned
"Nothii-ng!" smiling luminously. She hurried over to her rug sitting in front of Jet, Droy and Gajeel to watch the fireworks.
The fireworks display was spectacular with the guild members being astonished by the fireworks showing various faces of the guild into the sky of various colours, and writing Fairy Tail across the sky, also showing the festival organisers faces and names in the sky. The whole city was heard cheering at the success.
==[o0o]==
The guild were causing a ruckus from the alcohol intake. Mirajane was trying to mount Laxus as Freed was trying to pull her off him in blind panic.
Lisanna was peacefully leaning on Bixslow, with his arm wrapped around her, as he chatted with Ever and Elfman.
Lucy was fawning over Natsu who didn't deny her actions, but was still thoroughly confused.
Juvia was reassuring Gray that he didn't have to cook for her during the punishment games, and that she'd cook for him when he needed to eat and that she'd wear whatever he wanted, even if it was nothing at all.
Happy was trying to get Carla to eat one of his snacks he'd unloaded out of his backpack, mainly fishes.
Cana was gambling with Jet, Wakaba, Macao and Lily, Droy was cheering Jet.
Reedus had taken a back seat and was busily painting various guild members and groups together.
As the night wore on and the alcohol and food dried up people stared to disperse. Propping each other up as they staggered back to their homes.
Natsu gave Lucy a piggyback as she cried "Giddy Up!"
Whenever he didn't answer with "Neigh" she dug her heels in, laughing wildly, swinging her arms around as if she was really riding a horse.
Natsu's face was dark as he tried to ignore the jeers from the members.
"That's it Natsu! A real man carries his woman home!" Elfman cheered.
Juvia was desperate for Gray to give her one too, tackling him in vain hopes that he'd catch her without warning. Causing them to barrel roll into several other drunken members into a big pile of laughter and shouting.
Laxus had picked up Mirajane carrying her like a gentleman would walking her back to her home.
Levy was hammered. Gajeel couldn't control Levy, he tried picking her up instead she slipped out his grasp and wiggled around.
"Ahaha!" laughing loudly as she ran behind him. He managed to grab her yukata and picked her up as she flailed around laughing.
He sighed loudly as she started to carry her towards Fairy Hills. "Nooo! I don't want to go back yet!" she whinged.
Gajeel bit his tongue.
Just keep walking...
He managed to make it a fair distance from the park until he moved Levy to fold over his shoulder.
"Haha! The world is going backwarrds!" she laughed loudly.
She squirmed and slid out of his grasp, Gajeel tried to tighten his hold but she escaped.
"Lets play a game!" as she ran ahead of him.
Gajeel lent forward incredibly annoyed. He wanted to go to bed, he had one too many beers and was equally drunk but at least he knew he could handle his alcohol...
How many glasses or bottles had she drunk?!
"I'm not looking for yah. I'm going home shorty" Gajeel turned around sulking as he walked towards his home out of the city he shared with Lily.
Hearing scuffling and giggling moving quickly behind him he turned around.
Nothing?
The boxes next to the corner of the alley way next to him moved
"Shhh! I'm trying to hide, boxes!" said a badly hushed voice.
Sighing "I'm glad Levy's gone home!" he shouted, "means I get some fucking peace!"
Trying to imitate a man,"Yes! She's ran all the way home!" She had picked up a box in front of her from the corner. Pretending it was a puppet. Moving it around as she spoke.
"Don't worry Gajeel! No monsters will sneak up behind you!" carrying on her expert voice.
He couldn't take much of this, walking towards the boxes she hid behind, a loud squeal was heard as a box was thrown at him, and then hearing the uncovered feet padding along the stone floor running away from him to the other end of the alleyway.
"Levy, I need to take yah back to Fairy Hills!" he was getting short with her,
"No! I don't want to!" she pouted as her head peaked around the other end of the alley way.
"What yah wanna do then?" he had almost lost all patience with her.
"mm... " holding a finger to her chin
"Oh! I want to see where you live!" she beamed brightly, her cheeks were flushed.
"No." dead panning.
"But!"
"No!" he turned around, storming off again.
The barefooted run was struggling to catch up with him, "I bet I know where you live!" came a puffed voice
"'doubt it"
"Lets shake on it! I Bet you I can find your house!" she held out her hand as he stopped looking at her.
Her yukata was staring to hang off her shoulder as she had scrambled around so much, her thin hand waiting for him to agree.
"No. I aint doing it"
"Is it cause you'll loose to me?!" she laughed loudly at him.
"Fine. If yah can't find it in 30 minutes, yah have to go home back to Fairy Hills no arguments!" he lent over her, his red eyes stared harshly at her.
Taking his hand she shook it wildly with some unknown strength, he held his hand afterwards hugging it, she was a monster when she was drunk.
"ahaha!" as Levy ran around him in circles.
"I get to see Gajeel's house! I get to see where the big meanie lives!" She stopped, a small bit of realisation coming to her.
"Give up already huh?" smirking at the little bluenette.
She tilt her head back at him, flashing him an evil glare, sending a small shiver up his spine.
"You won't live in the city... you hate people..." she started surmising,
"which means you wont live at the boys dorm either!" she clapped her hands together,
"You definitely won't be near water..." He raised an eyebrow,
Where did she get that impression from?
"Perhaps near the woods!" she cried, she had got it.
Fuck sake.
One last way to get her back to Fairy Hills. Just tell her that she is going the right way to the house...
Gajeel grinned, he thought his plan would work.
"Too the hou-se!" she hiccuped as she grabbed his hand, she slid her fingers between his. Looking up at him, a huge beam on her face,
"Lets gooo Gaaajeeeel!" she giggled as she elongated his name, taking a large step forward pointing upwards at the sky.
==[o0o]==
"Its.. Beautiful Gajeel!" Levy cried, she had found his house. He had tried to navigate her back to Fairy Hills but it felt as if Levy had a homing beacon stuck inside her and it was locked firming on to his house.
Don't let Lily be home, I can't deal with this much longer.
Letting go of his fingers she started to take off, almost instantly being grabbed by the scruff.
"Yah saw it, lets go!"
"Nooo! I didn't win my part of the bet!" moaning as she hung in front of him sobbing no tears. Hoping that it would fool him.
"Yah didn't bet on anything shorty!"
"O-ah..." her face sunk. She forgot.
Letting go of Levy she stumbled a bit trying to find her footing, instead face planted the floor.
Gajeel looked around panicking the last thing he wanted was someone to think he had beaten her up again, he wanted to pick her up but he already felt too clingy. He lent over her about to pick her up.
Levy's eyes glinted, she got up with lightning speed, racing to the front door, "ahaha! I get to see his house!"
She pulled the door giggling as it was unlocked, pulling it open her face bright with laughter and booze.
The door slammed back closed, Gajeel's Iron club had shut it, "Enough! Will yah just go back home?!"
Levy was stunned, looking at Gajeel's glaring face.
He was livid.
Retracting his club, he stormed up to the bluenette, picking her up by the scruff once again, dropping her outside of his boundary. "Go home!"
He marched back up to the front door, opening it and slamming it behind him.
Levy didn't register the anger in his voice, a wicked grin covered her innocent face, she bent down and scuttled across the floor, she looked around the house, finding an alternative way in.
No back door... Its Levy proof!
She clicked her fingers, she tried opening some of the windows to no avail, scrabbling around she went to the front door again,
Still closed...
Taking off her bandana she tied it to the door handle, and hid behind the side of the house,
She bent down, her slender fingers picked up some small stones and threw them at the door, trying to catch Gajeel's attention. The first one missed.
"Damn"
She threw the second, it hit the window next to the door instead
"Argh!"
"Shh Levy, You're trying to get Gajeel's attention!"
She had tried to stifle herself, holding one of her hands to her mouth.
Levy pouted as she threw the remaining pebbles at the door, as they lightly dinged against it.
Humouring the poor girl Gajeel opened the front door. He had watched her through the windows as she ran around his house, puzzled by her actions as she tried to prize open his windows, he hoped she'd give up and go.
He was too pissed and drunk to deal with her any longer. The small tapping of the pebbles against the window and door paired with the loud shouting from outside made him curious to see what see what she was up to.
Opening the door outwardly he stood on the front step, his eyes scanned his front lawn, but he couldn't see her. Sniffing he caught her scent almost immediately. Turning to look behind the door, directed to her scent, believing she had hid behind the door, instead he realised it was her headband instead of Levy
"What the?" he exclaimed
He was hit from behind, Levy had run from the opposite side of the house and jumped on to his back, or at least tried to.
Instead she ended up head butting him in the spine and landing in a heap on the floor laughing hysterically.
He put a hand to his back, "fuck that hurt shorty!"
He picked her up, standing her on her feet, kneeling down he looked at her. "Why won't yah just go home?"
Levy couldn't answer the muscular man, she held a finger to her lips, a wry smile covered them.
He stood up, beaten, "Fine."
==[o0o]==