"Ugh..." moaned Lucy with her head lying face down on the guild table.
"What's wrong with you, Lucy?" asked Erza concerned for her friend.
"That I won't be able to make ends meet." said Lucy pulling herself together.
"I thought that even though you didn't get paid on your last mission, you were happy with what happened in the end." said Gray remembering Lucy and Korra telling them the events about their last mission.
"And I was, but I have to admit I needed that money. Even if Korra is helping me I can't make enough to pay for this month." said Lucy.
"Then why don't you do a mission to fix it?" asked Natsu.
"I've already gone through all the missions. Either they're too hard for me or they don't pay enough." said Lucy.
"Don't be discouraged, Lucy. I'm sure something will happen that will make you raise enough money." said Wendy.
"Kid, don't give them so much encouragement." said Charle realistically.
"Yeah. It's not like the solution to your problems is coming through that door." said Happy.
Suddenly...
"HELLO AGAIN, FAIRY TAIL!" everyone in the room looked up to see someone very familiar walking through the door. "HERE'S JASON!"
"Jason! I didn't know you were coming!" said Lucy surprised to see the 'Sorcerer Magazine' reporter.
"Of course you didn't. I meant to come unannounced. Surprises are so cool!" said Jason.
"And to what do we owe this unexpected visit?" asked Erza curiously.
"Well you see. It turns out that our model got injured and we need to finish the next issue by today, but without her, that won't be possible." explained Jason.
"So you came here looking for a replacement, right?" asked Wendy.
"Yes! Fairy Tail mages are so cool! I think I'll find the right model here! COOL!" exclaimed Jason excitedly.
"Well if it's a model you're looking for, we have some good candidates here!" said Gray.
"You could try Lucy, although I don't think she's right for the job." said Happy.
"HEY! What's that supposed to mean?!" asked Lucy very offended by the exceed's comment.
"No. As cool as it is, the bosses want something new, something innovative." said Jason.
"Something like what?" asked Natsu.
Just then, someone was heard entering the guild.
"Oh, Korra. You're back." said Mirajane.
"I'm sorry. The mission took longer than I thought it would." said Korra.
"It's all right. The important thing is that you finished it." said Mirajane.
Then, when Jason turned around to see who had arrived, he let out a cry of excitement as his eyes widened like saucers. All that happened as soon as he saw the Avatar.
Leaving a trail of dust behind him, he quickly ran up to stand in front of the Avatar with a big smile, something that startled her and made her very nervous.
"Those eyes! That skin tone! Those muscles! And that physique! You're perfect! Cool, cool, cool!" exclaimed Jason with extreme excitement.
"Uh... Who are you?" asked Korra very nervous about the man's reaction.
"Korra, this is Jason, he's the reporter for 'Sorcerer Magazine'." said Mirajane.
"Okay... What about me?" asked Korra.
"Our model is sick and I came here to look for the right replacement, and you're the right one for the job! It's so cool!" exclaimed Jason.
"Yeah... I don't think I'm..." began Korra before Lucy appeared at her side and covered her mouth with her hand.
"Hehehe. Would you excuse us for a moment?" asked Lucy before dragging the Avatar away from the reporter.
When they were a safe distance away, Lucy released her from her grip.
"What was that for?" asked Korra annoyed by her friend's action.
"Please, Korra, would you take the job?" asked Lucy.
"I am the Avatar, guardian of my world. Not a model." said Korra crossing her arms.
"I know. I know. But they need to finish the edit by today and there's no telling when they'll find another one." said Korra.
"Are you doing this to help them or for the money they'll give for it?" asked Korra arching an eyebrow in suspicion.
"Uh... That's not important right now!" said Lucy wanting to dodge the question. "Please, Korra, I need you to do me this favor. I'll pay you back someday, but please, I'm asking you to do it." said Lucy pleadingly.
Korra didn't really like the idea of modeling for a magazine she hadn't heard of until now, but she had to admit that Lucy was trying very hard to convince her otherwise. Besides, she knew Lucy was having trouble with money and she owed her a lot after all she did for her and if that job helped her...
"*Sigh* All right. If you insist so much, I'll take the job." said Korra, receiving a hug from the celestial mage shortly after.
"Thank you, Korra. Thank you. You saved my life." said Lucy.
"Well, don't overdo it. Besides, it might not be as bad as it sounds." said Korra.
"I was right. It's not as bad as it sounded. It's worse!" said Korra who was standing in a room, in front of a beach scene with some decorations around her. What was worse was that she was wearing a two-piece bathing suit.
"Hehehe. Take it easy. This won't last long." said Lucy very nervously, knowing she owed the Avatar a very big one.
"Think you're doing that in front of Asami." said Mirajane in a teasing tone, causing the Avatar to blush a little at the thought of her girlfriend looking at her dressed like that.
"Cool, cool, cool! All right, guys, let's get started!" exclaimed Jason starting the photo shoot.
For the next few hours, Korra was forced to pose in different ways while wearing various costumes or outfits. As much as she thought she was helping Lucy with the rental, Korra wished this would be over as soon as possible.
Come evening, the Avatar and the celestial mage were in the latter's apartment, with the Avatar sitting on the couch very fatigued.
"The next one who asks me to model something, I'll beat him up." said Korra.
"Oh, come on. That wasn't so bad." said Lucy, only to receive a narrowed look from the Avatar. "O-Okay, it was, but still, you've helped me a lot. I'll make it up to you someday."
"No need. You do enough for me by letting me stay at your place." said Korra.
"I insist. You deserve it after doing something like this." said Lucy.
Knock-Knock.
"Uh? Who could that be at this hour?" asked Lucy heading for the door, but as soon as she opened it.
"Hello." said Erza.
"Erza. What are you doing here?" asked Lucy.
"I thought we could have a girls' night out." said Erza.
"Uh... I don't know about..." said Lucy not knowing what to say about the redhead's proposal.
"Anyway, let's not waste time." said Erza walking into her friend's house without waiting for the answer.
"W-Wait." said Lucy.
"Excuse me." said Mirajane as she and Lisanna entered the house.
"I hope you don't mind, but I brought some alcohol with me. It's not a real party if there isn't any." said Cana entering the house with a bag full of bottles.
"Juvia is joining too." said Juvia entering the house.
"Sorry. Excuse me." said Wendy entering the house with Charle.
Lucy let out a sigh of defeat as she realized it was too late to refuse. Besides, on second thought, a girls' night out didn't seem like such a bad idea. Maybe it would cheer Korra up after what happened with the photo shoot.
"So... this is a slumber party?" asked Korra finding herself on the floor with the other girls, all wearing pajamas.
"You've never had a slumber party?" asked Wendy.
"Well, considering I've been training for 17 years and then I was busy saving the world and being the Avatar... No." said Korra.
"That means this will be Korra's first girls' night out." said Lisanna.
"That'll make it more fun." said Cana drinking a bottle.
"You can refuse if you want. Don't feel obligated." said Lucy.
"Not at all. In fact, I've always been curious about these things." said Korra.
"Then it's settled. Let's get this party started!" exclaimed Mirajane.
"Yeah, let's have fun!" exclaimed Natsu who had suddenly appeared in the room along with Happy.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" asked Lucy annoyed that Natsu was sneaking into her house, again.
"We heard there was going to be a party and we came to see what it was all about." said Happy.
"This is for girls only!" exclaimed Erza kicking the two boys out, breaking a window in the process.
"Do those two never learn or what?" asked Charle.
"That's Natsu and Happy for you." said Lucy, eliciting a small chuckle from the Avatar.
For the next few hours, they were playing a couple of games, but the one that caught Korra's attention the most was the king's game, a game where the person chosen as king had to command the others and dare them to do anything and I repeat, anything.
Most of those present were startled when Erza suggested such a game, but calmed down when they saw that it was Korra's turn to be the king. Since it was Korra's first time playing such a game, she only gave the others simple little challenges, much to the delight of Lucy and Wendy, who had bad memories of when they played that game.
"By the way, Korra, I have something that might interest you." said Mirajane.
"What?" asked Korra with a raised eyebrow.
"Ta-Da." said Mirajane showing the new issue of 'Sorcerer Magazine', with Korra coming out on the cover. "As a thank you for earlier, they sent us the first copy of the issue. I thought you might like to keep it."
"What? I want no such thing!" said Korra flatly refusing.
"Come on, don't be like that. You did very well for your first time. Besides, I think it would make a nice gift for your girlfriend, don't you?" asked Mirajane chuckling.
With a flush on her face and a look of annoyance, Korra grabbed the magazine roughly.
"I'll keep it, but not because I want to, okay?" said Korra.
"Maybe Juvia should create something similar for Gray." said Juvia thinking of love gifts for her beloved.
"In my opinion, you shouldn't." said Lucy with a bead of sweat at the thought of the water mage.
"Come on girls, is this a party or a funeral? Get the booze flowing!" said Cana handing a bottle to the Avatar.
"Uh... No thanks. I'm not interested." said Korra trying to hand the bottle back.
"Don't be like that. Go on, try it. I'm sure you'll love it." said Cana.
Korra wasn't much for drinking alcohol, as she always had to be prepared for anything, but right now she was in another world and at a slumber party so what could it hurt?
Taking Cana's advice, she tried a little from the bottle.
Before long, the contents of the bottle were half empty and Korra looked very drunk.
"If I had known men were going to be like this, I would have gone over to the other side long ago!" said Korra in a drunken voice.
"Say yes, dudette! Say yes!" said Cana encouraging her.
Korra pulled Wendy into a side hug.
"This girl... She's young, but she knows very well what I'm talking about. Wendy, you have my respect." said Korra.
"Ah... Ah... Thank you." said Wendy embarrassed by the Avatar's words. "You know? I told Sherria about you."
"You did?" asked Korra.
"Yes. And she told me..." said Wendy.
"If they truly love each other, love will bring them back together." said Sherria in Wendy's memory.
"Wow. Tell her thanks for me and if you ever need advice on how to do that, you can count me in." said Korra.
"Do what?" asked Wendy confused at what the Avatar was saying.
"Don't talk about that stuff to a child!" said Charle blushing.
"What kind of drink did you give her?" asked Erza surprised at how drunk her friend was from drinking so little.
"Just a simple beginner's one. Either she's weak to alcohol or the drinks in our world are stronger than hers." said Cana.
"*HIC* The former. And maybe a little of the second *HIC*." said Korra.
"I think it would be better if she didn't drink anymore." said Lisanna taking the bottle from the Avatar.
"Come on girls, let's keep the party going!" exclaimed Korra.
"Is this how guys feel when we get drunk?" asked Juvia.
"I think I'm starting to understand them." said Charle.
It was then that the Avatar's gaze shifted to the celestial mage, who was a little nervous about what she might do.
"You know, Lucy? Ever since I came into this world, you have helped me so much. You gave me a home to stay in and cheered me up whenever I was sad. I know we've only known each other for a short time, but I don't consider you just a friend, I also consider you like a sister." said Korra, surprising the celestial mage very much.
"Really?" asked Lucy.
"Of course I'm serious! I'm the bridge between humans and spirits, you're friends with the spirits. We're more alike than we thought." said Korra going from sincere to amused.
Lucy let out a sigh, as she had forgotten for a moment that she was drunk, but still, she was very happy to hear that she considered her a sister.
"That's true. We're almost like sisters." said Lucy.
"Aw. Give me a hug, sis!" exclaimed Korra launching herself at the celestial mage to hug her, pushing her to the ground in the process.
"K-Korra. Be a little careful." said Lucy before she heard a snore.
Looking down, she discovered that Korra had fallen asleep on top of her.
"Looks like it's been too much for her." said Mirajane.
"I think it's time for us to go to sleep." said Erza.
"Good idea. It's already too late." said Charle.
Moving carefully, Lucy pulled Korra away from her and lifted her up to place her on her bed and tuck her in. As she did so, she couldn't help but smile at the strong friendship the two had forged. So strong that she even came to think of her as a sister. Even though that wasn't her intention, she was very happy about it.
Lucy ran her hand over her face to push a few hairs away.
"Goodnight, sister." said Lucy before going to sleep, not noticing the small smile that appeared on the Avatar's face, as if she had heard that.
While all the girls were sleeping peacefully in sleeping bags, Charle, for some reason, was tossing and turning in her sleep.
Inside her mind, strange images began to appear. Ancient ruins, an abandoned temple; Korra on her knees, arms hanging by chains with someone standing in front of her, and an image of the Avatar screaming in pain.
Charle opened her eyes as she sat up and gasped heavily. For some reason, those images didn't bode well.
"W-what was that?" asked Charle.
