Sing:
AN: WARNING! ABSOLUTE CHEESY NONSENSE INCOMING! Also some of you (in particular a guest reviewer) have asked for hints of future kiddo ships so...read between the lines and see if you can spot the ships.
"Guys! I can't breath!" Nashi grunted under the dogpile of children surrounding her.
"But it's so cold!" Igneel whined from his sister's lap. "And you're so warm!"
"I can't help that I'm a-ACK! Koree, do you mind!" Nashi shouted as Koree all bup plopped on top of her head.
"Ah, that's better," Koree sighed.
"Well, it's not for me, all of you get off!" Nashi screeched as she jumped to her feet: sending Koree, Persephone, Cato, Bianca, Layla, Portia, and the triplets flying backwards. The general buzz of the guild hall paused for only a moment and then resumed. There was no fight so there was nothing to watch. All the kids rolled in the floor after their quick ejection, those who hadn't tried to use Nashi as a heater: Storm, Roman, Meeko, Benedict, and Farrah, watching on in slight amusement. Only Igneel managed to stay put, and only because he had both of his legs and arms locked around Nashi's torso.
"Igneel, let go," Nashi snapped.
"No."
"Igneel!"
"No."
"IGNEEL!"
"You're so warm, and I'm cold!"
"I'm not a hot water bottle, no get off!" Nashi began jumping up and down to try and knock her brother off.
"Huh, funny," Storm muttered. "I don't feel that cold."
"Maybe it's because of your new freeze ability," Roman suggested from under the mountain of coats he had requipped onto himself. "Meeko and your dad aren't bothered by cold because they're ice wizards."
"Maybe," Storm shrugged.
"Oof!" Igneel grunted as he finally fell to the ground.
"Great," Eva grumbled as she and the other two triplets stood up. "Now how are we going to stay warm?"
"Yeah," Von sighed.
"Hey, aren't you a fire wizard too?" Minette asked her brother.
"Oh, no!" Von squeaked as both of his sister got an evil gleam in their eyes. "AH!"
Von took off running as Evan and Minette chased after him, causing the other children to laugh.
Koree took the opportunity to begin sneaking closer to Nashi once again.
"Don't even think about it!" Nashi warned.
"Ahem," a motherly voice came from behind the children. They stopped and turned to find Mirajane standing behind them, dressed in a coat, July strapped to her back, and a tray of mugs in her hands.
"Maybe hot chocolate would be a better way to chase away the cold," she stated as she knelt down to the kid's level.
"YAY!" they all cheered as they raced to grab a mug.
"Thanks Auntie Mira!"
"Yeah, thanks!"
"Thank you!"
"Thank you!"
"Yummy!"
"Thanks, Mama."
"Thank you Mrs. Dreyar, ma'am."
Mirajane smiled. "You're all very welcome."
Farrah sighed as she walked to her mother's side. "Mama, how long do you think it will take Papa and the others to fix the heating system?"
"Shouldn't be much longer now," Mirajane answered.
As if on cue, the heaters in the main room of the guild hall cut on. A few seconds later Laxus and the rest of the Thunder Legion walked down the steps, covered in snow. Mirajane walked to her husband's side, a cup of hot chocolate in her hands.
"Thank you," Laxus sighed as he took it from her.
"So what was the problem?" Mirajane asked.
"Line to the main power lacrima and the heat system was cut," Laxus answered. "Freed managed to patch it with some Dark Ecriture for now but we'll have to replace it when the storm stops."
"If it stops," Freed grumbled as Mirajane poured him a cup of hot chocolate, Bixlow and Evergreen in line behind him with their mugs.
Mirajane nodded as the winds howled outside. "I can't remember Magnolia ever getting a blizzard like this. This winter has been crazy."
"In more ways than one, the job board is practically overflowing," Evergreen added, jabbing a thumb to said board. Flyers of requests to fix heat systems, repair broken roofs, unbury snowed in houses, search for lost family members, clear icy roads, etc. And it wasn't full from a lack of interest. The hall was almost bare compared to most days. The only people currently in the hall were those too old to brave the cold, those who had just been on a job and were taking a few moments to thaw out before going on another, and mothers with young toddlers or babies.
Mirajane's brow furrowed as she slipped into the kitchen to set another kettle on the stove to make more hot chocolate. As she worked Laxus began looking through the stack of papers the magic council had sent him, also slipping into the kitchen to have a little bit of quiet to read over the reports. There were no complaints this time, just requests for help. Magnolia wasn't the only one drowning in snow. All of Fiore had been caught off guard by the bombardment of blizzards.
"Hm," he groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Something wrong, hon?" Mirajane asked.
"Several smaller villages and settlements in the country have been cut off because of blizzards" Laxus said, holding up the Magic Council's report. "They're requesting that every guild essentially adopt a region and bring them food, clothes, and supplies until the snow melts and things get back to normal."
"Okay, sounds reasonable," Mirajane smiled. "Which region are we-"
"I don't know yet. I'm not sure how we're gonna pull it off," Laxus answered.
"Why is that?" Mirjane asked.
"Look out in the main room," Laxus said. "We're spread thin as it is just trying to keep Magnolia from falling apart. And because of the current circumstances the citizens haven't been able to give us as big of a payment for our work as usual-"
"Everyone understands that, though," Mirajane said. "It's an emergency situation. We've all gotta give up a little but to survive."
"Yes, but our people still have to pay their bills and feed their families. I can ask them to give up their already spread thin jewel to buy food and clothes for someone we don't even know when they're barely making ends meet for themselves right now."
"Hm," Mirajane pinched her chin as she thought.
"Not that I don't want to help out I'm just not sure how we're gonna make it happen," Laxus ran a hand over his hair.
July began to fuss and squirm in the harness on Mirajane's back.
"Uh-oh, you want to get down?" Mirajane asked.
Laxus walked behind her and began unfastening the straps. "C'mere, squirt," he said as he set his infant son against his shoulder.
BOOM!
"What on earth are you lazy wizards doing!?" a loud, nasally voice thundered.
"Oh, no what?" Laxus grumbled as he stormed out into the mainroom, July still in his arms.
The woman "lovingly" dubbed "The Walking Salon" byt the guild was standing in the doorway, dressed in a designer coat, and looking very angry. She was not an unfamiliar face, and for all the wrong reasons. She'd often filed complaints with Fairy Tail for various, absurd reasons, most of them centering around Nashi, who was currently standing frightened and wide-eyed. She began to slowly take cautious steps backwards to make her escape from the main room so she wouldn't have to face The Walking Salon.
Fwoosh! Nashi turned her head to see Storm standing, shoulder squared, and a giant orb of water floating above his hand.
The Walking Salon had no interest in Nashi today, though. Instead her eyes narrowed in on Laxus and she stomped straight towards him.
"I have been waiting for hours for one of you infidels to unbury my cars from a snowbank and I haven't even gotten so much as a letter to let me know you're coming!"
"How we gonna send a letter in this weather?" Laxus asked. "Relax. We'll make it out there eventually."
"Eventually?" the Walking Salon's screeched. "I sent that request in first thing this morning! The least you can do is try and be prompt and not leave people waiting! The absolute nerve of you people! Do you know how many appointments I've had to call and cancel because of this?"
"Sorry for the inconvenience," Laxus replied in a monotone and annoyed voice. "We've been too busy try find fathers, mothers, husbands, and wives who left to go to work this morning and never made it. We've been having to unbury at least 3 dozen children because there was so much snow on their roofs that they collapsed on top of them. We've had to help clean up after about twenty wrecks. We've had to help relocate families whose houses got flooded by busted water pipes and then frozen this morning. Plus, look behind me, do you see a throng of ready-bodied wizards behind me?"
The Walking Salon glanced over Laxus's shoulder. "I see a few-"
"Most of whom either just got back from a job and need a minute to recover, have gotten sick from the cold, or are too old or young to go out in this weather. We'll get to you when we get to you, but we're spread thin right now. We've gotta help everyone else in Magnolia and the surrounding countryside before we worry about digging up a few luxury vehicles. Now go home and wait in your warm mansion. You're safer there than standing out in the cold griping to me anyways."
"PFFT!" July, picking up on his father's tone, blew raspberries at the grumpy socialite.
"Well, I never!" The Walking Salon gasped as she whirled around and stormed back out of the guild hall.
"The surrounding countryside!?" Wakaba exclaimed once she had gone. "We can't even fulfill all the jobs here in Magnolia and you wanna go to the countryside!?"
"Ergh," Laxus groaned before turning to face his bewildered guildmates. "Not yet. I just got a request from the magic council to help out in some of the more remote areas of Fior-"
"Well, why don't they do it!" Wakaba shouted. "We're dying' here, where can't-"
"I know."
"-be in 500 places in once. Not to mention we don't have the-"
"I know."
"-jewel to even keep our own as-"
"I KNOW!" Laxus shouted, causing everyone to gasp and July to whimper in fear. Laxus took a deep breath, patting his son's back. "I know. I know we're spread thin. But all of Fiore is in dire straights right now, not just us. I know we're not in the best place to help them but they still need aid. I'm not going to ask any of you to sacrifice anymore than you already have-"
"Then how are we supposed to help them?" Macao asked.
Laxus sighed. "I don't know yet, but I'll figure it out and I'll let you know."
Laxus began to trudge back to kitchen, the rest of the guild hall falling in to whispering murmurs.
Farrah and Cato, who had both been watching, bounded to their father. "Papa?"
Laxus sighed as he turned to his children. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Is everything okay, Papa?" Cato asked.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Laxus answered, patting his head.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Cato questioned.
"Nah, just don't worry about it. Everything's gonna be fine," Laxus smiled and stepped into the kitchen. Farrah followed after him.
"Sure there's nothing I can do to help?" Farrah asked.
"Not that I can think of," Laxus sighed.
Mirajane turned to listen to them as she began making another tray of hot chocolate.
Farrah rocked back and forth on her heels. "Maybe if I could take a few smaller jobs I could-"
"No," Laxus firmly answered.
Farrah stamped her foot. "But Aunt Wendy took jobs when she was twelve! That's a year younger than I am!"
"She didn't go on jobs by herself," Laxus said. "And not in the worst winter Fiore has seen in decades. Answer's still no."
Farrah sighed and crossed her arms. "Gotta be something I can do."
"I'm sure there is but I can't think of anything at the moment," Laxus answered.
"Well, maybe I can-"
"Farrah," Mirajane sighed as she walked to her daughter's side. "Your Papa has enough to worry about right now. Give him some space to rest. We'll figure out what you can do later, but right now he has a hundred other things to figure out."
Farrah sighed, but turned and walked back out to where all the other children were hanging about, no longer playing because of Wakaba's outburst. She crossed her arms as she sat on a bench next to Benedict who had Vera in his lap.
"Ev'ybody sad," Vera stated, brow furrowed.
"No, they're not sad, just worried," Benedict answered.
"But why?"
"Because of this storm," Benedict answered.
"Yes?" Storm asked from his spot across from the two older children.
"No, not you 'Storm' the blizzard storm," Benedict said.
"Oh."
"We should cheer them up," Eva said. "Maybe put on a show?"
"Put on a show?" Roman asked.
"Yeah, like a singing show, that would make them happy!" Eva cheered as she twirled about.
"Eva's gone to lala land again," Minette sighed.
Farrah, however, perked up at the idea. "Actually, that's not a bad idea."
"Oh no! Eva's taken Farrah with her!" Minette shouted.
"No, I mean itm" Farrah said.
"A singing show?" Benedict arched an eyebrow.
"No, a singing competition. We'd put it on for the town. They pay a few jewel for their favorite act and we use that jewel to help pay for...whatever it is the adults need to pay for," Farrah explained.
"Can I do it?" Layla asked, raising her hand. "Please!?"
"Sure," Farrah said.
"Me too?" Portia asked.
"Count me out," Persephone held her hands up. "I can't carry a tune in a bucket!"
"Amen to that," Koree snickered.
"Hey!"
"What, I'm the same way," Koree shrugged. "But I can host it? You need a host right? I call dibs on being the host!"
"Fine, you can host it," Farrah agreed.
"Cool! I'm gonna go write down my script!" Koree scampered off.
"You're going to regret that," Persephone sighed.
"You can host with her," Farrah offered.
"Heck no! I'll do all the fancy lights and stuff backstage," Persephone said, muttering "I'm not funny like Koree, anyhow," under her breath.
Cato, who was sitting next to her, was the only one to notice, but chose to say nothing.
"I guess I'll do it too," Bianca shrugged.
"Me too! Me too!" Portia cheered.
"Ro-Ro, you'll sing with us, right?" Eva asked.
"Wah-no!" Roman protested. "I don't want to do something like that!"
"Aw," Eva pouted.
"It's okay, we'll get Von to do it with us," Minette said.
"What, but I don't wan-"
"You're the third triplet, you have no choice!" Minette declared.
"It's not like I asked to be stuck with you two," Von shouted as his sisters dragged him off to practice.
"Good luck!" Roman shouted after them.
"Nashi, are you going to do it?" Layla asked.
"Eh, I don't know," Nashi answered, rubbing at her shoulder, still a bit on edge since The Walking Salon had barged in.
"But your voice is so pretty!" Layla exclaimed.
"Really?" Storm turned to his friend, a bit surprised.
Nashi nervously twirled her hair. "I mean, it's okay…"
"It sounds like a princess's voice!" Layla insisted.
"No it doesn't!" Nashi blushed.
"Sure it does," Igneel cut in. "Mommy says you have perfect pitch, whatever that means."
"I do not," Nashi crossed her arms.
"Maybe not, but your voice is still pretty," Layla said.
"Well, now you have to do it," Cato grinned.
"What about you, bro, you gonna do it?" Farrah asked.
Cato shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
"So, when are we going to do it?" Portia asked.
"Friday?" Farrah asked. "That should give us enough time to practice and get word out."
"Sounds good to me," Bianca smiled.
"Alright, so let's plan on that…"
As the rest of the plans were made Nashi continued playing with her hair.
"Hey, you okay?" Storm asked.
"Huh. Oh, yeah," Nashi answered, a little too quickly.
"You gonna do it?"
"I..erm...I dunno…"
"Your brother and sister seem to think you should."
"Eh, they're just being nice."
"Nah," Storm shook his head. "Layla maybe, but Igneel's too...well...erm…"
"Blunt. Has no tact. Has no filter. Speaks before he thinks," Nashi offered.
"All the above," Storm shrugged.
Nashi giggled. "I don't know, I just, I've never sung in front of anyone before. And I…" she took a deep breath. "I don't know if I wanna be on a stage by myself."
"You were in the Fantasia parade by yourself," Storm offered. "We all had our own floats."
"Yeah, but I still wasn't alone. It was a whole parade full of people," Nashi said. "And the parade moved so if there were any…" she rang her hands together. "Not...nice...people, it would only be a few minutes and then the parade moved past them."
"Oh," Storm nodded, now catching on. He took a deep breath. "Well, I wasn't going to do it before, but if it will make you feel better we can do something together."
"Really?" Nashi arched an eyebrow. "You sing?"
"A little bit," Storm answered with a blush.
"Well, if both you and Bianca are doing it I guess that means I've gotta too," Meeko sighed. "Hey, Bianca can I sing with you?"
"Sure."
Igneel chuckled from where he watched. "Giving into the pressure twinkle toes?"
"Shut it, star-butt! Admit it you want to sing too!"
"Nope!" Igneel declared. "I ain't singing and you can't make me!"
"Well, we don't need you anyways!" Meeko shouted, crossing his arms.
"Really?" Portia cokced her head to one side. "Both your sister are and if they have good voices than you should too."
"Nah, not my thing," Igneel shrugged.
"So you won't do it?"
"Nope, I don't give into pressure like Meeko!"
"Shut it, Star boy!"
"Not even for me?" Portia fluttered her eyelashes.
"Why would I do it for you?" Igneel asked, confused.
Portia sighed, defeated, and trudged off. "Guess my girly charm isn't fool proof."
"Hey, did I say something wrong?" Igneel asked as everyone ignored him.
"Okay, so there's me," Farrah listed off as Persephone took notes on an archive screen. "The triplets, Portia, Layla, Bianca and Meeko, and Cato. Anyone else?"
"Me!"
"Oh, no," Bianca, Portia, and Layla groaned as Lorelle rushed forward.
"I'm gonna do it, and I'm gonna win!" Lorelle declared.
"Just because you won the beauty pageant doesn't mean you'll win this," Bianca grumbled.
"Sure it does!"
Farrah just sighed. "Alright, Lorelle. Anyone else?"
"Me and Nashi," Storm called.
"Yay!" Layla ran and hugged her sister.
"Anyone else? Benedict?"
"Nope," Benedict stated.
"But you've got the bestest voice ever!" Portia protested. "And you play piano. And you're a soundmagic wizard, you've got to."
"Nope."
"Please?"
"Nope."
"Please?"
"Nope."
"Alright, no Benedict. Roman?" Farrah asked.
"Eh…" Roman shrugged.
"I'm gonna need someone to help me backstage," Persephone pointed out.
"Okay, I'll do that," Roman offered.
"Me too," Benedict added.
"Fine then. Guess we have our line up," Farrah said. "I'll work on the posters, make sure you guys all practice."
"Right."
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Laxus ran a hand through his hair as he looked over the pile of jobs that still needed to be filled, more pestering for the magic council to help, and complaints from vaiours people (but mostly the Walking Salon) who were still waiting for their petty jobs to be filled.
As he sat there trying to think of a way to meet all these needs he heard a buzz from downstairs in the main room.
Frowning in confusion he walked out to the hall and looked down. He gasped from shock. The whole main room was filling up with towns folks. What the heck?
He bounded down the stairs to find Natsu helping to usher the crowd inside.
"Natsu, what's going on?"
"Singing competition," Natsu stated.
"What?"
"Did you not know," Natsu asked as he pulled out a flyer and showed it to Laxus. "The kids have been planning this all week to help raise money to cover all the winter expenses."
Laxus took the flyer.
"Singing competition! Pay for your favorite! All proceeds go to blizzard relief!"
"The kids did this?"
"Yeah," Natsu answered, giving an elderly woman his hand. "Mostly Farrah, though. She was the masterminds of this."
Farrah.
Laxus felt a slight pang of guilt. Had he really been so busy that he didn't notice his daughter had put something together that apparently all of Magnolia knew about. Smiling softly he searched for a place to sit amongst the crowd. He found Mirajane with July in her lap waving to him and slipped through to sit next to her. Sitting just behind them were the Dragneel family, minus Nashi and Layla.
"...sad you didn't do the show?" Lucy was asking Igneel.
"Nope!: I just wanna see Meeko embarrass himself."
"Oh you little..." Lucy began scolding just as the lights went dim.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"Eva! Minette! Von! You three are up first, go!" Persephone hissed.
"Okay, guys, ready?" Farrah asked.
"Yeah!" a chorus of voices called.
"Alright, let's do this," Farrah smiled. "Koree, do your thing!"
"Got it!"
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"What up Magnolia!" Koree cheered as she ran on stage, a microphone in her hand, and a spotlight on her. Cheers and claps erupted from the crowd.
"Glad to see you're not all popsicles yet," Koree quipped, causing a few chuckles. "Who wants to hear some music?"
More cheers and claps erupted.
"Before we begin, here are the rules. Each act is gonna come on stage and perform. Once they're done they'll pass a bucket around the crowd. If you liked them, put a little jewel in there. If you didn't...put a little less jewel in there."
A few giggles came from the ground.
"We'll be keeping track of how much jewel each act gets, and the one who earned the most wins the competition. All the money will go to helping take care of people who need it thanks to these blizzards. So, that cool? We good?"
"Yeah!" the crowd cheered.
"Alright, well then, put those hands together to welcome our first group, the Fernandez Triplets!"
Koree ran off the stage, the curtain split, and the triplets ran on stage, standing side by side, hands behind their backs, heads bowed.
Everyone waited anxiously to see what the three little kids would do.
A lively tune began playing and Eva picked her head up as she began to dance and sing:
"I stay up too late. Got nothin' in my brain. That's what people say. Mm-hm. That's what people say. Mm-hm."
Evan pointed to her left as she finished singing and Mineete popped her head up.
"I go on too many dates-"
"Wait what?"
"Jellal, shuhs!"
"-but I can't make them say! At least, that's what people say! Mm-hm! That's what people say! Mm-hm!"
Both girls pointed to the lone boy not joining in the performance and Von popped his head up.
"But I keep cruising. Can't stop, won't stop moving! It's like I got this music in my mind, saying it's gonna be alright!"
Just as her brother finished singing, Minette opened her palms, sending forth a flurry of stars. Von also sent out a flurry of sparks, causing the crowd to ooh and aah! As the lights dimmed, the crowded turned their attention back to the stage where Eva was creating a series of gollums out of Christmas lights while Minette and Von kept singing:
"We never miss a beat! We're lightning on out feet, and that's what they don't see! Mm-hm! That's what they don't see, Mm-hm!"
"Hey!" Eva called just as she finished making the gollums, who then began acting as back-up dancers.
"'Cuz the players gonna play, play, play, play, play! And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate! Baby, we're just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake! Shake it off! Shake it off! Heart breakers gonna break, break, break, break, and the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake! Baby, we're just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake-"
"Shake it off!" the crowd called. "Shake it off!"
"Shake it off, shake it off! We-we, shake it off, shake it off! We-We shake it off! Shake it off!"
Minette and Von sent off two more blasts of light the the triplets bowed to a chorus of applause and cheers.
"What a trio of cuties!"
"Those kids were awesome!"
Koree ran back out on stage, arm extended, a bucket in hand: "The Fernandez triplets!"
The triplets waved one last time before exiting.
"Alright, show those three some love," Koree said as she passed the bucket into the crowd. "Fill that baby with some jewel folks, let's go!"
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"They loved us!" Eva cheered as she skipped in the wings.
"Course they did!" Minette nodded.
"Did you see us, Roman, did you see us?" Von asked.
"I saw," Roman smiled as he pulled the curtain close. "You guys did great."
"So, you should go out there," Eva teased.
"No," Roman answered plainly, causing his younger siblings to giggle.
"Are you serious?" Bianca shouted, agitated as she spoke into a lacrima. "So he's not coming?"
"What's wrong?" Roman asked, concerned.
"Meeko's got a cold so he can't do the show," Bianca said. "I guess I'll have to sing his part too."
"How are you going to do that when it's supposed to be a harmony?" Roman asked.
"I dunno!" Bianca exclaimed. "And I'm up after this next one…"
"Portia, get into position," Farrah called.
"Ack! What am I gonna do, Portia's song isn't that long for me to think!" Bianca exclaimed.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"Alright, folks, thank you for your donations," Koree said as she took the bucket back, jingling with jewel. "Now, let's give a warm welcome to our next act, Portia Orlando!"
"My Portia?" Reina asked from the crowd, hand to her chest as the curtain parted and the little girl walked up to the microphone.
A soft tune began playing and Portia began to sing:
"She just wants to beautiful. She goes unnoticed, she know no limits. She craves attention. She praises an image. She parys to be sculpted by the sculptor."
Reina felt a lump forming in her throat. This song was particularly special to Portia, and had helped her get through the toughest parts of their transition to Fairy Tail.
"Oh, she don't see the light that's shining. Deeper than the eyes can find it. Maybe we have made her blind so she tried to cover up her pain, and cut her woes away, and cut her woes away, 'cause covergirls don't cry after their face is made. But-"
CLONK!
All of the sudden the music stopped. Portia jumped as she turned to stage left.
The radio was only to ground and a very angry woman was storming onto stage.
The crowd all gasped in confusion as the Walking Salon stormed into the spotlight.
"Is this what you lazy wizards call working? Singing and dancing while we're still waiting for you to come fix our problems for us?"
Angry and bewildered grumbles ran through the crowd. Portia began to slowly slink away, terrified of this raging woman standing next to her.
"I have been waiting a whole week for all of my vehicles to get unburied, not just one, and I come here and all you're doing is-"
"BOO!" someone shouted.
"Get off the stage!"
"Let the kid sing!"
"I demand that someone got to my house right now and-"
"Celestial Dragon Roar!"
A burst of starry yellow hit the Walking Salon right in the gut and sent her flying backwards into-
-no, thought the back wall of the stage and into the snowy wind outside.
Silence fell over the room as everyone turned to face Igneel, who was standing with his fists clenched and teeth gritted…
...until he noticed all eyes were on him.
"Um...hi," he waved as Natsu and Lucy covered their faces from embarrassment.
"He gets this from you," Lucy hissed.
"Not arguing," Natsu groaned, humiliated.
Silence fell over the room again except for a soft sniffle. Portia sat on the stage with her head in her hands as she cried and trembled. The scary woman reminded her of her father and now she was just scared someone was going to hurt her.
Reina began pushing her way through the crowd to try and reach her daughter as Igneel took notice of the scene on stage. Why hadn't Portia started singing again? Was she crying? Why was she crying?
Whispers began running through the crowd.
"Uh-oh," Igneel thought. "Now she's gonna get embarrassed."
He had to get the show going again! He had to get Portia to start singing again, but how…
The murmurs began getting louder until a clear, crisp voice rang out from amongst them, and Igneel began all but crawling over people to get to stage as he sang:
"There's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark. You should know you're beautiful just the way you are."
Portia picked her head up. Someone was singing her song. She turned just in time to see Igneel climbing onto stage and run to her.
"And you don't have to change a thing, the world could change its heart. No scars to your beautiful."
Portia swallowed the lump in her throat as Igneel gave her his hand. She took it, stood to her feet, and joined him in singing:
"We're stars and we're beautiful."
Backstage all the other kids gasped.
"Is that Igneel" Layla gasped.
"Our brother is singing on stage?" Nashi blinked. "Our brother?"
"And he's actually good!" Layla smiled.
Nashi just blinked and shook her head. "Our brother? We're sure that's our Igneel?"
Back on the stage neither of the children noticed as Igneel lead Portia back to the microphone. The music still was not on as Persephone, Benedict, and Roman were desperately trying to fix the radio from where the Walking Salon had knocked it over.
Still, Portia kept singing:
"She has dreams to be, an envy so she's starving you know covergirls eat nothing. She says beauty is pain and there's beauty in everything, what's a little bit of hunger? I can go a little while longer. She fades away."
Portia smiled slyly as she stepped aside and then pushed Igneel to the microphone. His eyes widened as he stuttered then picked the song back up."
"She-ah-She don't see her perfect. She don't understand that she's worth it. Or that beauty goes deeper than the surface. Oh-whoa. Oh-oh."
Portia grinned as she stepped back up to the microphone.
"So to all the girls that's hurting, let me be your mirror, help you see a little bit clearer. The light that shines within."
Both children then began singing the chorus together, the crowd joining in as they finished the song.
"...no scars to your beautiful, we're stars and we're beautiful!"
Applause broke out. Portia turned and looked out to the crowd, a shy grin on her face.
"Well. Aren't you going to bow?" Igneel asked.
Portia smiled. "Bow with me?"
"Why?"
"You sang too."
"Only to help you!"
"So help me bow," Portia said, extending her hand.
"Why you need help b-"
"Just bow with me."
"Ugh, fine!"
Igneel took her hand and the two bowed.
"Portia Orlando!" Koree called as she ran back on stage. "And, erm, Igneel Dragneel I guess. Hey, I just realized your first and last name rhyme."
"Really? Just now?" Igneel asked.
"Just get off my stage," Koree grumbled as the crowd laughed. "Alright, c'mon folks, give 'em some jewel!"
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"Radio's still not working," Persephone hissed from backstage as she slaved over the broken device. "What are we gonna do?"
Farrah sighed. "Well, this should be interesting. I'm jumping my turn."
"What, wh-" Benedict asked as Farrah threw off the long trench coat she was wearing to reveal a sparkly gold turtleneck dress with a wide black belt and a furry black vest. Benedict's voice suddenly left him. Since when had she gotten hips? Since when did he care about hips? And...was she wearing make-up? Why was he hot all of a sudden.
"Hand me that guitar," Farrah pointed behind him.
"Wha-" Benedict stuttered.
"Guitar, behind you," Farrah said again, brow slightly furrowed.
"Oh, right," Benedict handed it to her just as Koree poked her head in.
"How's it going?" she asked.
"I'm going next," Farrah answered.
"Wha-? Uh, okay,"
Koree ducked back out.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"Alright folks, thanks again," Koree called as she Passed Portia's bucket backstage for Persephone to count.
"Now, let's give it up for our next act, Farrah Dreyar!"
Koree ran off stage as Farrah sauntered into the spotlight, pulled a pair of sunglasses out of her pocket, put them on and began stamping her foot to a beat. The crowd joined in, clapping their hands to the beat as she began singing:
"I followed my heart into the fire, got burned, bot broken down by desire. I tried and I tried, but the smoke in my eyes left me blurry, blurry and blind."
Farrah stopped stamping as the crowd was now keeping beat and began playing her guitar.
"I've picked all the pieces up off the ground, I've burned all my fingers but that's gone now. I've got the glue in my hands and I'm sticking to the plan, stickin' to the plan that says I can do anything…"
"Wow," Benedict breathed from backstage. "She's really good."
"Well, yeah, did you think she wouldn't be?" Cato asked.
"What, no, it's just that, well, she's REALLY good," Benedict answered never taking his eyes off Farrah who kept singing:
"This is my kiss goodbye! You can stand alone and watch me fly! 'Cuz nothing's gonna keep me down, gonna let it all up! Come on and say it right now, right now, right now! This is my big hello! 'Cuz I'm never giving, never letting go! I can finally see, it's not just a dream when you set it all free! All free! All free! Set it all free!"
Benedict couldn't help but watch her. She didn't just sing well, she commanded the stage like a general commanding an army!
How come he'd never noticed how pretty she was before now? She was actually quite, dare he say it, beautiful: honey red hair, blue eyes, bright smile. Not to mention how strong she was. And stubborn. But sweet in her own, weird, slightly overbearing way.
Benedict couldn't help but smile as she finished her song with one last "Set it all free!"
Koree ran back on stage to do her thing as the crowd cheered. Even Benedict couldn't help but applaud himself.
"Stupid. Thing. Won't. Work!" Persephone fussed as she and Roman continued battling with the radio.
"Well, I can't go without my music!" Lorelle insisted.
"But you're up next!" Persephone hissed.
"Well, I'm not going without my track!"
"But you've gotta!"
"Maybe you should do your job better!"
"Excuse me!"
Benedict sighed. "Don't you go on stage, Benedict…"
IIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"Well, aheam, folks, we have appeared to have hit some, erm, technical difficulties," Koree said awkwardly form the stage, not noticing Benedict tiptoeing to a piano set up behind her.
"One of our acts decided to be a little diva!" Koree stamped her foot as she glared at Lorelle. "So we have to-"
The sound of a piano rang out.
"Wha, huh, oh! Okay!" Koree exclaimed as she spotted Benedict and raced off stage. Benedict continued playing then began singing in a clear, pleasant sounding voice:
"You could never know what it's like. Your blood like winter freezes just like ice, and there's a cold lonely light that shines out from you. You'll end up like the wreck behind that mask you use."
"Wow," Farrah gasped as she watched backstage. "He's really good!"
"I told you!" Portia beamd. "Benedict used to sing all the time when we were in Phoenix Grave. It's part of the reason he wanted to learn soundmagic, but this is first time doing it in a while."
"Really?" Farrah smiled softly as she watched them. So this is what Benedict liked to do other than mope and be gloomy. Good to know. She beamed as she clapped along to the beat of Benedict's song.
"Once I never could hope to starting down the road leaving me again. The threats you made were to cut me down, and if your love was a circus you'd be a clown by now."
Benedict grinned ear to ear, he hadn't realized how much he'd missed this.
"Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did! Looking like a true survivor! Feeling like a little kid! I'm still standing after all this time. Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind. I'm still standing!"
"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" the crowd cheered.
"I'm still standing!"
"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"
Benedict played the last not and the crowd cheered. Benedict jumped to his feet, breathing deeply. A smile played on his lips. Man, did that feel good!
"Benedict Orlando!" Koree cheered as she ran on stage. The cheers grew even louder. Benedict turned and looked into the crowd. Reina stood near the front, tears in her eyes as she smiled. Benedict waved to her before bowing and exiting stage.
"Let him have some love and jewel. And, erm, no name on this bucket it was a late entry but, ya know the drill. Give the boy some money. Or, blizzard relief money," Koree sputtered.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"Finally, got it working!" Persephone said as the radio whirred to life.
"Finally!" Lorelle exclaimed as she pushed her way onto the stage, knocking a music track into the ground, cracking it.
"Oh, great!" Bianca shouted as she picked the track up as Lorelle started singing.
"I'm too cool for my dress. These shades don't leave my head. Everything you say is so irrelevant…"
"Nope, it's cracked," Bianca sighed. "This has not been my night!"
She stomped off to the very back of the wings. Roman watched her go, a frown on his face. He followed after her, concerned.
"Bianca?"
"Hm?"
"Are you alright?"
"No," she sighed. "My partner is sick, my track is broken. I now have no way of going on with the show. I don't know what to do!"
Bianca tugged at her hair and paced back and forth.
Roman thought, trying to come up with a potential solution for Bianca as Lorelle kept singing.
"Don't take it personal, don't get emotional. You know it's the truth, I'm too cool for you…"
Roman thought for a few minutes longer, but couldn't think of anything else. He sighed.
"I'm going to regret this," he muttered as he picked up a guitar. "Come one."
"Huh?" Bianca asked.
"We're almost up," Roman said as he grabbed her hand.
"We?"
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"And that was Lorelle Strauss," Koree said as she passed the bucket around. Lorelle smiled as she waved and bowed. And blew kisses. And curtseyed. And waved. And bowed. And blew more kisses. And wave some more. And curtseyed again. And-
"Alright, alright, get off!" Koree all but shoved Lorelle aside. "Next up, put your hands together for Bianca Fullbuster."
Koree ran off as Roman led Bianca onto the stage. He parked her in front of the microphone as he tuned the guitar a bit. Bianca just watched him, not quite sure how to respond to the whole situation. Finally satisfied Roman looked to her, giving her a small nod to both tell her he was set and to ask her if she was ready. Bianca nodded back and Roman began to strum a soft tune.
Bianca took a deep breath before singing:
"I remember tears streaming down your face when I said I'd never let you go. When all those shadows almost killed your light. I remember you said don't leave me here alone. But all that's dead and gone tonight."
Roman took a deep breath next to her and caught her completely off guard as he joined in. Still she kept singing as they harmonized the next portion of this song.
"Just close your eyes, the sun is going down. You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now. Come morning light you and I will be safe and sound."
A small smile crept onto Bianca's face. Who knew Roman could play guitar, or that he was such a good singer. She nudged him smuggly in the shoulder as the next part of the song came up.
"Don't you dare look out your window, darling everything on fire. The war outside our door keeps raging on."
"Whoa-oh," Roman hummed before the two harmonized the next portion once again.
"Hold on to this lullaby. Even when the music's gone. Just close your eyes, the sun is going down. You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now. Come morning light you and I will be safe and sound."
"Ooh."
"Ooh."
"Lala."
"Lala."
"Ooh."
"Ooh."
"Lala."
"Lala."
"Come morning light, you and I will be safe and sound."
A short silence fell over the main room. Bianca and Roman both shyly looked over the crowd. Had it been that bad.
Then thunderous applause rang out.
"Wow," Koree exclaimed as she walked back on stage. "I mean, wow. That was awesome! Wasn't it awesome guys?"
The applause rang out even louder.
So much so that it shook the backstage waiting area.
Layla peaked out and let a small squeak escape her.
"Wow, they were really good. I have to go after that?"
She slinked over to a corner just as Persephone called: "Layla, wherever you are, you're up next!"
Layla whimpered as she slumped down and pulled her knees to her chest.
"Hey, aren't you going out there?" a soft voice called above her.
Layla looked up to find Von standing over her. She shook her head.
"Why not?" Von asked.
"I can't do better than that!" Layla said. "Plus I'm the only idiot who did a Christmas song!"
"You did a Christmas song?" Von asked.
"I thought everyone would because it's close to Christmas, but I guess I'm the only one that thou-"
"I love Christmas music! Now you've gotta go!" Von cheered.
Layla shook her head and leaned her brow on her knees.
"Hey," Von said. Bending to her level. ""What if I go out there and stand right in front of the stage? That way you can look at me instead of everyone else and not be scared."
"I didn't say I was scared!" Layla portested.
"Still, you can just pretend we're playing pretend or something," Von said.
"LAYLA! GET YOUR KEY-LOVING TUSHY UP HERE!" Persephone shouted.
Layla cringed slightly but nodded to Von. "Okay."
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"'Scuse me! 'Scuse me!" Von called as he pushed his way through the crowd and set himself near the front of the stage right as Layla reached the microphone. She scanned the crowd wildly for him. He waved to her and she caught sight of him, sighing in relief right as the music started. Von smiled comfortingly at her as she took a deep breath and began singing:
"Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you? Why have you gone away?"
Von's smile widened. Why was she scared of not doing well? She had the voice of an angel!
"My world is changing. I'm rearranging. Does that mean Christmas changes too?"
"What a doll!" someone in the crowd whispered.
"She might be my favorite yet!"
Von beamed as he listened, mumbling "Yeah, mine too," under his breath.
"Where are you Christmas? Do you remember the girl you used to know? You and I were so carefree, now nothing's easy. Did Christmas change, or just me?"
Applause broke out once more. Layla blinked. She'd been so focused on Von she'd forgotten there was a whole crowd. Smiling shyly as she curtseyed.
"Layla Dragneel!" Koree cheered as she ran the stage, bucket in hand.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"Ugh. Okay, only two left," Persephone grumbled.
Cato, who had been getting ready to go on next, took note of his friend's demeanor. "Persephone was usually a little, well, gruff, but she seemed grumpier than normal.
"Hey, Persephone-"
"You're up next," she said gruffly as she shoved him forward, and he thought he detected a hint of jealousy in her gaze.
What was her problem?
"Oh," he gasped. Of course! Now that Benedict and Roman had made surprise performance she, besides Meeko who was sick, would be the only one to not be on stage. Cato took note of this as Koree called his name and he took stage. As he stood in front of the microphone he glanced out of the corner of his eye to see where Persephone was. He caught sight of her just as he started singing:
"When I was six years old I broke my leg. I was running from my brother and his friends. We tasted the sweet perfume of the mountain grass I rolled down…"
"Okay, okay, okay," Persephone sighed as she flipped through her notes. "Just one more and then I can go home."
She adjusted some of the lights just as she felt someone grab her shoulder. She groaned.
"Wha-hey!"
All of a sudden she was jerked onto the stage.
"What the heck!?" she exclaimed as she found herself in Cato's arms as he grinned mischievously at her, guiding her in a simple dance as he sang:
"I'm on my way. Driving ninety down these old country lanes, singing Tiny Dancer, and I miss the way you make me feel, and it's real. We watched the sunset over the castle on the hill."
Cato gave Persephone a spin and a dip. Before taking her hands again and adding a two-step to just the general swaying as he sang the next part of the song. A few of the audience members got up and began dancing along.
"Had my first kiss on a Friday night-"
Cato jumped as Persephone grinned mischievously at him and gave him a small peck on the cheek, rolling her head back in laughter as he stared bewildered at her, blushing slightly.
"-I don't reckon I did it right. I was younger then, but take me back to when..."
Persephone laughed as his face continued to grow redder and redder. That ought to show him for surprising her and snatching her on stage like he-
"Hey!" she shouted as Cato wrapped his arms around her middle, lifted her off her feet and spun her around.
"I'm on my way. Driving ninety down these old country lanes. Singing to tiny dancer! And I miss the way you feel, it's real! We watched the sunset over the castle on the hill!"
Cato set her down only to dip her. She frowned at him, but he could see the fun in her eyes as he set her back on her feet and they began two-stepping and spinning about the stage again.
"And I miss the way you make me feel, it's real. We watched the sunset over the castle on the hill. Hoo-hoo! Over the castle on the hill. Hoo-hoo! Over the castle on the hill!"
Cheers rang out throughout the guild hall.
"Cato Dreyar and-"
Boom!
The guild hall doors flung open and a very angry Walking Salon came stomping inside.
"Uh-oh," Koree grumbled.
"Next song, next song!" Persephone shouted.
Benedict immediately put in the next track.
Persephone immediately regretted her decision when she remembered who was next.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Storm's eyes widened as the Walking Salon came stomping towards the crowd. He turned to Nashi who was looking a bit frightened as she clutched a microphone tightly in her hands.
"IF you don't want to go on, you don't- Nashi?" Storm watched wide-eyed as she marched right onto stage, standing right in the spotlight in the center. Nashi shook her head. Not tonight. She was not going to let that woman scare her away tonight.
The Walking Salon noticed and her eyes narrowed at Nashi. Nashi stared back, a small tremor going through her body. A strong hand rested on her shoulder. She turned to find Storm standing next to her, smiling reassuringly. She took a deep breath and nodded. The music began to play softly. Nashi took another deep breath and began to sing.
"What on earth is this hazzard doi-"
The Walking Salon began, but Nashi closed her eyes and began singing over her.
I am not a stranger to the dark. Hide away, they say, 'cuz we don't want your broken parts. I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars. Run away, they say, no one will love you as you are. But-"
Storm reached for her hand, holding it as they sang the next part together:
"I won't let them break me down to dust, I know that there's a place for us. For we are glorious."
The Walking Salon started her march straight towards them again. Storm felt Nashi shaking again as her voice faltered. He tightened his grip on her hand as he sang the next part, turning her to face him and not the angry socialite headed towards them.
"When the sharpest words wanna cut you down," he sang.
You? Nashi thought. "Those aren't the words," she whispered to Storm, who just nodded.
"I'm gonna send the flood, gonna drown them out," he set a hand on her shoulder, looking her right in her eye. "You are brave, you are bruised, you are who you're meant to be-"
Nashi gasped as she finally caught on. "This is me."
Storm nodded, beaming as Nashi took over the next part. "Look out 'cuz here I come. And I'm marching on to the beat I drum. I'm not scared to be seen, I make no apologies, this is me."
"Excuse me, but I demand," the Walking Salon shouted as she tried to climb on stage, only to be knocked off but a sonic boom the erupted from Benedict as he temporarily took over, singing:
"Another round of bullets hits my skin," Benedict then smiled and nodded back to Nashi who smiled as she sang:
"Well fire away, 'cuz today I won't let the shame sink in."
She and Storm then sang the next part together:
"We are bursting through the barricades and reaching for the sun-"
"How dare you-" the walking salon sputtered as she stood up, only to be knocked back over when all of the kids jumped on stage yelling:
"We are warriors!" over her.
"Yeah, that's what we've become!" Nashi sang as she smiled back at all of her friends and the whole group joined in singing:
When the sharpest words want to cut me down, I'm gonna send a flood gonna drown them out. I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I'm meant to be. This is me. Look out 'cuz here I come. And I'm marching on to the beat I drum. I'm not scared to be seen, I make no apologies, this is me."
The Walking Salon dragged herself back up to her feet and glowered at the children. Nashi stared down at her as the rest of her friend kept singing the chorus, taking a deep breath, eyes narrowed as she belted out her solo part.
"And I know I deserve your love! There's nothing I'm not worthy of!"
"This is me!" all the kids shouted before going quiet, letting Nashi have her moment.
"When the sharpest words want to cut me down. I'm gonna send the flood gonna drown them out. This is brave, this is bruised, this is me."
An applause ran through the crowd as all the kids joined in for the final part:
"Look out 'cuz here I come, and I'm marching on to the beat I drum. I'm not scared to be seen, I make no apologies, this is me. When the sharpest words wanna cut me down, I'm gonna send the flood, gonna drown them out. Gonna send the flood, gonna drown them out, this is me!"
Screams, cheers, applauses, shook the ground. Jewel flew at the stage, bouncing off the children as it fell at their feet.
"Oh, wow, ouch, thank you folks but-ow-okay put em in the bucket, people! We kids bruise like grapes!" Koree shouted.
"You think this'll be enough to help out," Farrah asked Benedict as they dodged jewel and raced backstage.
"Oh, yeah, totally," Benedict nodded, all but sliding to the safety of the wings. "Well, this was fun, we should do this every year!"
"You didn't even want to do it at first," Farrah crossed her arms, a smug grin on her face.
"Yeah, well," Benedict Turned away, a small blush on his face. "I, erm, changed my way."
"So you're admitting defeat," Farrah said proudly.
"What? We weren't fighting! How can you defeat me when we weren't fighting!"
"I just did."
"No you didn't!"
"Keep telling yourself that!"
"Farrah, do you realize how annoying you can be?"
"Yup, and you still love me!"
Benedict turned away again, blushing all the more. "Whatever."
Farrah grinned, slugging him in the shoulder. "You can make it up to me by taking me on that job you still owe me."
"Fine," he rolled his eyes.
"And maybe a gift thrown in would be nice," Farrah added.
"Don't push your luck," Benedict narrowed his eyes at her, causing her to giggle.
"Farrah?"
Farrah turned to find Laxus poking his head into the wings.
"Hi, Papa!" she waved with a bright smile.
Laxus walked to her and engulfed her in a hug.
"Off! Erm, love you too?" Farrah asked.
"Thank you," Laxus said.
"Uh…"
"You've got no idea how much this helps," Laxus said, no longer worried about how to buy supplies for those stranded in the country.
Farrah smiled and shrugged. "Well, you had no ideas, so I came up with one on my own."
"I know, and I'm sorry," Laxus said.
"Huh?" Farrah cocked her head.
Laxus rubbed at the back of his neck. "I've been so busy trying to run the guild that I haven't been paying much attention to you and the boys-"
"We're in a horrible winter. We get it," Farrah shrugged.
"Still," Laxus sighed. "Once this clears up and it gets warm again I'm gonna get Aunt Erza to run things for a little while so we can go on vacation, just the family."
Farrah smiled before poking her father in the chest. "I'm gonna hold you to that."
Laxus chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Oh, I bet you will."