A/N: I'm afraid I must apologize twice for this chapter. The first time for this getting up so late: Gomen'nasai! And the second time because this really isn't my best work right here: Goman'nasai! I didn't have this written in advance like the previous ones so it really hasn't been edited as much as the others. Just be grateful I got it out at all between unearthing my car from the driveway and working. (Because, yes, it did snow yesterday!)

Special thanks to The-King-Crowley for adding this to his/her alerts! I love getting those messages in my email inbox. (:

Mood Music: Sleigh Ride; once again, Relient K's version. (:

Disclaimer: If you don't know that I don't own Fairy Tail, there is something seriously wrong with you.

Winter Fun!

Levy skipped jovially through the lightly falling snow, humming softly to herself. Despite hating the cold, she loved winter! How that was possible, no one really understood, but it was true none-the-less. Despite hating the cold, she loved the feeling of the snow falling on her face, and she loved when the pond was frozen over enough to ice skate on it, and she loved how one of the farmers outside of town always brought in his horse and sleigh and, for just a small amount, would take the rider all over Magnolia!

She pushed open the door and entered the guild hall. Instantly, she spotted her friends and made a B-line for them. "Lu-chan! Juvia-chan!" she called as she approached them. "Isn't the weather just glorious today?"

"Personally, I think it's too cold," Lucy muttered with a shiver. "You sure look in a good mood though. What's up?"

"I thought we could go ice skating together today!" Levy beamed. "And then maybe go for a sleigh ride, too, since today is the day old farmer Jack is in town!"

Juvia gazed at her friend, eyes widening slightly. "Juvia thinks that sounds like a lot of fun! … But Juvia is afraid she doesn't know how to ice skate…"

"It's easy! I'll teach you, Juvia-chan!" Levy turned to her blonde friend. "Lu-chan? Are you going to come?"

"Well," Lucy sighed lightly. "I suppose so." She smiled. "It'll be fun!"

Levy nodded enthusiastically. "Let's go then!"

Erza glanced up from the novel she had been reading at the bar when the doors opened with a sudden blast of icy air. She smiled as she called out to them. "Where have you three been, eh? You look cold!"

"At the park," Levy answered with a laugh. "We were ice skating!"

"But then we saw some of the boys and ended up going sledding with them, too!" Lucy added.

"Gray-sama," Juvia added with a giggle, "thought it would be a grand idea to see how many of us we could get on one inner tube… It was so much fun!"

Erza raised an eyebrow. "How many people did you manage?"

"The most we could get to stay on all the way down the hill was thirteen!" Levy answered.

Erza's eyes widened. "Really?"

Lucy laughed. "I thought I was going to die!"

"Sounds like you had a great time!"

"Oh, we aren't even done yet!" Levy responded. "We just got cold and thought we'd come to get some hot chocolate from Mira. Then we're going to go find old farmer Jack!"

"Would you like to come, Erza-san?" Juvia asked. "It's perfect weather for a sleigh ride!"

Levy nodded. "You should, Erza! I've gone before, and it's so much fun! We even convinced some of the guys to come."

"Really?" she asked for a second time. "Well… Perhaps I will."

"Well, you think about it," Levy stated as she sat down, "while we warm up!"

"Lucy!" Natsu called, waving his hand. "Over here!"

Lucy waved back as she, Levy, Juvia, and Erza headed his direction. Everyone else was already there, waiting, by the sleigh.

Farmer Jack tipped his hat back on his head slightly. "Quite the crew you've got here Levy-san! Should be a fun ride!"

They each pitched in a little then the seven mages climbed on the sleigh. "You know," Gray mused, "for all the years I've lived here, I don't think I've done this…"

"I don't think I have either," Erza commented.

Gajeel sat down on the end. "Can't say I ever have. But I've never had the opportunity…"

Levy beamed. "Then you all are in for a real treat!"

"All settled back there?" Jack's voice drifted back to them.

"Hai!" Levy called.

And with the snap of the reins, the sleigh flew forward into the snowy evening.

A/N: You get one at the end this time too! Haha, anyway... So the sledding thing, true story right there. No joke; I'm pretty sure my church youth group set a Winter Meltdown record... (: