Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
Natsu, Mirya, and Happy came back a week ago and luckily they were able to smooth the whole thing over. And by smooth things over, Mirya bribed the mayor. She still had a small fortune from her S-Class quest, so that was able to get the mayor's forgiveness. Master wasn't mad after the mayor accepted the bribe. So they managed to get off scot free.
But now they had to deal with a real challenge. A test that would determine who was the strongest. It was the 24 Hour Endurance Road Race. The day Mirya and the master were looking forward to.
"How are you feeling today master?" Mirya says with a grin on her face, Piri was on her shoulder.
"I'm feeling great, relaxed even." Master says, with a Cheshire grin on his face.
"We are bringing you live footage of Fairy Tail's road race. So cool!" Jason the reporter was back to bring an exclusive scoop.
"Mirya, who do you want to win this year?" Jason asks her.
"Well, I'm going to be rooting for my little dragon and Happy. They'll show you all!" Mirya says, hoping for a dramatic race this year.
"That would be so cool!" Jason says.
Mirya makes her way back to the master and Mira. The master clears his throat and begins his announcement.
"Here we are again, every year Fairy Tail wizards test their physical and mental capabilities. We go out into the field and do the work that others can't, so this will be used as an examination." The master says, getting to part he was excited about. "As always, we have our punishment game. The person to come in last will have to play the most horrific punishment game that I've devised. Helped by Mirya Astre herself." Master waves his hand towards Mirya, who waved at the guild, smirking. The whole guild was frozen in fear. The master and Mirya combined made for a terrifying combination.
"We will begin in a minute." Mirya announces. She and Mira would count down, while Master shot the gun. Mirya nods towards Mira and they begin the countdown.
"Three… Two… One!" As soon as they hit one, the gun shot off and Mirya blocked the dust from hitting Mira.
"Thanks." Mira smiles at Mirya.
"Of course." They watch to see the guild scramble after Jet and Natsu, who had his secret weapon. Mirya had given him the idea, wanting to see somebody else other than Jet win this year.
Mirya, master, Mira, and Jason watch the guild run to the summit of Mt. Ivor. They were tasked with retrieving a Wyvern Scale from the summit. Mirya and Mira couldn't see Jet due to his magic. They move their set up into the guild, due to the sun going down. Mirya started to make them something quick. She made an açaí bowl for all of them. They thank her and continue to watch.
"What do you all think of Jet's speed?" Jason asks.
"He's got speed for sure, I'll give him that." Mirya says.
"Well, he's so fast we can't even see him." Mira says.
"There's movement on the summit of Mt. Ivor! Is it him? It's Jet!" Jason yells, receiving confirmation.
Jet slows down enough to grab a scale and makes his way back to Magnolia. Mirya was annoyed, she wanted him to lose. They continued to watch, wondering who would get to play the punishment game. Eventually the sun rose the next day and Mirya was wondering what happened to Jet. He had more than a sufficient lead to have finished by now.
"Cocka-doodle-doo! It's the next morning and it seems that our contestants are still going strong. Jet seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth. Meanwhile Erza, Natsu, Gajeel, and Gray are battling it out in front." Jason comments. "Let's go outside and see them finish."
They move outside and are ready to see the guild finish. They move to watch the lacrima and are shocked to see somebody come behind the group of four in the front.
"Is that-?" Master begins to ask.
"Jet!" Mira finishes in surprise.
"What?! He's not in the lead?" Master asks, shocked.
.
.
.
"He's not pulling in front of me, Requip!" Erza puts on a bunny suit.
"She's going to beat us!" Gajeel yells, spurring the others into action.
"Hey… she's kinda slow for a bunny." Gray says.
"Maybe she likes the way it looks?" Natsu asks.
"She certainly doesn't look like the kind of person to care about the way she looks." Gajeel replies with a smirk.
"Requip!" Erza changes back into her running gear and the group of five begin their battle for first.
.
.
.
Mirya watches the intense and dramatic showdown. She looks up to see it right in front of her as the group makes it into the last stretch. She watches as Natsu's boosters stop.
"Natsu's Fire Dragon Iron Fist Boosters have stopped! Is he out of the running?" Jason exclaims.
"If you think you're going to beat me you have another thing coming!" Natsu yells as he runs double speed to keep with the pack.
Jason kept yelling, but Mirya was focused on the spectacle in front of her. Mira and her were holding the finishing tape, ready to congratulate the top three.
"This year's title is going to be mine!" She hears and sees Natsu trip and pull everyone else with him, mere feet from the finish line. They land in a heap and Mirya sweat drops.
"Is that a cat I see!?" Jason says, catching her attention. She saw Happy catch up and pass them at a steady pace. She was laughing when Happy crossed the line.
"Did we just lose-"
"To that freaking cat!"
They all freak out. They all look on in shock when Wendy and Carla pass by and finish in second and third, respectively.
"MY LITTLE DRAGON!" Mirya's shriek was almost enough to shatter their eardrums. They watch as she tackles and spins Wendy around her. She was crying tears of joy over the thought of her little sister placing second.
"Let's give it up to this trio of adorable winners! The year of the underdog folks." Jason announces, snapping a picture of Wendy, Happy, Carla, Mirya, Mira, and Master.
Mirya turns to see Natsu, Gray, Gajeel, and Jet get trampled by the rest of the guild as they hurry to finish the race.
"Looks like we still have five contestants left. Make that four! Erza snuck in with the rest of them." Jason says, Erza was sporting a small blush.
"Hurry up Natsu!" Happy and Mirya yell.
"Come on my darling!" Juvia yells, supporting Gray.
"See you losers, max speed!" Jet yells, the others grab onto him and they finish in a tie.
"Since this year is a tie for last place, that means you all get punished!" Master proclaims, feeling more joyous.
"What?!" The four collectively yell. "Why can't we just do a tie breaker?" They ask.
"Mages don't have do overs in the field." Master says, selling it off with that excuse.
"You know what? I'm not scared of your punishment game, bring it on!" Natsu yells.
"That's the spirit! Believe me when I say that you're going to need it for what's in store." Master says, putting everyone on edge. "Mirya, if you will."
"Of course. Look at this." Mirya says, holding up an edition of Sorcerer Weekly.
"What, are we supposed to read the thing?" Gajeel questions.
"No, much worse. You all will be pin up models for the next edition of Sorcerer Weekly. You will all dress in embarrassing clothing and conduct close up interviews. You'll be the centerfold." Master announces to their horror.
"Oh my… A Gray centerfold!" Juvia blushes at the thought.
"I'll destroy every copy!" Gray yells.
"Now let's get your measurements." Jason begins.
"NO WAY!" They yell, as they run away. Jason begins to chase after them.
"They still have energy after the race?" Lucy asks.
"It seems they weren't giving it their all either, color me impressed." Erza says.
"Wait, what do you mean by either?" Lucy asks, incredulous.
"This year is going to be fun." Mirya says to the master.
"I'm glad that you're going to be there to keep them in check." The master says.
"Well yeah, and I wouldn't miss the chance to see them in those costumes." Mirya says, grinning. "You think I can photobomb a picture?" Mirya asks, wanting a little memory of what was going to go down.
"I think you'll be able to do it." Master tells her. She nods and waves at him, heading towards Wendy.
"Let's go celebrate!" Mirya yells, slinging Wendy on her back and heads to the guild. Wendy's laughter follows her.