It had been a week since we had come back from Akane, and we were just in time for the Harvest Festival and Fantasia parade. The whole town was turning out for it. Stella and I had been helping out, Stella helping to hang banners for the shopkeepers and I had been helping waitress for a few cafes, just to help bring in some jewel (and some goodwill for Fairy Tail, Natsu and Gray had almost leveled a statue two days ago, and the mayor hadn't been too happy).
I checked the clock and whipped my apron off, yelling my thanks to the store owner, who waved me off with a smile. Made sense, considering it was an ice cream parlor and just as the bakery loved Erza, the ice cream parlor loved me. I waved Stella over and we meandered towards the guild hall. There was an annual Miss Fairy Tail contest that was always fun. I crashed into a body and began to apologize before realizing who it was.
"Oh, Hey Warren! Welcome back." I said as I took in Warren's road-weary self. Warren was a telepathy mage, who was the opposite of Nab. He took all the jobs he could and was constantly gone.
"Hi Warren!" Stella chirped beside me, while fluttering above our heads.
"Thanks Aquila, Stella, glad to be back, wasn't sure I'd make it!" Warren said with a grin and I waved at him as I continued to the guild hall. I waved Stella off and she floated over to Gray and Natsu, who greeted her warmly.
I slipped backstage with the other contestants and winked at Cana, who cast me a grin. Erza slipped in beside me as I heard Max start and Cana slipped onstage.
Lucy arrived and peered through the curtain, Erza and I joining her as Cana used her card magic to transform into a bikini. "A swimsuit?! No fair!" Lucy whined.
"Now that's a clever idea, maybe I should do the same." Erza said and Lucy started as she realized that we were there.
"But Erza, as much as I love Cana, the swimsuit trick is so cliché. Better to be original." smirked at the thought of what I was planning. Top three was as good as mine.
"You guys are in this too?!" Lucy asked anxiously.
"Whenever, I hear the word contest, I get all worked up." Erza said with a grin and I laughed.
"No worries, Lucy. I'm just in it for fun. And to possibly cover some outstanding damage expenses." I said with an innocent smile as Lucy wished her rent money goodbye.
We watched as Juvia entered onstage and used her magic to also transform into a swimsuit. Lucy whined about the overuse of swimsuits. As Mirajane walked onstage, I stifled a smile. Mira had told me over the bar yesterday she planned to throw the contest, in order to have a winner who was not her. I thought it was rather noble of her to do so. I laughed as she transformed her face into Happy's and then Gajeel's. The latter made me lose it on the floor.
"And then entry number four, the Fairy Queen who needs no introduction, ERZA SCARLET!" Max announced as Erza leapt onstage with a flip. I rolled my eyes at her over exaggeration of her requip skills. Showoff, I thought with a grin. Then my jaw dropped as she revealed her outfit.
"No way! GOTHIC LOLITA?!" Lucy yelped as I face-palmed. And I was just starting to like the idea of winning.
As Erza exited off towards the other side of the stage, Levy came out and used her script magic. "Contestant number six, the Icy Damsel who can melt your frozen heart, AQUILA ORION!" Max announced as I strut onto the floor amidst whistles and cat-calls.
"Hey boys!" I smiled sultrily at the crowd and generated several icicles that circled around me until I shot them upward and they exploded into glittering crystals. As the crystals fell, I spun as they wrapped around me, giving me a glittering mini-dress.
I took a bow and blew a kiss before existing offstage. I looked over to see glowing eyes and I started to bring my hands up to fight, only to turn to stone. Evergreen, was the last thought I had before I was completely overtaken.