The sun shines on fair Fiore where our story takes its place,
In the city of Magnolia, a magic guild is fully ablaze.
Two star-crossed lovers, both blessed with the ignorance of youth,
How will they react once they learn the inevitable truth?
- Gray you perverted bastard! a pink haired boy shouted furiously.
- What's up, flame-brain? his half-naked enemy shouted back fearlessly.
- I'll burn you to crisps! the first one said, fire burning in his heart.
But before he could commence, a woman of titanium strength tore them both apart.
Her armour gleamed in the light of the grand crystal chandelier,
her eyes burned with fury and the two young men trembled in fear.
- We're n-n-not fighting! the ice mage stuttered, sweat running down his cheeks.
- Aye sir! the dragon slayer agreed, mimicking how a certain blue cat speaks.
- It's time to raise the pole! called a tiny man with a mustache white as snow.
- Let's eat and drink, and laugh and dance, 'til the morning sun does glow!
So the guild all helped to dress the pole in flowers top to toe,
the master rose it to the skies and the rest cheered on from below.
Lyra played the harp and Mira led the song,
Cana kept on drinking while the others danced along.
When Erza did not look upon them, fire and ice would collide.
Some not-so-keen-on-dancing, watched them from the side.
It was a merry crowd that eventful midsummer's day,
but I promised love so here we go, Mira, please take it away!
- Everyone let's play a game! the fair demon mage called out to the crowd.
- No! No more of your games! the others complained aloud.
- You must pick seven flowers, from seven different places.
The white haired mage smiled, looking at the others slightly shocked faces.
- Thus the person who you'll marry will appear within your dreams!
- Easy, right? the master said. Now let's pair up in teams!
Somehow, Lucy found herself paired up with the red headed ex-quipping mage.
With them came the water woman, Juvia, and together they formed quite an odd entourage.
- Oh, Juvia will dream of Gray-sama! the water mage smiled and clapped her hands.
- Erza, the blond spirit mage asked. Who do you think will appear in your dream lands?
The ex-quip mage spoke silently, a red glow on her cheeks.
- I know that it is futile though, he's been missing many weeks...
- Wow, Lucy said amazed. You both know what you want!
- I guess I haven't thought of this, I've been so nonchalant!
The others shared a look of doubt, they both were in on Mira's plan.
- How about Natsu? Erza asked. How about our fire dragon man?
Lucy shook her head and raised both hands in protest.
- Natsu is no man! she said. A boy, maybe, at best.
Cross flowing fields, through leafy woods, fire and ice thundered on.
As they passed all living things would hide until the eternal enemies were once again gone.
- I'll smack your face you fire breathing idiot!
- Not if I beat you first you ice headed riot!
And so it was that they came to an opening in the forest,
where a clear lake, quiet and calm, lay undiscovered at rest.
Suddenly voices other than their own could be heard through the bushes.
Three forest nymphs, in red, yellow and blue, from the wilderness rushes.
Wearing nothing but their bare skin, the ladies played in the clear water.
Now watching them from the side, the boys felt their cheeks grow hotter.
- Could you do my back, Lucy? the scarlet nymph asked, handing her friend a brush.
- S-sure, Erza, the golden nymph said, her whole face starting to blush.
- Ah this feels so good! the blue nymph sighed and let her long hair down.
- Watch it so you don't melt away, Erza warned. We don't want you to drown!
A sudden noise awoke the nymphs from their state of mellow bliss.
Something stirred within the woods and they heard an angry hiss.
- Who's there? Erza called. Come out or I'll force you from your concealment!
There was rumbling in the shrubbery but finally two heads became apparent.
- Gray! Natsu! Erza cried in joy. Come join us in the bath!
- No thanks! Gray called back abashed and turned onto the path.
The pink haired boy then joined him quick and left without a word.
Blue seemed sad, yellow was relieved and red thought the whole thing was absurd.
- They seem uncommonly shy? the eq-quipping mage frowned.
- I bet they will change their minds soon and come right back around!
As the sun sank lower and no boys were to be seen,
the girls put on their clothes and returned to where they'd been.
Seven flowers was no match for some of Fairy tail's greatest women,
They went back to the midsummer's feast which lasted 'til the morning sun was risen.
Lucy put the flowers under her pillow, soft as cotton candy clouds.
She dreamt of baths and red haired devils but the rest was hidden in shrouds.
The next day she told Mira about her dreams and the barmaid sighed seriously.
- Did you talk during your walk? she asked while throwing Erza a look, quite mysteriously.
- Yes, we talked. Lucy said. But what does that even matter?
- No! Mira shrieked. If you want the truth, then there must be no chatter!
- Alright, alright I'll go again. This time on my own.
- Sure, Mira said with a weird looking smile which to Lucy yet was unknown.
- Good luck! the beautiful barmaid called as Lucy left the guild.
The doors closed loudly after her and the demon mage was thrilled.
- I'm here! the pink haired dragon slayer pronounced as he came in through the doors.
- Oh Natsu! Erza called to him. I've found something I think is yours?
- You left your scarf in the woods yesterday, you must've been awfully hot?
- Yes Natsu, Mira smirked. What would make you that distraught?
- I-I-I din't look I swear! the young man said with his head inclined.
But in fact it was that very scene which all night had tormented his mind.
He loved his friends, the guild, the people, all of his nakama.
But now his mind seemed capable of no more than a naked, lake scene diorama.
He took his scarf and turned around to walk back out the door.
He couldn't think of naught but her and he couldn't take it anymore.
Silently he left the guild and walked without of a goal,
Somehow that stupid game yesterday had taken away all his self control.
- She's my friend! he told himself. She doesn't see me in that way.
For her nothing has changed, I'm no other than I was yesterday...
- Damned Mira! Lucy cursed as she found the last, a buttercup.
Daisy, bluebell, hollyhock, a rosehip, lily and clover she had all picked up.
I really don't see the point of this! the spirit mage argued in her head.
Why doesn't she come out with me or do it all by herself instead?
Suddenly, a strange flower appeared, a boy in pinkish hair.
- Natsu, where are you going? Lucy called. No answer, that was rare.
- Hey! Natsu! she repeated again and ran to meet her friend.
He did not even react at all until she shoved him aside in the end.
- Lucy?! What are you doin'? the dragon slayer said surprised.
- Picking seven flowers, the blond explained. Apparently I didn't do as Mira advised.
- Stupid Mira, and stupid Erza... Natsu muttered and the spirit mage smiled brightly.
- Let's teach them not to mess with us! she said and held the dragon slayer's hand tightly.
- I'm fired up! Let's show them how it's done!
And hand-in-hand the two Fairy tail mages started to run.
Back at Lucy's place the plans were forged, but there were some disagreements.
- No fire! No grenades, no bombs, Natsu there can be no lethal accidents!
- Oh come on Lucy! Just a little one? I haven't even tried out this -
- Not in here Natsu! You'll set my bed on fire! Lucy said with an angry hiss.
As they spoke the sun sank lower and the stars came out to shine.
Lucy offered a mattress on the floor and Natsu wasn't one to decline.
The stellar spirit mage put the seven flowers beneath her pillow.
She let out her hair and from down below, the dragon slayer watched her golden locks billow.
- Natsu, what did you do to upset Erza and Mira? the blond asked quietly.
- I didn't do anything! the dragon slayer answered quite defiantly.
- They were teasing me about someone, he mumbled and then turned the other way.
Surprised, Lucy quickly closed her eyes and let her dreams wander astray.
She dreamt of fires raging, flashes, someone sleeping in the ground.
She searched in every corner but no charming prince was to be found.
What did he mean, what would the Demon and Titania tease the dragon for?
What was the reason for his anger, who was the one, she simply had to know more!
In the morning the two friends set of towards the Fairy tail guild.
The sky was dark, the grass was wet and of tiny raindrops the air was filled.
- I should have brought my raincoat, Lucy shuddered and wrapped her arms around her.
- Every time... Natsu sighed. Well, now it isn't that much further.
- Warm blooded freak, Lucy muttered just loud enough for the dragon's ears to hear.
Natsu wished he'd brought her coat, anything, now all he could do was be her near.
- Here, he said and took her icy cold hand in his.
- That should be better, he smiled. I'm the hottest dragon slayer there is.
Lucy laughed and held his hand tightly.
- A hot idiot maybe, she said and smiled back brightly.
At the guild Lucy went straight to the biggest gossiper in town.
The white haired mage stood behind the bar wearing quite an upset frown.
But when she spotted Lucy her face changed to form a smile,
- How did it go? she asked. Come, sit down for awhile.
- Did you see him? Did you meet..? Oh I guess you already knew!
- Mira, Lucy interrupted her. Natsu said you teased him about someone, is it true?
Confused, the demon mage stared at the girl sitting by her bar,
how could she make her believe that SHE was his one true love, his morning and evening star?
- All I did was ask why he'd left his scarf by the lake,
- I might have hinted, though, that it was for a certain young lady's sake.
- He loves that scarf, Lucy said to herself. Why would he just leave it like that?
- Why don't you ask him, Mira said with a smile as mischievous as a cat.
- O-ok... Lucy stuttered and turned to face the hall.
What would she say? What would she do? What if this was about her after all?
She decided to wait till after dark, go home and think it over.
She sat down on her bed and found a slightly mashed, dried clover.
Why was the dragon so upset that his scarf had been returned?
And if Mira's hypothesis was correct, who was the young lady concerned?
- It's you dumbass! said a voice in her head. You and Natsu sitting in a tree -
- No! Lucy said out loud. It could never be him and me.
Juvia then? Or Erza? Maybe one of them awoke his instincts of lust?
Lucy sighed, they both had their loves, this was highly unjust.
She took the flowers from her bed and threw them out into the street.
Outside the night was growing dark and the stars came out to shine in their seat.
A sudden noise woke Lucy from her trance and she screamed out in fear.
Behind her stood a pink haired young man, his face curled up in an evil sneer.
- Natsu you scared the crap outta me! the stellar spirit mage screamed.
- Lucy you should've seen your face! the dragon slayer said and beamed.
- What are you doing here? Lucy asked and put her keys on the kitchen sink.
- We didn't plan anything yesterday, Natsu said. Now I've had some time to think!
- We could make Erza a cake, and fill it with dynamite sticks,
- I can do the explosives and you can bake the strawberry cake mix!
Lucy laughed, it was a horrible idea. The guild would burn to dust.
- Natsu I told you, nothing dangerous, nothing that can combust!
Downcast, the dragon sat in her kitchen waiting for the ideas to flow.
His mind seemed troubled, thoughts wandering afar and his eyes had almost lost their glow.
Something was different, Lucy thought, Natsu was not acting like he used to.
He should be eating her food, fighting his friends, not THINKING, this was surely new.
- Natsu why are you here? the blond repeated. This seems a waste of time.
- I want to be here Lucy, the dragon slayer said. Do I have to put it into some damned rhyme?
- Y-You forgot your scarf... Lucy whispered, staring straight out into the air.
- I know you see me as nothing but a friend, Natsu said while standing up from the chair.
- And I want to be your friend, he said walking away. But I can't hold it back anymore.
- What do you mean? Lucy asked. What are you telling me this for?
A sudden flash of realization hit the blond and her pink lips formed a smile.
She'd never seriously considered this, although the others must have known for quite a while.
- Natsu! she called and he turned just in time to see her face,
as she flung her arms around him in a warm, loving embrace.
- Lucy? he whispered in her ear. Are you sure about this-?
But before he could say one more word she had sealed his lips with a kiss.
Beneath the starry skies two young lovers learn how to walk.
The veil has been withdrawn and there are no more secrets to unlock.
Love always finds a way, even if you're stupid or naive.
And thus ends the story of Fairy tail's magical midsummer's eve.