"I'm not doing it, Sorren." Lyla flicked his forehead. Since she had ended up meeting his family, she had regularly hung out there. Uragi had deemed her a friend, and Sorren had grown much closer to Lyla.
"Why won't you? You really should join the Miss Fairy Tail contest. There's a 500,000 jewel reward to the winner!"
She glared at him. "You know how I am about that shit. I wasn't here when Jason was, was I?" Jason is a reporter in Sorcerer Magazine. Lyla's read many articles about Fairy Tail that were written by him.
"Fine. I'll leave you alone." He pouted. "But the Magnolia Harvest festival isn't fun when you don't participate."
The teen rolled her eyes and pushed his shoulder. "You are just being whiny. I don't do public shit, but what have we been doing all morning? Shopping?"
The two of them were actually enjoying the harvest festival by going through all the stalls. This had been building up quickly in preparation for today. Now it was in full swing and busy as hell.
"You're definitely pretty enough to win." Sorren commented.
The teenagers cheeks turned pink. "Shut up."
"You're blushing!" The man gasped. "I didn't think it was possible to fluster you!"
The pink went from an adorable blush to a flush of anger. "I'm not a damn robot you piece of shit!" she snapped and smacked his head.
"I'm sorry!!!" He cried out and began running away. The townspeople, completely used to the oddness, just stepped out of the way whenever the two wizards neared them. There were others from out of town who were frightened and confused.
It wasn't long until Sorren gave up. Lyla was extremely fast. Being smaller and her magic gave her the advantage.
"Remind me why I did that?" Sorren asked, panting. He was laying on the ground and dripping sweat.
Lyla was sitting beside him and perfectly fine despite her heavier clothing. "Because you are an absolute idiot."
"And how are you perfectly fine?" He yelled and gestured uselessly.
She pretended to think, "Hmm, I don't really drink. I try to sleep regularly and sleep well. I work out properly. I maintain a good diet. I think it might be because I just fucking work for it. Or also, being faster and far more nimble than you helps."
"Screw you!" He yelled again.
"Quit yelling." The young woman kicked his shoulder gently.
"Ow!" The metal on her boots made it hurt more than it should have.
"Quit being whiny. And get up. Lucy wanted to talk to me before the contest started and you're coming with me."
"Eh?"
"Please help me win!" Lucy begged again. When they got here, Sorren had been shooed away and Lucy dragged Lyla backstage into a dressing room. Why they had them was a mystery.
"You want me to cheat and help you win?" The shadow mage asked flatly. Her mask was covering her mouth, an obvious sign of discomfort.
"No! I just want you make it so that I'll win. No cheating." Lucy tried to make it sound good, but it just sounded confusing.
Lyla clanked the metal on her gloves. "No. I don't have a good feeling about this. Besides, you're pretty enough to win. Just be super cute. And use Virgo. She'll help you." Something about today didn't feel right.
Later, when everyone was gathered in the guild hall for the start of the contest, the announcer said into his microphone, "Everyone, I'm so glad you could make it! The battle of beauty between our female Fairies. Let's start the Miss Fairy Tail Contest!"
Lyla was watching things from the ceiling. She was getting a horrible feeling about today.
"I am Max, the sand wizard, and I will be your host!" Max introduced himself. The crowd cheered.
Lyla had seen the weirdo with his strange bowlcut around the guild a lot. He was often behind the gift shop counter. Today, he was wearing a purple suit with a giant red bow tie for some reason.
"Entry number one: The exotic beauty with a bottomless pit for a stomach!" he began to introduce. Lyla giggled at his wording. "Cana Alberona!"
Cana stepped out behind him and posed, showing off her body. The crowd cheered loudly.
"Now, it's time to appeal to the crowd with your magic!" Max continued enthusiastically. He was practically falling backwards from his weird posing.
Cana smirked at the crowd and held up a hand of cards. The began to swirl around her and glow.
"She's going to be wearing a bikini." Lyla muttered to herself. It was supposed to be an appealing thing, and what appealed to men more than showing off flawless skin? The young woman rubbed her arm anxiously. She couldn't do that anyway. Too much publicity.
"The cards are hiding Cana's body…" Max commented. When the cards disappeared, they revealed Cana in a green and orange striped bikini and high heels. "She changed into a swimsuit!"
Cana was standing in a sexy pose before a smirk covered her face. "I'll take the beer-money, thanks." The crowd cheered loudly for the gorgeous woman. Lyla shifted uncomfortably. Even if there wasn't as much publicity, she couldn't do that. Her magic wasn't something she liked to show off and her skin was very scarred.
Cana strutted off stage as Max yelled, "Entry number two: She might be a newcomer, but her abilities are S-class! Rain or shine, this woman will steal your heart! Juvia Lockser!"
Juvia stepped on stage, smiling sweetly. Her blue and white dress and cap combo made her seem very conservative. When her body changed to water and then revealed a blue polkadot biking, the crowd went wild once again.
They were really enjoying the swimwear.
"Gray-sama! Did you see?" Juvia yelled. She really did love him. She walked off stage before Max began the next intro.
"Entry number three: Everyone's favorite poster girl of the guild. Her beauty is known throughout the land! Mirajane!" Max yelled and jumped out of the way. Mira walked to the front of the stage.
The crowd became even louder, yelling for her. Mira waved and smiled sweetly.
"Now! Appeal to the audience!" Max yelled and posed weirdly again.
"My specialty is transformation magic, so I'll transform!" The crowd got even more excited as Mira covered her face. "Head-only Happy! Aye!" She yelled as her head transformed into Happy's. The crowd's disappointment was palpable as they immediately fell silent. Even Max was shocked.
Lyla began to laugh wildly. This was hilarious.
Mirajane moved her hands over her face quickly and yelled, "Head-only Gajeel-kun!" Her head changed to Gajeel's.
Gajeel spat out whatever he was drinking and fell to the floor. Happy joined Lyla's laughter as the crowd sounded even more disappointed.
Mirajane left the stage still smiling.
Max cleared his throat. "Entry number four: She needs no explanation… Titania!" Erza jumped onto the stage, flipping through the air, and landing perfectly. "Erza Scarlet!"
The crowd cheered up and yelled for her.
Erza laughed to herself and said, "I will show you all a very special requip." She yelled in concentration and began to change. The red light covered her before revealing her in a gothic loli maid outfit.
"That decided it." Erza chuckled and smiled at the crowd sweetly.
"Entry number five: The little fairy with cutes and intelligence, Levy McGarden!" Max introduced the next contestant. Lyla cheered for her friend. Her teammates also cheered overly loudly.
"Solid Script!" Levy yelled and cast her spell. Snow, metal, butterfly, and flowers all appeared behind her. The crowd cheered loudly for her.
"Entry number six: the sexy sniper Bisca Moulin!" Bisca stepped on stage in a wine red bikini, her green hair free from her cowboy hat.
The woman threw four coins into the air, requipped a gun and shot through them all with one shot. "The gunner!" She yelled as she shot and then caught them between her fingers. "Yeehaw."
"Entry number seven: Our guild's super rookie! This upcoming star will sparkle with the guidance of Celestial spirits! Lucy Heart-" Max introduced. Lucy jumped out and interrupted him before he could finish her last name.
"Don't say my last name!" Lucy cried as she ran onto the stage. The crowd's reaction was much more subdued, but just as perverted.
"Now, appeal to the audience!" Max yelled as he stuck yet another pose. How many of those did he have to do?!
"Um, I'm going to do a cheer routine with my Spirits." Lucy said shyly. The crowd cheered.
"Entry number eight," a woman began.
"Hey! I'm not done appealing yet!" Lucy insisted and danced around a little.
Evergreen stepped up behind Lucy and said, "If you want a Fairy, then you want me." She began to walk forward. "If you want beauty, you want me." Her green fairy-like dress swayed with each step as she sauntered forwards confidently.
"Conceited brat." Lyla muttered. The only female member of the Laxus' little troop was being too cocky.
"Yes, I am all you want." Her red fan fluttered gently in front of her face.
"Not a great personality." Lyla yelled. The woman ignored her.
"The winner is obviously me, Evergreen!" She declared. "Okay. The idiotic contest is now over!" Lucy yelled in shock as the crowd murmured in confusion.
"What the fuck is going on?" Lyla muttered. That bad feeling was getting even worse and it worried her.
"The winner is obviously me, Evergreen!" She declared. "Okay. The idiotic contest is now over!"
Lucy yelled in shock as the crowd murmured in confusion.
"What the fuck is going on?" Lyla muttered. That bad feeling was getting even worse and it worried her.
"Hey! Don't get in my way!" Lucy snapped at the newcomer. "My rent is counting on this, you know!"
"Lucy! Don't look into her eyes!" Gray yelled from the crowd.
"Huh?" Lucy stepped back in confusion.
"What's this kid?" Evergreen asked and lifted her glasses. She looked Lucy dead in the eye and the young woman immediately turned into a stone statue. Confusion rippled through the crowd.
"This is bad. Everyone, quickly escape!" Max ordered. An immediate panic and rush ensued as most of the audience ran for the exit.
"What are you doing, Evergreen?" Master Makarov stepped towards the stage. "Do you plan on ruining the festival?" He demanded.
The woman laughed and asked, "You need some entertainment for a festival, yes?" The curtain rose to reveal all the other petrified contestants, frozen to stone.
"Neechan!" Elfman yelled.
"Even Erza?!" Happy added.
Master Makarov yelled angrily, "You fool! Return them to normal at once!"
Lightning struck the stage and revealed Laxus. Lyla's grip on the beam she sat on tightened. "Hey, you Fairy Fails." The cocky bastard greeted casually. "This festival is just getting started!" He had an insane look in his eyes. Something that Lyla knew the look of all too well.
"Laxus?" Master Makarov asked in shock.
Gray noticed the other two. "Freed? Bickslow?" These guys really did suck at seeing people sneaking around. Lyla had known that the Raijin Tribe had been lurking the whole time. It was too bad she hadn't known that they were the ones giving her the bad feeling. She had honestly hoped nothing would come of Laxus' idiocy, but here comes the peak.
"The Raijin Tribe…" Macao began.
"Laxus' personal guard!" Wakaba finished.
Laxus deranged smirk grew. "Let's play, old man."
"Enough of this foolishness!" Makarov snapped. "Return them to normal at once!"
Laxus looked down at him condescendingly. "I wonder how many will be left in the Fantasia?" Lightning appeared above the statue of Lucy near him.
"Don't!" Makarov cried out desperately. The lightning hit the stage right next to the young woman.
Lyla breathed deeply, one hand holding a knife. She had instinctively pulled it out of her boot when she saw the threat to her friend. If Laxus tried something like that one more time, she may end up using it on him. At least it wasn't one of the blades poisoned by her magic.
"These women are my hostages." Laxus declared and casually draped an arm over Lucy's shoulders. "If you break the rules, I'll shatter them one by one. I told you, remember? This is entertainment!"
"This isn't funny, Laxus!" Makarov growled.
"I'm being serious."
Freed jumped onto the stage and said, "Let's just see who is the strongest in Fairy Tail."
Bickslow joined them as well and said, "Time for fun!"
"Fun, fun!" The five dolls floating behind him echoed.
"The rules are simple." Laxus stated. "The last one standing is the winner!"
"Because you're a simpleton." Lyla growled under her breath. Her grip on the beam had splintered the wood as she tried to keep herself in check. Master Makarov wouldn't like it if she accidentally killed his grandson.
"Battle of Fairy Tail!"
"I like it! Simple!" Natsu yelled as he punched a table. "I'm getting fired up!"
"I like that eager spirit of yours." Laxus complimented.
"Natsu!" Makarov called scoldingly.
"It's a festival, Gramps." Natsu smirked. Of course he'd think this was enticing. "Let's do this."
Warren Rocko, the telepathic wizard who had arrived earlier today, called after Natsu, who was walking towards Laxus, "Don't you remember when you got beat by Laxus before?"
"I was just a kid!" He waved off. Lyla dropped to the floor in front of him and punched him.
"You're still a kid." She hissed. "Now is not the time to challenge him. Not unless you want our friends to get hurt! They are right there." Her voice was harsh.
"Whatever! They're strong enough!" he tried to push past her. A fist met his face and he dropped like a stone.
"Natsu!" Happy cried worriedly.
Laxus began to laugh. "How smart of you, weakling. I see you at least have some brains in that tiny head of yours." Lyla ignored him and glared down at Natsu.
"If you want these girls returned to normal, you must defeat us!" Evergreen declared behind the shadow wizard.
"There are four of us and around a hundred of you, right?" Bickslow asked. None of them even cared about the goings on of the guild.
"One hundred on four!" His dolls repeated.
"You have three hours. After that, I'm afraid that they'll turn to dust." Evergreen continued.
"The field of battle is the entirety of Magnolia." Laxus finished. "When you find us, the battle begins."
"Laxus…" Makarov growled. "Stop this foolishness!" He began to grow as he yelled in anger.
"Now, now! I said to cool down!" Laxus retorted calmly. He knew Makarov couldn't attack him while he was surrounded by the statues. "It's entertainment for the festival, see? Let's have fun!" He laughed and disappeared in a flash of light along with his lackeys. "Battle of Fairy Tail, begin!"
Lyla didn't bother listening to her guildmates talking. She dashed towards the exit. Nobody was allowed to get away with threatening her friends and family.
When she tried to step outside, she was stopped by a rune barrier while the rest of the guild stampeded through.
She looked up and read, "Those older than eighty or stone statues may not pass." There was a smaller passage detailing why she wasn't allowed through.
"Lyla? I didn't know you were over eighty." Happy commented.
"It's not that." She dodged the flood of wizards running to do battle. "I'm a powerful shadow mage. There is a small, hidden part of the runes. It says that 'those who lurk in the shadows may not pass, in order to preserve life and safety.'"
"Guess this Raijin Tribe knows what you're capable of." Laura smirked, walking up to them. She placed her hand on the invisible barrier. "I guess that applies to me, too."
"What does that mean?" He asked, a little nervous. He was probably waiting for Natsu.
"It means Freed is too smart, but I'm smarter than him." She reached out and touched the barrier before rearranging a few characters. "I can make it so that I can get out." Her hand slipped through. "Bye."
The passage now said that 'those who lurk in the shadows may pass, in order to preserve life and safety.'
"Intent is all it was in this case. I'll end this quick." She waved.
"Lyla!" Master Makarov called, pressed against the barrier. "Don't you dare kill my grandson! He may be an idiot, but he's still family."
The young woman sighed. She had forgotten that he knew what she was and why she wasn't in the parade. The Magic Council had told him on her, so she had no choice in the matter. Master Makarov had every reason to be suspicious of her though.
"I won't. I'm trying to avoid that. I'll just get beaten up to knock some sense into his thick skull." She reassured him.
"Leave your knives here then." Laura demanded from the side. She stood right outside the barrier.
"Fine." The teen began to pull off her gloves and knives. She had more than one blade on her.
She had come fully prepared with her mask on. Not that it was going to help her right now. She tossed the stuff through the barrier, if she reentered the barrier, she wouldn't be able to get out since her temporary fix wouldn't work again. There were a couple of knives still on her, but most of them were in Makarov's hand.
Laura walked forwards, waiting for her friend.
"Laxus will be fine. I promise." Lyla told the master before she was gone, Laura following her.
They moved to the roof of a local building. Lyla crouched down and tried sensing Laxus' magic. She lowered her mask.
"It's too loud, I can't hear their voices or magic." Laura said, her eyes closed and crossing her arms.
"I'm having trouble pinpointing Laxus… There are too many wizards spread out across Magnolia."
"Jeez, you've fallen out of touch." Laura opened her eyes, snickering.
"Don't see you doing any better."
"I've never been under these conditions before."
"Me neither." Lyla smirked at her victory in this battle. Laura sighed, silence falling as they went back to searching.
"I can hear some wizards fighting each other. There's a type of enchantment magic around them." The older girl informed.
"I sense it. Freed must have set traps throughout the town."
"Keep quiet and I can listen for the traps."
Her friend knew her too well… Lyla would be too busy going after Laxus to sense any traps properly.
"Where are they?"
"Within a 200 yard radius, there's more west. They seem to be clustered."
Lyla scowled. "Guess we're heading that way. He wouldn't waste his time fighting us."
"More traps around his hiding spot means less likely of a chance for those caught in them to have the strength to continue."
Lyla grinned devilishly, "Quite a team we are, huh?"
"Too bad it took us this long to use our abilities properly."
"Hm… yeah. Which reminds me, why are you helping me fight Laxus? Out of everyone except the bastard himself, you'd care the least about something you aren't directly involved in."
"If anything, I'm bored."
Lyla somewhat expected that from her.
"Let's go, You worry about Laxus, I'll worry about the traps."
"Okay." Lyla was about to leap to the next roof.
"And Lyla…" The teen Laura talked to froze, waiting for her to finish. "Don't use your blades."
She leapt to the next roof, heading westward. Lyla smirked, then followed her. This bitch knows me damn too well!
...sh!