So, here it finally is. To be honest, I'm not very happy with this chapter (When am I ever?). I hope you all enjoy it...I've been suffering a bit of inspiration-lack for this story, so currently I'm kind of stalled where I'm at...Hopefully, I'll push through it cause I'm almost half way through (Long time coming...)
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Fantasia, once the pride of Magnolia as the harvesting season drew to a close, always was centered by Fairy Tail. So much, that out of sheer loyalty, once Twilight Ogre moved in, the tradition was lost (Not that Twilight Ogre were even ones to put on a show for the common people, being as antisocial as they were). With the return of the rise in Fairy Tail, it wasn't even a debated revival the moment someone suggested they host Fantasia once again.
Makarov had instantly jumped into the lead of preparations (Any excuse for a party or celebration was all it required to get Makarov hyped). Everyone were rushing to complete jobs, to pocket a bit more change as well as return in time for the event. With so few members, everyone was required to perform and attend. Even Laxus had a part.
The only draw back was that since Lucy would be forced to perform, she wasn't exactly open to spend the parade or festival with a date. Hibiki nonetheless insisted on coming. As log as they were both there, and he saw her, it was a date as far as he was concerned, so he told her.
With one problem settled, however, another had sprouted.
"It's impossible," Mira cheered brightly.
A moment later, she burst into hysterics.
"D-don't cry, Mira! We'll pull through," Max tried to calm her, but this only spurred her tears further. Elfman quickly became aware of this, and through his own manly tears, demanded his sister stop crying.
"M-master, do something," Warren muttered to Makarov, who sat upon the bar casually.
He, too, burst into tears.
Lucy, having just entered with Hibiki right behind her (It was the day of the festival, only a few hours before the famed parade). Startled, she approached the growing crowd of concerned mages, turning to Nab for answers.
"What's wrong with Mira and Master?"
"There's just no way we can pull off Fantasia this year around. It was too last minute, we're too low on man power. M-maybe next year..."
"S-so we're supposed to just go and tell everyone of Magnolia that?"
Nearby mages winced, some biting their lips at the unavoidable predicament. Just when the town was accepting them once again, too...
"We can't!" Everyone turned to face Lucy.
"I-I mean, look at last time! We managed to pull through and put on Fantasia, despite all our injuries and the Thunder Hall..."
Several nodded, but a few were still skeptical.
"We had a bit more of a notice then, though...We're just less organized this year, everyone is running around with no idea on what is completed or not."
"Ah, could I be of service?"
Everyone turned to look at Hibiki, peering from behind Lucy.
"I think I could be of help..."
"That's generous of you, young man," Makarov spoke, all traces of tears gone. "Though I'm afraid this is a matter of Fairy Tail-"
"Wait! I have an idea!"
Everyone turned to Lucy, who had ran from the group towards Reedus.
"Reedus, can I borrow some paper?"
Reedus lent Lucy a piece, handing over a pen as well. With a few scribbles, Lucy jotted something down, then turned on her heels towards Mira.
"Mirajane, I'd like to post a request!"
Mira sniffled. "Lucy..?"
"A job request, Mira." Mira took the paper from Lucy, smirking, "Alright. I'll add it to the books."
Everyone, still silent as they watched Lucy, gave each other skeptical looks, just as Lucy turned around and walked back to Hibiki.
"Here. There's a job, I think you'd be perfect for it! The reward isn't a lot, but the client is pretty desperate..."
Hibiki took the paper from Lucy, laughing when he read it.
Mage wanted; skilled in organization (Archive preferred); Help wanted in aiding Fairy Tail; Details, see client
Reward; Gratefulness of client
Lucy spun around, smiling at Makarov.
"It's alright if it's like this, right, master?"
Makarov chuckled.
"If the mage accepts it."
Hibiki smirked, "I'll take it."
It was Mira who sighed, ruining the mood.
"I'm not sure the help of one person will change too much."
"I'll try my best. Besides, I never do a job without my team," Hibiki winked.
"Welcome to Fantasia!"
The cheers roared as fireworks split the air, lighting up Magnolia in an array of colors as music bursts throughout. Wooden floats, designed by Laki, strolled through the streets, calling for attention. Onlookers stood on boxes and shoulders, climbing up street poles and windows to glimpse at the parade. The moon looked dull in comparison.
Leading the way was none other than the poster girl Mirajane, seated on a float that Elfman pulled himself, his beast form a frightening figure that terrified and amazed the children and adults alike. Mira waved, winking at the crowd between transformations, tiny teases and quirks to amuse the younger crowd.
Behind them was Macao and Natsu, spouting flames that wrote designs above them. Romeo tagged along, marching beside his father with the occasional addition of his own flames.
On a float behind the trio was Jet, running circles around Droy who weighted the whole cart down, stuffing his face with small candies he'd snuck onto the float.
Somewhere down the line, even the Raijinshu were participating, with Evergreen letting out sparkling fairy dust as Bixlow put on a light show with his babies. Fried had rune-written himself into something terrifying, a form that rivaled Elfman's, which he topped the float in.
If the float Gray and Juvia had occupied seven years ago resembled a castle, then this one was a mini kingdom. A miniature village continued under the ice sculptured castle, at which the ice king and water queen waved from. Juvia sent a stream of water into the air, Gray mixing his own ice into it to create a sky fountain.
Peculiarly enough, snow also rained down upon the float, and blonde prince stepping out from behind one of the castle's columns, onto the platform, waving at the crowd.
"Huh? Is he from Fairy Tail..?"
"Th-that's Eve, of Blue Pegasus!"
"Look! He's not the only one!"
Gray smirked as he turned to retort at Eve.
"You guys really came through. How'd you get here so fast?"
"Don't underestimate the Christina," Eve grinned.
"Juvia is also happy Eve and the others came!" Inwardly, though, she cried at not being alone with Gray on the float.
"Blue Pegasus isn't the only one, you know."
Gray jumped back with a flock of birds, glistening transparently, flew by.
"I-ice birds..? That means..."
Gray cringed as Lyon stepped into view.
"You really think Ren wouldn't invite Sherry, or inform her of Fairy Tail's predicament?"
Completely walking past Gray, Lyon stepped directly towards Juvia, extending a hand.
"Juvia, you look like a queen right now, but if you joined Lamia Scale, I'd treat you like one every day!"
"Oi, st-stop that!"
"J-Juvia only wants to be Gray's queen!"
Lucy smirked, shaking her head in disbelief at the turnout of the year. From her perch a top the float, she could see Sherry getting into some possession competition with Bixlow, his sith magic versus her doll. Jura peculiarly enough was with Laki, a battle of quick-draw structural builds taking place, Lisanna giggling beside the two. She could catch sight of the scattered mages weaved throughout the parade, mixed with her own guild mates.
Erza was behind her, putting on a show of ex-quipping. And towering behind her was the grand finale float, with Makarov goofily dancing a top, Asuka cheering from his shoulders, with a worrisome Alzack standing beside them like the protective parent he was assigned to be.
Bisca, also watching the trio, sighed. She could trust the trio, but if any slip up occurred, she was not beneath turning a sniper rifle against her husband and master. She turned back tot he crowd, waving her ribbon in hand as they cheered at the trio of girls. Levy jumped beside Lucy.
"It's just like last time!" She squealed.
"Oi, be careful up here! If you fall, it's not like I'm going to catch you!" Came the gruff warning from beside the float. Lucy, as well as Levy, looked to notice Gajeel, aloofly walking alongside the tiered float, designed like a glittery pink float to showcase the femininity of Fairy Tail. Levy muttered some remark about not having asked him to, but Lucy caught the blush and giggled to herself.
"What's so funny?"
Lucy turned around, Hibiki stepping up from the bottom of the float to the top stage, giving a quick wave to the crowd (which garnered swoons from the females present) before making his way to Lucy.
"Nothing," Lucy winked at the secret, to which Hibiki gave a questioning look but didn't ask any further. Instead, he tapped at his temple, speaking out loud.
"How's your end of the parade coming along, Ren?"
A screen appeared, a map of the parade and the order of the floats with floating heads representing the tracking members. Ren blinked at the top of the map, the very last float, and his response came as a quick, clear, "We're set."
"Wendy?" Hibiki asked, again receiving a response of "Yes!"
"I'll alert you when the finale takes place!" Hibiki promised, dropping the line before turning back to Lucy.
"You really pulled it off," Lucy smirked. "We couldn't have done it without your help, you know?"
Hibiki shrugged modestly.
"It wasn't all me...The rest of Blue Pegasus helped, and even Lamia Scale came!"
Judging from the commotion up ahead, taking place on the ice float, Lucy wasn't so sure everyone felt the same way as Hibiki as far as gratefulness towards Lamia Scale's unexpected aid.
Hibiki's contribution to the miracle of pulling off Fantasia hadn't stopped at simply providing man power. What Hibiki really had equated was organization. Through Archive, Hibiki could promptly provide time lines and completion bars for all float projects. Like a fine-run assembly line, he had the entire guild turned upside down in a productive fashion.
Fairy Tail deserved most of the credit, however, what with going beyond human limits to complete the parade and festival. With the speed and pace they worked at, Lucy considered that constructing an entire town wasn't out of the question between the small guild and the hired help. Everyone put in all the magic they had to securing the floats and attractions, and Lucy stood dumbfounded, perplexed to the side as everyone did their best-only for a moment, though, before she too called for her more reliable spirits to aid the parade.
And here they were, marching down the streets of Magnolia just like seven years ago. Only this time, it wasn't just Fairy Tail, and they were a smaller guild but a bigger parade. It was like a picture from all those years ago, brought to life, and it was a completely different sight, all at once. And Lucy knew Hibiki couldn't take all the credit, but he deserved some.
"Thank you," she responded, genuinely. Hibiki just smiled, like he always did.
Suddenly, from up front, there was a large, thunderous crack, followed by a flash of lights that resembled lightning.
"That's the signal! Places, everyone!"
At the end of the line, the crowds having shifted to follow the floats and circling them, all which had stopped. For a moment, every light was turned off. Natsu held back his fire and Levy and Evergreen stopped illuminating the sky. Everyone in Fairy Tail, and the few extra help, seemed to disappear. The crowd tried to look through the blackout, but saw no one and nothing.
Suddenly, a voice could be heard. The finale float slowly came to life with candles that circled around a single Mirajane, singing to the crowd.
People swayed with her voice, reminded at the pure miracle that was her, as well as everyone else's, return after seven years. At the chorus, Mira's voice seemed to pick up, supported by backing vocals as a choir of Fairy Tail mages were revealed several tiers above Mira. Beam lights provided by Bixlow's babies supplied such.
Then, in a sudden burst of light, the float came back alive. Fireworks shot straight up, shaped into the mark of Fairy Tail and of flowers and dragons. A pillar of fire roared from behind the float, and through a smoke cover came water and ice. Lucy, alongside Erza and Levy, appeared and contributed in their own individual ways tot he spectacular light show. Alzack and Bisca, with a cheery Asuka between them, shot into the sky deafening bullets of light.
And then the master came out, and in a spectacular show, shed light on everyone, like casting his great Fairy Law, which only blinded the entire town in a coat of bright white light.
The entire sight was so mesmerizing and so dauntingly beautiful that Lucy racked her brain, missing half the show, trying to just think up the words to describe it rather than enjoy it. She did, however, manage to notice the arm that slinked around her shoulder.
"I can't imagine any other guild pulling this off but Fairy Tail."
Lucy smirked.
"It's beautiful...but, it still doesn't seem right..."
As if speaking on cue, the accident occurred. Whether it was on purpose or accident, not that either claim mattered, Natsu's foot collided with something solid, cold, and metal. Gajeel would claim he was the victim, but, again, none of that mattered. And all in an instant, the fire had turned from up towards the sky to directed towards an unsuspecting crowd. Cana, who had avoided the entire parade in favor of booth beers, made an appearance only to scold Natsu for causing panic, which resulted in some unlucky fellow knocking over her drink in hand.
Her directed card magic retribution meant for the dragon slayer would instead hit Fried, who was clear in the other direction (Her judgment and aim impaired by alcohol...maybe)
And in the blink of an eye, the fantastic finale turned into some Fairy Tail Tournament all over again. Makarov sat crying, realizing the damage report and repair bills he was bound to receive in the morning, and Mira felt compelled to continue singing, her back to the battle behind her.
Lucy sighed, shaking her head as her and Hibiki inched ever so slowly away from the feud.
"This is a Fairy Tail show..."
A/N: Random facts; I needed to somehow work the fact that this was a date, but faced the problem that Lucy would be performing in the show. Needing to get Lucy and Hibiki together, I went with the obvious "Put Hibiki in the show!"
Unfortunately, doing so didn't seem completely right without adding in others, and so others got involved, like Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus (The two 'friendly-terms' guilds...) But, to me, it kind of takes away from the parade itself. I feel like I should have made it more spectacular, but I guess I got too drained and left most of it up to your imagination T_T Sorry...
Anyway, I hope you'll forgive me! The next chapters are better, I think (Don't I always?) and hopefully I'll be rejuvenated with romantic fluffy-inspiration (I have a chick flick stash reserved just for this occasion ;3) So, bare with me, I'll make it up to you! :3 Until next chapter!