Disclaimer: I don't own anything here.
Author's comment: It took me two years to pick up writing again so on with the revised version!
Thanks Ichigo for being the first to review! (And without asking! Brownie Points :D Another thanks goes to Hinagiku Zeelmart for the review. I also thought it was a neat idea :). Brownie Points for you too! Thank you to everyone else who reviewed chapter 1!
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Chapter 2: What a precious kitty
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At the last second, Lucy heard the airy whisper of rapidly approaching masses above her and unleashed a heavy uppercut. It hit. She looked into the eyes of an extremely surprised blonde man and quickly ducked out of the way of another black blur. Summoning Loke and Capricorn through the keys on her golden bracelet, she stepped back to take in the situation. Her spirit friends held the ever sadistic Minerva down to the dirt path while Sting approached her with a murderous gleam in his eye. Before he could take another step, the blonde man was trapped in rune prison, courtesy of Freed. The entire guild halted their gait and turned to see the commotion. In less than a blink, demon form Mira had punched Minerva into the ground, the cruel woman having escaped the spirits' hold. Loke came to pat a stunned Lucy on the shoulder; it was all happening so fast, she barely had time to process what had just took place. Or why? She frowned at the disturbing afterthought.
"Lucy? It's alright - it's taken care of." The lion spirit said softly. Lucy tore her eyes away from the angry white dragon slayer and numbly nodded at the spirit leader.
"Thank you guys for coming so fast." She said as calmly as she could manage, giving a half smile to Capricorn and Loke. "We'll talk properly soon, yah? Tonight at the celebration… later on." Zoning out, she didn't see their worried expressions as they retreated back into celestial space.
"Master, what should we do with them?" Erza asked the balding man, appearing out of nowhere and startling quite a few of her guildmates. Elfman had since controlled his sister who was trying to land another punch on the unconscious Sabertooth girl. Her demonic aura ebbed away, leaving behind the least scary form they were all accustomed too. An ugly scowl still marred her face but she looked satisfied with her work. Everyone understood her livid attitude but wisely said nothing.
Sting calmly took in the scene before him, analyzing every single reaction he could sense from the crowd. He hadn't expected Blondie to have gotten this much stronger over the past few months. He rubbed his burning jaw, noting that a molar had fallen out. Interesting. She could be just as strong as that crazy demon girl if she tried. He decided to take the diplomatic approach to this rather sticky situation and cleared his throat. This caught to attention of the pretty celestial maiden but was yet again interrupted. Three angry looking dragon slayers blocked his view of his appetizing prey and Sting could not have been more peeved. He hated being interrupted. He held two fingers up in the air and emitted a bright glow. It was a signal, Lucy realized too late; Rufus stole away the unconscious and unattended Minerva before anyone could step in to stop him. Orga bulldozed through a cluster of hostile members and snatched the smallest little thing he could get his hands on. Levy. Gajeel was practically glowing with fury and turned solid Iron on the spot.
"Release the Sabertooth brat, Freed." Came Makarov rather dispassionately. Orga suddenly dropped his squirming hostage when she managed to write 'fire' on his arm. He shot her an unreadable expression before retreating into the trees to put out the flames. A moment later, the white dragon slayer was freed from his rune prison. The entire Guild was now in battle positions, ready to defend and attack. The white dragon slayer knew he would get into trouble with his guild master if he caused further upset. He wisely vanished in a blinding beam of light.
"FAIRYTAIL!" their master shouted, commanding the attention of all his children. "Some of you will experience more of these types of events during your stay. Some will challenge you for another's attention while others will fight you to gain your attention. Be on your guard. Keep that in mind." The guild huddled closer together in tight knots as they resumed their trek up the now not-so-attractive mountain.
Lucy was utterly terrified with a nagging feeling that even the trees were ready to strike her down. There was no way in hell that she could create a relationship here what with the attempts on her life flying left and right. The celestial mage knew that they didn't attack her for another's attention. No. The Sabertooth members did so for fun. They preyed on those they thought weak and it made her blood boil. She heaved a deep sigh to calm her tremulous nerves and checked over her attire, noting that the magic material showed no wear and the wings were still pristine.
"Don't worry Lucy. Us single gals will stick together," came a gentle voice to her right. Lucy found herself sandwiched between Erza and mother-hen Mira, both smiling ear to ear and walking proudly beside her. It seemed to boost the blonde's morale a little as the three strong mages walked arm and arm to the mountain peak.
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Rogue listened half-heartedly as Sting chewed him out for not backing up the team. Rogue knew what his anger was really about -getting punched by a pretty girl who he had mocked as appallingly weak 3 months ago. Serves him right. As for Minerva, he was secretly pleased she was put back in line for being malicious. It was a hard lesson, but she needed to learn it. His teammates seemed to have forgotten that this was not a tournament or a mission for revenge. There was no rule on this mountain that would prevent an entire guild from teaming up against the Sabertooth elite. It would end messily for both sides, especially when the opposition had Titania, The Demon, Laxus and Guildarts itching to protect their guildmates.
As for Rogue, he was on this mountain for another important reason. Although his master ordered the entire guild here and, yes, he had to keep Sting out of trouble, Rogue was here to complete a more daunting task; he was here to claim a mate. This Season of the Mage aligned seamlessly with the Dragon mating season and he was feeling the full effects of both. He was dead set against making enemies out of excellent candidates, even if they were Fairies..
"...Orga and Rufus are treating the Harpy. Are you paying attention?" Sting hissed impatiently at the King of Indifference.
"Sorta," Rogue replied from his perch, eying the admittedly pretty Fairies as they strode into the castle. "Ne Sting, don't you feel you need to find a woman?" The dark dragon titled his head to see a blush spread across his friend's rugged face; he looked utterly ridiculous, not that Rogue would say anything.
"Sorta," the temperamental mage retorted, clearly thinking of the new and improved blonde fairy. Neither slayer noticed that their loopy frog Exceed had latched onto the back of a black Exceed during the fray moments before.
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The Fairy Tail crew swept past the main floor of the seemingly peaceful and interested onlookers to claim the large middle turret at the back of the castle.
"I said get off me Kid" Pantherlily growled at the black cloaked leech behind him.
"But Fro wants to be your frieeeend" the watery eyed Exceed sniffed.
"Don't care. Get off." Pantherlily began prying the kitten off his back. He already had Happy to babysit. He didn't want another crazy feline following him.
"Awwww Lily did you make a new friend?" Mira giggled at the fuming black Exceed. Lucy's eyes lit up at the frog cosplaying kitten wearing a black cape. She couldn't help but steal it from Lily and start smothering it with cuddles.
"Hmmrph rmmph mmmh," the little Exceed tried to say but instead gave into content purring. His comical eyes were the only thing peaking over the blonde fairy's shoulder as he enjoyed being held for a change.
"You are going to be my date tonight, ok cutie?" Lucy crooned into the cute Exceed. She knew she'd have to find his owner eventually but felt this was the only bright lining in her day. If only the rest of the world wasn't as bloodthirsty as these little cuties. Erza snorted at her friend's antics, but was happy the blonde no longer looked terrified.
As tradition of the season, the guild broke off into individual rooms in their turret, save the married folk, and found their personal belongings summoned into the quarters. The rooms themselves were cozy; A large bed took up most of the floor space. There was an open closet, stationary desk and vanity table with small settees occupying the remainder of the room. Lucy grinned as she saw her evening wear slung over her powder room door. This trip may not be so bad after all. Erza was right. As long as I watch my back around that psycho guild, I should be fine. Maybe I can find love in a place like this. She hummed to herself, setting the cute Exceed down on her bed while busying herself to get ready.
"Fro would like to introduce Fro as Frosch, milady" the kitten began. Lucy grinned at his speech, not quite registering where she remembered that name. She began setting her hair into curls and waves down her back, planting gossamer ribbons and purple flowers in tasteful bunches throughout the blonde tresses.
"I'm Lucy, Frosch. Are you excited for the big celebration tonight?" she asked sweetly, giving the creature a kind smile from her large vanity mirror. With that dazzling smile, Fro thought that Lucy was the prettiest human he had ever seen. His partner Rogue would be jealous when he showed up on this girl's arm tonight. Lucy smartly summoned Plue to keep the kitten company. The celestial spirit mage slipped into her private bathing chamber to finish the tarting up process. She'd be damned if she didn't get a few offers by the end of the night. Maybe after a few shots, she'd accept one of them.
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Gajeel never left Levy's side after Orga had released her. He couldn't believe he left her open like that. He didn't even sense the other mage coming. He took the room beside the bookworm just in case, berating himself for not protecting her enough. He decided to take a shower to clear his head. He had to be fully aware tonight to protect the squirt. Levy watched Gajeel stalk into the room next to the door she was leaning on. The merry banter she had been having with Cana about costumes immediately ceased when his door closed. The two nineteen year old girls looked at each other and grinned mischievously.
"Thanks Cana. Good luck with tonight's festival." Levy winked at the older girl. Cana laughed, oddly sober for once and nodded.
"You too. I'll make sure this floor is cleared out for the next few hours." The card mage stepped into the room Levy had been leaning on, activating the personal summoning magic.
Levy slipped into the Iron Dragon's room on a mission she considered to be of the utmost importance. Seeing the main room bare, she divested her clothing and wings knowing that the Dragon in the shower had already heard the creek of the outer door. "Gajeel?" the genius called out in the most innocent voice possible, doing last second touch ups in his entry mirror.
The hulking man unclenched his ready fist from inside the open shower, his joystick stiffening from her soft voice. A steady blush spread across his face knowing that Levy was just on the other side of his door. Wait, Lev-? Before he could even reach for a towel, the script mage stood in front of him in her full glory. Had he not been made of metal, he would have melted in a pool at her feet.
"Good," She purred, eyes raking over his hard-on to his stunned face. He saw her sweet smile drift into a naughty smirk; his knees buckled, wondering if this was actually happening. "You're all ready for me." He didn't take his eyes off her devious pink lips as they engulfed his crowning glory before tasting his tongue. It wasn't long after that he pinned her against the hot tiles of the shower and revelled in her tight body.
Hours later, a sore Levy found herself snuggled atop of her worn out dragon slayer in his bed. Deep finger shaped bruises were bound to form on her hips, wrists and ankles but Kami it was worth it. She couldn't help but smile as she glanced up at her sleepy dragon. No one else could send her pulse racing like he did and she wasn't about to let that go. Besides, cataclysmic sex served with a side of warm fuzzy feelings –what more could a bookworm ask for?
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In the lounge, Juvia sat at the bar rubbing her temples in hopes of soothing her raging headache. To her left, a musician was weaving a grating melody from his fingertips to serenade a drunk group of tracker mages dressed like wolves. To her far right, Gray was being pawed at by a group of drooling girls. How pathetic she immediately thought with distaste. Then she recalled her own normal behaviour and dropped her head to the bar surface. Juvia's pathetic. She suddenly remembered her grammar lesson with Gray. C-Correction I-I-I'm pathetic. The drunk wolf mages began howling to the music, as if in agreement. Her frown deepened with her growing gloomy mood. She couldn't help but stare at her ice prince who was clearly not oblivious to the female attention around him. She bit back tears and returned to fiddling with her glass of crystalline water. The water maiden couldn't watch him smile and return flirtatious words with the women around him. Gray-sama never looks at Juv-me that way and he never will. Miserable looking clouds floated up from people's cups and hugged the ceiling in a splotchy mess.
Cana looked at the moping bluenette and decided to intervene. The girl was completely unaware of the suitors lining up to take a seat beside her and was likely to miss a tasty catch or two. Besides, the fog was making it hard to find the trays of liquor flitting about the room. Luckily the brunette already had a tray to herself and shimmied over to the water mage to give the doom-and-gloom girl some liquid courage. Juvia downed the cocktails without question while Cana made her stealthy escape. If Cana had planned this right, the tanned swordsman to Juvia's right should talk to her in 3, 2, 1 -success. The now less-than-sober nymph was chatting up the man that had made a move on her; her beaming smile and musical laughter did not go unnoticed by two very miffed ice mages. The two icy men snapped their gazes towards each other as if drawn together like magnets. Glares where exchanged as were silent threats. Juvia, for once, was ignorant of her crush's attention. A green haired archer joined into the conversation, closely followed by a man dressed in raven feathers. Perhaps Gray Fullbuster was too late? Or at least teach the bastard a lesson..
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Duhn duhn duuuuuun. (A very fun chapter, likely the one you've been waiting for, is coming up next. Lucy and Rogue properly interact). REVIEW pretty please : ). Like? dislike?