SailorStar9: So, after getting Chapter 98 out, this is Chapter 99 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OCs.
Chapter 99: The Grand Ball!
"Do I really have to wear these clothes?" Yukino asked, now decked in a pale green gown in the dressing room.
"Yeah." Lucy winked. "And they look great on you."
"You look lovely, Yukino." Mirajane agreed.
"Mira-nee, I need a hand over here." Lisanna called.
Everything looks good on Yukino." Wendy praised.
"Wow!" Wendy gaped when the girls entered the ballroom.
"Hey, you came." Elfman spotted the girls.
"You're late." Cana chided.
"You should never wear a suit." Gray looked at Gajeel.
"And you should've worn something." The Iron Dragon Slayer fired back.
"Over here." Erza raised her wine glass. "All the other guild members have gathered, too."
"Huh?" Gray blinked. "Natsu's not with you?"
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen him." Gajeel mused.
"A Man needs to eat." Elfman declared, digging in.
"Booze!" Cana called. "Give me booze!"
"Hey, Cana!" Wakaba chided. "We're in the palace!"
"The King is sure generous." Pantherlily remarked.
"To invite all these roughnecks to the palace…" Carla agreed.
"I suppose it should be expected, but I've never seen this much opulence." Jenny remarked.
"I told you it doesn't suit me." Kagura protested, stepping onto the ballroom in her dress.
"Just the opposite." Beth corrected. "It suits you to a T."
"You're beautiful, Kagura." Arana agreed.
"Better not underestimate Kagura." Risley beamed.
"Anyway, I wonder where Natsu went." Gray wondered.
"It's hard to believe Natsu's not at a noisy place." Juvia agreed. "Now Juvia think of it, Juvia haven't seen Ulyo-sama for a while too."
"If you're looking for Ulyo," a voice interrupted.
"Shodai!" Gray bit back an exclaim, spotting Mavis beside Juvia.
"Mavis-sama!" Juvia hid a startled gasp.
"Gray, Juvia, what's wrong?" Lyon asked.
"It's nothing, Lyon-sama." Juvia replied. That's right. She recalled. Only members of Fairy Tail can see Mavis-sama.
"I just saw her step out a moment ago." Mavis added. "She seems… worried about something."
"Ulyo-sama is worried about something?" Juvia echoed. "Gray-sama," she looked at the ice mage. "Could it be… Ultear-sama?"
"Now that I think of it…" Gray frowned.
"Juvia," Lyon turned serious. "What is this about Ultear?"
"That's right," Juvia realized. "Lyon-sama doesn't know. In actuality…"
"Check it out, Chelia." Wendy gushed over the golden jelly in the serving tray. "It looks like a jewel!"
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Chelia cooed. "I wonder what it tastes like."
"Delicious!" the two mages chorused in unison, taking a bite of the golden jelly.
"Jeez." Kagura muttered, nearly tripping over her feet. "It's hard to walk in these."
"How are your injuries, Kagura?" Erza asked.
"I could ask you the same." Kagura replied.
"We've been through a lot." Erza remarked. "But can we come out of it as friends?"
"I decline." Kagura answered. "I was hoping you would become more like an older sister."
"Well, who knew?" Erza chuckled. "You're actually cute."
"I was obviously kidding, you dumbskull!" a flushing Kagura protested, Erza having pushed her head between her breasts.
"Kagura has totally ruined her image, too." Risley teased.
"Millianna, how long are you doing to mope around?" Erza turned to the pouting cat lover. "Only one thing I can do for you." She reached into her dress and pulled out Happy, Carla and Pantherlily.
"Yukino!" Frosh greeted the Celestial mage.
"I'm sorry." Yukino whispered.
"Wait!" Sting stopped the former Sabertooth member from leaving. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were here. Master and his daughter have disappeared. We're going to start over. We're gonna remake Sabertooth from the ground up! We were far from kind to you. But I wanna make a guild that treasures its members."
"And why are you telling me this?" Yukino asked.
"I want you to come back," Sting replied. "Although that might be asking too much."
"Of course!" Kagura concurred. "That's asking for so much, it's ridiculous! Yukino's life belongs to me. She's joining Mermaid Heel and I'll brook no objections!"
"Wait!" Erza cut in. "We can't stay silent in this matter, either."
"We disagree." Eve corrected. "If a beautiful woman like you…"
"Joins us in Blue Pegasus…" Hibiki added.
"You'll shine." Ren finished.
"Here we go again." Juvia sighed, hearing the commotion inside the ballroom after she, Gray and Lyon exited to the corridor to find Ulyo. "Ulyo-sama!" she exclaimed, spotting the visibly upset Guild Guardian. "Ulyo-sama…" she muttered in worry, feeling the shaking water mage in her arms.
"Nee-san's aura…" Ulyo whispered in shock. "I can't sense it!"
"Give that back, kabo!" Mato protested, Natsu walking out of the podium wearing the king's outfit.
"You're taking that too far." Lucy chided.
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.