Let the Festival Begin!

Lucy yawned, as she got out of bed and stretched. It was another day in Magnolia, but today was something special.

(Flashback)

"Are you going to participate in the modeling contest?" Lisanna asked.

"What modeling contest?" Lucy asked in her own right. Lisanna smiled, as she reached under the counter, and held up a magazine that showed Erza.

"On every Fantasia Festival, the girls of Fairy Tail get together for a modeling contest," Lisanna explained," The winner gets two hundred thousand jewels!" That was when Lucy really perked up.

"Did you say two hundred thousand jewels!?" she asked, as jumped up.

"Yeah," Lisanna answered with a nod.

"Then you can guarantee that I'm going to be coming!" Lucy declared.

"Good luck," Lisanna said with a smile," I'm not going to be competing though."

"Why not?" Lucy asked. Lisanna shrugged.

"I guess I'm not really up to having guys leer at me while I prance around like a doll," Lisanna said," Though Mira and Erza are going to be competing."

"Well that doesn't bolster confidence," Lucy said, as she slumped on the stool.

(End Flashback)

"I've got to win that prize money!" she declared. And, in all probability, she had the best reason for wanting it. She was running rather low when it came to rent, so she definitely needed that money. Unfortunately, Erza and Mirajane were also supposed to be competing. That probably put Lucy at more than a little disadvantage.

Putting those thoughts out of her head, she headed to the guild. When she got there, she saw that everyone in the guild was setting up for the contest, as well as the festival itself. Lucy saw a lot of people talking with enthusiasm, and she saw Erza, so she headed over to her.

"Erza!" she called. The red head looked up, and saw the blonde coming over.

"Lucy!" Erza said," Welcome!"

"Everyone seems to be excited for the festival," Lucy said looking around.

"It is one of the most popular events in the guild," Erza said," Everyone in Magnolia has been looking forward to it." Lucy looked around.

"Is Natsu here?" she asked. Erza shook her head.

"I haven't seen him so far today," she answered.

"I did!" Happy said as he floated over.

"Where was he?" Lucy asked, as Happy landed on the table.

"I saw him when I got here early," the blue cat answered," I didn't try and go to him, but it looked like he was doing some thinking. It looked like he was going to the library."

"Well, Natsu can do all the thinking he wants," Erza said," The rule of thumb at this guild when it comes to Natsu is that if we don't bother him, he doesn't bother us."

(with Natsu)

Down under the guild, in the Fairy Tail archives, Natsu was looking at books. His primary thought, was on the "Cursed One". Ever since the destruction of the Tower of Heaven at its dark hand, he had been wondering about. He did faintly remember hearing Acnologia mention it on a passing, but nothing truly further than that.

Eventually, Natsu pulled down a book entitled Chronicles of Fiore. He opened it up, and flipped through it, before he came across an article about the Cursed One. Sitting down at the desk, and putting his book in front of him, Natsu began to read with great intent.

"Throughout the history of Fiore, there have been few beings who have reached the true terror that the 'Cursed One' has been said to bring. The history of the Cursed One is unknown, for no one has ever found the courage to ever seek the answers for themselves. Not even its name, if it even has one, is publicly spoken. The shape of the being is also unknown, as it has never descended from the clouds. It has only appeared as that ominous red glow in the heavens. It is said that it is the form the gods take when they got angry, and intend on punishing humanity for their crimes. Or maybe it is the spawn of Zeref, searching for its master. Perhaps…."

Natsu was broken from his reading, when he smelled something. He looked up, and sniffed the air. It was a familiar scent, but it wasn't his concern. So he went back to his book.

(with the girls)

The contest was about to begin, and all the participating girls were getting ready. Lucy jumped from foot to foot backstage, feeling nervous.

"Relax," Levy said, as she walked up next to Lucy, and patted her on the shoulder," The worse thing that can happen is that you won't come in first."

"Given my current financial situation, that could be pretty bad," Lucy said, as she slouched. Levy chuckled.

"If you are so concerned with money," she said," You could take more missions."

"I don't think I'm good for solo missions," Lucy said, as she slouched. Levy gave a mischievous grin.

"Are you saving your missions for Natsu?" she asked.

"Levy!" Lucy cried, as the blue haired girl walked away, chuckling.

(with the others)

"Ladies and gentlemen of Fairy Tail!" Max announced from the stage," Let me be the first to kick off the festival!" The whole guild cheered.

"And what festival would it be without some competition?" Max said," So let's get cracking with the Ms. Fairy Tail contest!" The guild, mostly the guys, cheered again.

"First up, we have the Mistress of Cards, Cana Alberona!" Max said. The auburn haired woman took the stage, with a pose, and a grin. The men whistled and roared at her appearance.

"You're wooed now, huh?" Cana said, her grin turning mischievous," Then you haven't seen anything yet!" With that, her cards floated around her, before glowing, and consuming Cana in light. When it faded, Cana was now in a two piece bathing suit.

"Hate to start the contest off so highly!" Cana declared, with a wink. The men cheered again.

"Up next we have the Woman of Water, Juvia Lockser!"

The young blue-haired woman came up, wearing her general attire.

"Juvia will dedicate this to you, my Prince!" she declared, as her body got swallowed with water. When she emerged, she was also in a bathing suit. The men seemed as wooed as they were with Cana.

"For crying out loud, Gray!" a black haired man with large lips named Warren said," Why haven't you taken Juvia yet?"

"No kidding!" Elfman said," A real man knows when to take his woman!"

"That girl is not my woman!" Gray declared. (yet)

"Coming in third place is Transformation Mage Extraordinaire, Mirajane Strauss!" Max said, as he held out his hand. Mirajane didn't so much as come onto stage, as she dropped down, with a tough grin.

"I'm going to finish this here and now!" the white-haired woman said, with a smirk, before she held up her arms, and her body glowed. When the glow went away, Mirajane had turned into a cat girl.

"Meow," was all she said, as the guys howled.

"How am I going to top that?" Lucy groaned from back stage. From next to her, Erza smirked, as she patted Lucy's back in what was supposed to be a supporting way. Unfortunately, there was too much force. As Lucy managed to get up from the ground, Erza jumped over her.

"Holding the slot of number four, is Fairy Tail's Titania, Erza Scarlet!" Max said. Erza held up her arms, and spun, as she literally glowed. When it faded, she was in Gothic Lolita.

"Have mercy," Lucy moaned, nearly banging her head on the floor.

"In sixth, we have our little bookworm, Levy McGarden!" Max said.

"Go Levy!" Jet and Droy roared from the audience. Gajeel was watching Levy with interest.

"What's with you Gajeel?" Gray asked.

"Nothing," Gajeel quickly said.

"They liiike each other," Happy said. The answer Gajeel gave was an iron pole in the face.

"Time to give you a written report!" Levy said, as she pulled out her pen and paper, and flashed the pen across the manuscript. WIth that, the sky lit up around her with the words "Fairy Tail" flashing around her. The crowd cheered, which drowned out Lucy's moans and groans.

(with Natsu)

Natsu looked up at the ceiling, to where the people all were. He rolled his eyes, as he tore out a few pages, and packed them into his ears. It didn't do all he would have preferred, but it was better than nothing.

(with the rest)

"In seventh, is the cowgirl Bisca Mulan!"

The green haired, hatted woman took the stage with her rifle.

"I'm going to show you all a scene!" Bisca declared, as she held up four coins and threw them into the air. She then pointed her gun, and fired once. Bisca then held up her hand, and caught the coins. Each one of them had a hole in it.

"Go Bisca!" Alzack said. Bisca winked at her partner.

"I take it back, its more surprising that Bisca and Alzack aren't together," Wakaba said.

After Bisca went backstage, it was Lucy's turn. She took a breath, and got her keys out.

"And last but without a doubt not least, is our newest member, Lucy Heartfi…," Max began.

"NO!" Lucy screamed, as she jumped out," Don't say my last name!" After that, she took a pose with one of her keys.

"Time to get this contest started for real!" she said," Open, Gate of the Twin Fish, Pisces!" With that, the two black and white fish circled around int he air around Lucy, as Lucy spun around dramatically, and the fish formed a heart around her. The audience cheered, as Lucy smiled, starting to feel hope again.

"Well, that's everyone," Max said," Now the judges…"

"The victor has been decided!" a new voice said, as a green form dropped down. When people looked, they saw a woman in a green dress with golden hair, and a fan.

"The most beautiful of all Fairy Tail!" the woman said.

"Evergreen?" Max said.

"When did she get back?" Wakaba asked.

"What are you doing?" Lucy demanded. Evergreen just smirked at her, and put her hands on her glasses.

"Lucy, look away!" Gray yelled.

Evergreen took off her glasses, and looked into Lucy's eyes. In an instant, Lucy was stone.

Note: Sorry this took so long, but I think I might need some more patient readers. This was an arc I've always feared doing. I mean, I've got Oracian Seis, and others figured out, but this is one I was worried about. I'm still in block with it.

The pairing is also on the table, and I would like to establish that the poll was not meant as a voting thing. It was to see what people think. I was not going to bind myself to that poll. That said, it could be anyone. Lucy, Erza, in fact I've even been partial to Kagura.

Always taking ideas people, and try to be patient.