Summary: The mistake wasn't so much inventing reality TV but inviting Lucy to join in on it was definitely a mistake….

Pairings: one-sided Freed/Laxus, implied Gray/Juvia if you squint, implied other pairings if you squint, implied friendships, and Natsu/Lucy.

YouTube Prompt: Natsu/Lucy video to 'A Whole New World' from Disney's Aladdin.

When the Magical Council developed their own Network for the Lacrima Televisions, their aim had been to come up with distracting and entertaining shows that would hopefully keep the likes of Fairy Tail inside watching TV instead of running amok outside and accidentally destroying a building or two.

And honestly, what was more entertaining that reality TV? Right? Right?!

Anyway, the Magical Council decided to fund a brand new show called 'Big Brother' in which a group of semi-famous mages from well-known guilds will live together for a couple months until they were all voted out, winner won a million jewels.

The moment Makarov heard this jewel signs appeared in his eyes, and he began to mentally comb through his list of semi-famous mages from his own guild.

Natsu was out because he would burn the whole place down in one day and the guild will have to give money to Big Brother and not the other way round.

Juvia was out for the same reason, only she would flood it with her tears out of the realisation she wouldn't see Gray for two months straight.

Laxus and Gajeel wouldn't be good television material, too grumpy. Mirajane would be ideal but Makarov has seen her first thing in the morning and he wouldn't inflict that demon on anyone, not even his worst enemy, Wendy was too young, Erza was too violent (and he heard Ichiya was doing it for Blue Pegasus and wouldn't want a dead body on his hands), Cana was a drunk, Gildarts was nowhere to be seen (as usual), Elfman was…..an embarrassment with all his shouting, Evergreen was terrifying, Bickslow was too insane, and Gray could have been perfect if it wasn't for the fact Lyon was going in on Lamia Scale and Master didn't want to have to pay for the damages that came out of that fight either.

So that left only two mages that were reasonably well-known and were very well behaved.

Lucy and Freed.

This would have been perfect if it wasn't for one slight snag….

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE LEAVING FOR TWO MONTHS?!"

"Natsu," Lucy said impatiently as she tried to open the guild door (only to have it instantly slammed shut by Natsu who was trying to guard it with his entire body), "it's a job, and Master asked me to do. He promised me he would pay six months of my rent if I did this."

"And I get to see Laxus' baby photos!" Freed squealed excitedly (this caused Master to suddenly duck and avoid a bolt of lightning sent his way). Lucy and Natsu turned to look at him with odd looks of sheer horror, amusement, and slightly disturbed… "I mean," Freed coughed and deepened his voice, "and I'm doing my duty as a good guild member."

"….Right," Natsu said a little disbelievingly, he then suddenly snapped his attention back to Lucy, "If you want six months' rent, I'll get you six months' rent!" he declared passionately. "There's plenty of jobs offering tons of money, if we go just you and me-"

"You'll end up destroying a school or something and we'll lose most of the reward money," Lucy finished flatly. "There's nothing you can say to change my mind, I'm going to do this and –EEK!"

Natsu had decided to change tactics and had tackled Lucy to the floor, pinning her hands to the ground, and using his legs to firmly keep hers from kicking him. "You can't go if I tie you up!" he yelled.

It was then when Master decided to knock him out with an enlarged fist, and Gray and Gajeel gleefully dragged Natsu to the basement in order to tie him up and gag him.

Lucy quickly made her exit, and that was the end of it…..

….For two weeks that was.

Every night the guild gathered round the Lacrima TV to watch the new show in support of Lucy and Freed, only to be bored out of their minds and half of them went off to get drunk, accidentally destroy buildings, and make someone scream…..erm, I mean go on some jobs as the only exciting thing happened was when all the girls snapped and tried to kill Ichiya, and all the boys helped. Since then it had been boring with Sherry bemoaning how much she missed Ren, Jenny complaining how boring it was, the two Mermaid Heel members refusing to comment, and Rufus describing every little thing in detail.

Lucy and Freed were beginning to look a little lifeless which was a tiny bit worrying, and then, on the fifteenth night, it happened.

"Day Fifteen at the Big Brother House, there is an intruder trying to break in through the back wall…..wait, what?! SECURITY!"

"Hey, is it just me," Gray scratched his chin, "or does that intruder look a lot like Natsu?"

"…."

"You know," Gajeel grunted, "I wondered why the basement was so quiet recently."

Master face-palmed at that. "Damnit!" he cursed. "There goes that million jewels!"

"Day Fifteen at the Big Brother House, the intruder has managed to beat up the entire security team, set fire to several pot plants, and broken the back door."

Master groaned and clutched his head as he felt a headache coming on.

"Day Fifteen at the Big Brother House, the intruder is now in the girls' dormitory and is…..climbing into Lucy Heartfilla's bed?"

Everyone in the guild face-palmed apart from Mirajane, who squealed delightedly and clasped her hands together, "Oh!" she gasped. "How romantic of Natsu!"

"Eh?" they heard Lucy's voice mumble. "Natsu? What….WHAT THE HELL?! LUCY KICK!"

Gray and Gajeel sniggered as Natsu flew across the girls' dormitories, landed on Jenny's bed, which caused her to scream, and soon enough all the girls were beginning to use their magic to attack Natsu.

Master just kept moaning and clutching his head as he saw the bill for damage repairs growing before his very eyes.

"Day Fifteen at the Big Brother House, the intruder has managed to capture Lucy Heartfilla, thrown her over his shoulders, and has now taken her over the walls of the garden. Lucy Heartfilla has now left the Big Brother House against the rules, and is now disqualified."

"….So what sort of flowers do you think Natsu would like at his funeral?"