I found the library quick enough and asked where I could find history of Fiore. The Library hadn't changed. It felt really good to be somewhere familiar. I found the books I would need and headed up stairs to a secluded nook that was really just a window seat that over looked not only the harbor, but gave a hint at the mountains in the distance.
When Levy found me it was 11 am. She cautiously approached me. I looked up and said, "Those were my favorite memories from when I was younger. Far away and long ago I heard the dragons sing the night away. They chilled me to the bone and made my heart soar. Under the pressure form Natsu and Gajeel I forgot all the details. It's just been so long."
Levy smiled sadly at me and said, "The clothes you're wearing haven't been in style for about 300 years, and are native to Fiore. I don't know what's going on, but I trust the Master. I like you Aiyana. You don't have to tell me what's going on, but I'd love to be your friend." Her words touched me and I gave a big and heart felt smiled. "You're right Levy. 300 years, humph. It was so long ago. Eventually I will tell you everything, but the Master told me to lay low, so do you want to go shopping?"
"Sure! I hope you don't mind that I came up here to find you and drag you shopping," she smiled sheepishly, "You see Lucy, Ersa, and I thought it would be good to get you some clothes native to Fiore. Ersa wanted to drag you out by force but after Lucy heard what happened earlier she said it would better to ask you to come out with us."
"Let's go. I think I learned all I can from the books; it's time to talk to people about what's going on today," I said and got up. While walking through the library I had a thought, just who was Gajeel to Levy? Before I could ask I was crushed in a hug by Lucy.
"Oh, Aiya-chan! I hope you're alright. Natsu can be really pushy," Lucy apologized. I was so glad that I wasn't as short as Levy; if I was I would have been smothered. I rushed to reassure her, "It's OK, really, I just overacted. You'd be surprised at how similar wyverns look when high up in the sky. My partner-friend and I used to pretend that they really were dragons and I was so caught up in the memory that I must have muttered something out loud about how much they looked like real dragons." Lucy 'oh'ed and Ersa nodded her head in understanding. I turned to Levy and winked to let her in on my lie. She giggled. Ersa gave her a questioning look, but was saved from answering by Lucy, "Let's go girls! We got a one-dress-wonder to shop for!" We started walking towards the marketing district. I turned to Ersa and asked, "One-dress-wonder?"
"She means you. You only have one outfit. We must remedy this situation by all buying you an outfit." Ersa said with absolute authority. A blue haired woman walked in our direction and Lucy called out to her, "Hey Juvia! Have you meet Aiyana?" When she got closer she said, "Juvia has been on a mission and not had the time to meet any new people."
"Well this is Aiyana Hartsford. She's a new member in the Guild and she comes from a different country so we were all going out to buy her new clothes. She only has the one she's wearing." Lucy explained all in one breathe. Juvia nodded her head and turned to me, "Juvia is Juvia Lockser and she will help you assimilate to Fiore's fashion! Juvia loves keeping up with the latest fashions."
"It's settled then, we will each chose one shop and buy Aiyana a new outfit," Ersa said, "And she will buy one after we have given her ideas of what is popular." I looked to Levy in horror, "I guess I should try and enjoy it? Right?" Levy conspiringly smiled, "Oh you'll enjoy it. We do this every two month. We're on a rotation schedule and on the designated day one of us gets treated to an entirely new set of clothes, underwear included. It's a great way to find new styles and hang out with friends, what with missions and all there isn't a lot of time to just hang out."
Lucy was the first to drag me into a store. As we all filed into the store and looked around I couldn't help but think that modesty had definitely changed in the last hundreds of years. I riffled through the racks of clothing and blushed at what I saw. Half of the clothes had holes in them. I felt completely out of place in my old fashioned clothes and chest bindings. I glanced at Ersa while pretending to actually be interested in the clothing. Her face was just as red as her head as she stood in the clearly marked lingerie section. And when I said clearly marked I meant that if the huge poster of a half-naked woman sprawled on what I assumed was a bed didn't clue you in, you were a lost cause. I was relieved when Lucy pulled me into a dressing room. That is until I saw what she wanted me to try on. I loved lace, but it took me a good 10 minutes to figure out how to put the underwear on. Even after I put on the short shorts and layered tank tops I felt exposed. It was drastically different then what I was used to. Compared with my usual clothes with real sleeves and a skirt that went past my knees I felt like I was standing in my underwear.
"Are you alright in there?" came Lucy's worried voice. "Uh, yeah, I'm coming out," I called and steeled my nerves. After a deep breath I opened the stall door. "Dam!" Lucy said. I blushed and Juvia said, "Well turn for Juvia." So I spun in a slow circle. "Well, my work here is done," said Lucy with a satisfied air.
Levy giggled and said, "I can't wait to see the guild's reaction! I mean after all those tiny tit quips you'll leave them fighting for air."
I grinned sheepishly, "Yeah that would be fun to see, but maybe after I get more comfortable with such revealing clothes. I'm not used to seeing so much of my own skin." Ersa came to my rescue before Lucy could even draw the breath to protest, "We shall have a girl's night tonight and get you comfortable with our outfits." My grin widened and I said, "Thanks, I'll go change then."
Next up was Ersa. She dressed me in more covering clothes, but to Lucy's dismay and Levy's amusement it wasn't clothes so much as it was armor. She bought me a chainmail tunic, arm and shin guards, and supple leather boots. Just like the outfit, the underwear was also practical. She gave me a "sports bra" and "boy shorts." Though the sports bra was comfy I found myself missing the wire in the bra Lucy had bought me. The whole thing was done with no nonsense authority that I was quickly coming to associate with Ersa.
Juvia had me try on multiple outfits before deciding on one. All of them were involved some kind of skirt. One was long and flowy, and another stuck to my thighs and restricted my movements. When I stepped out in the last outfit Lucy squealed and crushed me into a hug. "Air-Lucy-air!" I gasped and she let me go with a cheeky smile. When I turned to see Levy's and Ersa's reaction, I found them both looking at me with puzzlement. Levy was the first to speak, "Hey Ersa, doesn't that look a lot like what you wore for the Fantasia parade that one year?"
"Yes, I believe that it matches my outfit exactly save the purple detail, stockings, and garter belt. I remember it turning a lot of heads," Ersa said with a nod. Levy's face lit up in recognition, "Yeah, I remember now! You look good in it Aiyana." I turned slightly and caught my full appearance in a body length mirror. I hadn't put on my shoes so I got the full view of my purple and black stripped stocking clad legs. The stockings were held up by an out of sight black lacy garter belt; it was hidden by a ruffled black skirt. The top had sleeves long enough that I could hide my hands in them. Having little knowledge of what modern clothing looked like I guessed that the top was supposed to mimic a white button up blouse with purple buttons and stitching, underneath a black long sleeve shirt with the same flare to the cuffs. Juvia came up behind me and looked into the mirror. "Juvia chose well, right?" she said with a pleased smile, "Does the underwear fit Aiyana?" I blushed and nodded. The matching set was a tasteful black ensemble with subtle lace accents; definitely less conspicuous than Lucy's pick of hot pink nothings. "Well go change so I can have a turn!" Levy impatiently said. "Alright, alright," I said with a laugh.
After Juvia purchased the clothes, Levy dragged me out of the shop and right into another. Her tastes were a far cry from the other girls: this store included pants, T-ee shirts, sweaters, and other miscellaneous articles of clothing. She dressed me in what she called "jean" shorts, a plain T-ee, and vest. It was comfy and I knew that I wanted a pair of pants made out of jean. Those hoodies looked warm too.
The outfit I bought myself was based mostly on what Levy had got me. A pair of dark blue jeans topped off with what Lucy informed me to be a halter top. It just felt like a dressed up tank top. And over it all I pulled a zip up hoodie. Of course Lucy and Juvia joined forces and told me to keep the hoodie off until the weather turned cold. The sweater ruined the effect of the top, was their reasoning. I gravely agreed to keep it locked away until it was chilly outside. Only after I had walked back into the changing room did they realize that I was teasing them. I didn't buy another bra; instead I got myself another wrap. I could never know when it was better to be inconspicuous, and a bouncing chest wasn't really unobtrusive.