FAIRY TAIL CHRISTMAS WEEK ~ DAY TWO

Shopping for presents can either be really easy, or really hard. In my case this year I am having one heck of a time trying to find something for my godson. Even his mom can't think of anything since he plays with everything his brothers already have received…the search is such a pain in the neck.

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String of streetlights, even stop lights

Blink a bright red and green

As the shoppers rush home

With their treasures

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SHOPPING/PRESENTS

Title: The Search for the Ideal Gift

How the fire dragon slayer found himself walking through store after store was beyond him, especially since he hated shopping for gifts. A few days earlier he had set off with Happy on a mission for just the two of them. Now, with the mission complete, he did not want to head back to Magnolia and the guildhall just yet. Christmas was fast approaching and he realized he had yet to buy any presents for anyone, especially his best friend and celestial mage, Lucy Heartfilia. But what should, or could, he buy her that she would like?

Now, Natsu knew her well enough to know her likes and dislikes, and getting her just any old thing would not do now that he was told the truth about Aquarius. Although the zodiac spirit always seemed to have something against Lucy, Natsu knew it was similar to losing a friend to death, and that he couldn't bare.

So, with payment in hand, Happy keeping him company as he snacked on a grilled fish, Natsu Dragneel was walking around the capital city of Crocus in the kingdom of Fiore in small shops looking for the perfect gift for Lucy.

"Can I help you find something, young man?" The sixty-year-old store clerk inquired.

"Uh, not right now, sir. I am just looking. Thank you though." Natsu answered startled, and slightly nervous.

Natsu continued to look through the store, which had plenty of old antiques and collector's items, but nothing jumped out at him. He couldn't figure out for the life of him how Lucy always managed to find the perfect gifts for him every year. He wondered if she had ever had such a hard time, and to say he was getting frustrated was an understatement.

"Do you have any ideas Happy? For a present for Lucy?" He asked his blue flying feline.

"Fish!"

Natsu rolled his eyes at the suggestion. Granted, a nice meal might make up for all of the times he crashed at her place completely uninvited, it didn't sound like an ideal Christmas present.

"Come on Happy! Let's hit the next store."

"Aye!"

Natsu and Happy made their way out of the store and started to walk to the neighboring store. Natsu had to abruptly stop when he almost walked into two palace guards.

"Natsu Dragneel?"

"Yes?" He answered wide-eyed as he swallowed hard. Normally he was carefree, but for some reason he was beyond nervous.

"Princess Hisui would like an audience with you in this café." The guard continued as he motioned towards the café that they were standing in front of.

Natsu looked inside and saw the princess sitting at a table with four other guards surrounding her. He headed inside and sat down with the green haired and green-eyed princess.

"Natsu! What a pleasure! It's been a while." Princess Hisui greeted.

"Yes, it has. What did you want to speak with me about?" He asked confused.

"Right down to it, then?" She rhetorically asked. "Well, I know you and Happy completed the mission around here that you answered. So, now you're just hanging around?" She asked then took a sip of her tea.

"Well, I was trying to do some shopping for everyone that I have left. You know, for Christmas?"

"And?" She asked waiting for a continuation. Receiving none, she realized what the problem was. "You look like you've gotten stuck."

"He can't think of something for Lucy." Happy responded. "Cause he loooves her." He added receiving a growl from the fire dragon slayer.

Princess Hisui let out a small giggle as she covered her mouth.

"Well, what about finding her a key? There are others ones besides the zodiac keys, you know."

"Yeah, but –" Natsu started and then stopped himself. It wasn't his place to even mention the fact that Lucy sacrificed Aquarius to summon the Celestial Spirit King. "Would that be a good present for her? Another key?"

"You know as well as I do that since she's a celestial mage, a key would be perfect for her."

"I thought all of the keys were done."

"Well, not quite. I know Lucy has Horologium and Lyra, and a few others. There are still quite a few out there that are stronger. If you know anything about constellations, you might be able to think of a few." She hinted with a wink.

"And do you know where I might find another celestial key?"

Princess Hisui smiled and then proceeded to tell him of a vendor in a neighboring town that specializes in rarities such as keys for celestial mages.

"I was going to head there tomorrow to look at her new merchandise, but if you beat me there, I won't mind. Lucy is a much better mage than I am." Princess Hisui stated as she stood up.

A few moments later, she was out the door with the guards accompanying her, leaving Natsu and Happy alone to ponder the idea.

"What do you say, Happy? Shall we head to the town and the vendor?"

"Aye!"

Natsu showed his classic toothy grin and got up out of the chair. He and Happy then made their way out of Crocus to the neighboring town, following the princess's directions, and found the store.

"Damn! We missed it by ten minutes. It's closed." Natsu stated. "Let's see if there's a room available at the inn that we passed back there. We can stop here in the morning and then head home."

Natsu and Happy made their way to the inn and were able to get a room for the night. Natsu plopped on the bed, flat on his back, and gazed up at the ceiling thinking of Lucy and the present he wanted to get her. Happy was content sleeping in a ball on the foot of the bed.

In the morning, Natsu awoke refreshed and energized. He freshened up and then woke up Happy. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, he and Happy made their way to the store, which was to open in fifteen minutes.

"Let's wait here Happy." He stated to the blue Exceed who was gazing into the window.

The storeowner eventually arrived and was genuinely surprised to find Natsu waiting by the store. As she took out her keys, she cleared her throat to get his attention.

"Hello young man. Can I help you?" She inquired not sure if he was there looking for a job or hoping she would already be open.

Natsu stood up, brushed himself off and then smiled.

"I sure hope so. I was told by…a mutual friend to come here." He answered trying to find the right word to describe Princess Hisui while a bunch of people walked passed.

She smiled and then opened the door and let herself in.

"Give me a few minutes to turn on all of the lights and stuff, and I will officially open the store up. Once I have done that, I can help you."

"Sure thing!" Natsu replied as Happy continued to look through the glass.

Ten minutes later, the door was opened and he walked in.

"Now, who is this mutual friend who sent you here?"

"Oh, right, it's actually Princess Hisui." Natsu answered half embarrassed. "She said you specialized in celestial spirit keys."

The woman stood there stunned. She bit her lip out of a nervous habit but shook off the nervous feelings.

"She's right. I do. I tend to have a few of them from time to time." She started. "Are you a celestial mage yourself?" She questioned.

"Uh, no, I am a fire dragon slayer. We, Happy and I," Natsu started pointed to Happy who was flying around looking at everything inside. "We have a friend who is a celestial mage. She has a small collection." He added lying.

"Oh, I see. And you were hoping to get her one as a present?"

"Aye!" Happy answered for Natsu.

The woman smiled slyly as she stepped behind the counter. She crouched down with her back turned to Natsu and Happy for a few moments before placing a wood, what looked like mahogany, box on the counter and unhitched the lock.

"I just so happen to be able to help you there." She said as she opened it revealing five keys and widening her grin.

Natsu and Happy went bug-eyed, kind of like what happens when Erza sees strawberry shortcake. Natsu and Happy turned to each other and smiled.

"These don't come cheap, I hope you are aware."

"We know." Natsu replied. "And we are perfectly capable to pay for one, unless you are selling them as a set?"

"I could, but I'd rather sell them individually."

Natsu showed the woman his toothy grin and then started to pull out his wallet that contained his money. After the two discussed price, he paid and she wrapped the key he chose for Lucy up nicely. He finished his purchase, put it in his bag and he and Happy made their long trek back to Magnolia.

Natsu, even if shopping was not his favorite thing to do, was sure his present for his best friend would be greatly appreciated.

Or so he hoped.

A/N: I can't help at chuckle at this. What the heck am I doing to myself with writing? But at least I can say I wrote this when I first heard about the whole "week" and haven't really edited it since I wrote it over a month ago...

Thanks to PrincessMophia for following and favoriting. I also had 35 views for Day One/Chapter One, so thanks for that too.