AN: So, as you'll find out next chapter, I didn't start writing this chapter until I'd already started the Author's Note for the next one. Is there a reason for this? Yes. I forgot about Thanksgiving, and now I need to get this out in a week. Go me. Well, I hope you like the story of our favorite psychos trying to be grateful. God help us all.
Story the Fifteenth: Friendship, Family, and Lyon's Death Wish
In hindsight, maybe inviting Merudy to Lamia Scale's Thanksgiving party had not been the best idea. Every other member of Crime Sorcière had either gone to Fairy Tail (Jellal and Erik), Saber Tooth (Sorano), an undisclosed location (Richard, probably to meet with his brother), or just stayed home (Sawyer, because he didn't really see the point, and Macbeth, because he had was asleep), and Merudy had been bored. She had considered going to Fairy Tail to see Juvia, but she could only spend so much time listening to rambles about Gray's abs before she reverted back to her old, emotionless self and started stabbing things.
Thus, out of the kindness of his heart (and said heart's appreciation for a nice view), Lyon had invited the Maguilty Sense Mage to join Lamia Scale's festivities. Sure, she was a criminal on the run from the law, but, at this point, nobody really cared about that (in fact, Jellal no longer bothered disguising himself when he went out in public, as not only were people aware of his identity at this point but he often got hellos and thanks for helping out with *insert name of Dark Guild that Crime Sorcière had probably fought off at some point*). In any case, Lyon figured it wouldn't be a huge deal.
He figured wrong.
The first thing to go wrong was that Merudy did not come alone. He had expected that, having extended the offer to bring one of her friends with her, but he had expected said friend to be Sawyer or Macbeth. He had not expected it to be Rustyrose.
"I don't see why Sorano complains about the cloak all the time," Rustyrose said, walking alongside Merudy. "It's rather comfortable, and quite stylish, if you ask me."
"Sorano's a drama queen, always has been," Merudy replied. She pushed open the door to the Lamia Scale guildhall. "Hi Lyon!" she called. "Thanks for inviting me!" Lyon, being a gentleman, nodded politely.
"Thanks for coming," he replied. "And this is…?"
"Oh, this is Rustyrose," Merudy told him. "Rusty, Lyon. Lyon, Rustyrose."
"Greetings," said Rustyrose, waving.
"We used to be in the same guild, and he's considering joining Crime Sorcière," Merudy explained.
"Wasn't your old guild Grimoire Heart?" Yuka asked. Rustyrose nodded.
"Hence why I'm now considering the 'sorry I used to be an asshole guild'," he said. Merudy rolled her eyes.
"Look, the fact that Erik calls it that doesn't mean you should too," she scolded.
"I know," Rustyrose admitted. "But it's fun to see Jellal chase Erik around yelling about false promises whenever I do."
"HI!" Toby yelled, rushing up to them and waving. He nearly hit Yuka in the face.
"Watch it!" the blue-haired wizard snapped.
"Sorry," Lyon apologized, leading Merudy and Rustyrose into the guild. "He's had a little too much eggnog." Rustyrose blinked.
"It's Thanksgiving," the technically-still-a-Dark-Mage pointed out. "Christmas is a month away." Lyon sighed.
"Yeah, well…" he hesitated. "Look, Toby's a great guy, but he's…"
"Not the sharpest knife in the drawer?" Rustyrose asked.
"A complete dumbass?" Merudy said simultaneously. Rustyrose poked her.
"We're guests, Merudy," he reminded. She stuck out her tongue. Lyon just shook his head in amusement – these were two of the most feared of all Dark Mages? Somehow the helmet he'd worn in his Cold Emperor days felt a lot less silly.
The second thing to go wrong was that, although Merudy was unaware of it, Rustyrose had misinterpreted her relationship with Lyon. The reality was that they were friends who were still getting to know each other. However, to Rusty, Lyon's invitation to the party had sounded like an invitation to a date – and he had immediately told Sorano, who had freaked out and told Macbeth and Sawyer, the latter of whom had told Richard, whose thoughts had been heard by Erik, who had promptly told Jellal. In other words, Jellal, Erik, and Sorano had excused themselves from their respective plans, sending Macbeth to Saber Tooth and Sawyer to Fairy Tail (very much against their wills), to stalk Merudy on the date that never was. Lyon pretended not to notice, but they weren't exactly subtle, especially since Erik could hear every word going through everyone's mind and had shoved his entire fist in his mouth (he nearly choked).
The third and final thing to go wrong – aside from Toby getting drunk off what Lyon was almost entirely certain was non-alcoholic eggnog – was Jura deciding that Lyon and Merudy would be a cute couple, and putting mistletoe over their heads.
"It's not even Christmas!" Lyon growled furiously.
"I've never kissed anyone before!" Merudy yelped. Everyone looked at her. "Hey, I've been on the run for seven and a half years. Gimme a break." Ooba, always a stickler for any rules that annoyed her kids, grinned maniacally.
"Christmas or no, if you don't kiss, I'll spin you!" she threatened. Lyon gulped. It was then, luckily enough, that Jellal chose to reveal himself.
"Absolutely not!" he snapped, burning the mistletoe to a crisp. "She is not kissing anyone. Ever."
"Look, Boss, just 'cause you can't admit when you like someone, it doesn't mean the rest of us have to ignore possibilities too," Erik said. At least, that was probably what he'd said – his fist had gotten stuck in his mouth.
"I'm with Jellal," Sorano snapped. "He's too old for her anyway!"
"You guys followed me?" Merudy shrieked, face burning with embarrassment.
"You didn't know?" Rustyrose asked, surprised. "I'd have told you if I'd realized."
"Why are you guys here?" Lyon asked, annoyed. Erik finally couldn't take it anymore – he yanked his fist out of his mouth and collapsed laughing. After a few minutes of the Dragon Slayer's mind-reading-induced heart attack, he finally pulled himself together enough to explain.
"Rusty Nail thought you were asking Pinky on a date," he revealed, still snickering. Sorano glowered at him.
"You thought so too!" she snapped.
"I'm not alcohol!" Rustyrose said at the same time.
"Let me get this straight," Lyon broke in. "You all thought I was asking out a girl I barely know – who just so happened to be a close friend of my previous crush – and thus decided to abandon your plans for the evening and stalk us."
"Yes." Said Jellal bluntly.
"Pretty much," Sorano agreed.
"Honestly, I just thought it'd be funny," Erik admitted. Sorano, Jellal, and Merudy gave him a Look. "Okay, fine, I was a bit worried." Sorano draped herself across his back, wrapping her arms around his chest.
"It's 'cause Erik's shy, right?" she sang. Erik struggled against her, and soon the two were rolling on the floor in a mock fight/battle to the death. Merudy sighed.
"I don't need you guys to stalk me," Merudy grumbled, rolling her eyes. "I can take care of my–" And then Sherria, who had at this pointed decided that Lyon was never going to notice her (or had had too much of the non-alcoholic eggnog), pushed Merudy into Lyon. What happened next should have been obvious to even the most dim-witted of irony fans, but I'll say it anyway: they kissed. It was about as smooth as sandpaper and as subtle as a bull in a very small china shop, but it was a kiss nonetheless. What happened after that, however, was rather unexpected.
"Hi-yah!" An old woman with her gray hair in a bun kicked the door down and started whacking Lyon with her cane. A few seconds later, a mostly naked Gray Fullbuster ran into the room, hugged the old woman, and started crying.
Crime Sorcière left quickly, and it was unanimously agreed that nothing that had happened that day would ever be spoken of again.
AN: So, that's the Thanksgiving special, and I know it was kind of rushed and I'm sorry. Hopefully, the Christmas special will be better, but I know almost nothing about Christmas, so who knows. I am thankful for you guys being so supportive and friendly. You're the best readers a girl could have, and I'll never be able to explain in words how much I love you guys. You are my precious friends, each and every one of you, and I will always treasure your feedback, positive or negative. I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving, and may *insert name of deity you worship* bless you and your family. Unless said deity is Ankhseram, in which case you should probably avoid a blessing.
P.S. Merudy would see that woman a few more times over the next year and a half, and mostly assumed it was by coincidence. She never realized who it was, but she always got a warm feeling in her chest when she saw her. After the last time she saw the old woman, she sat down and cried, somehow realizing that she would never see her again. Unbeknownst to Merudy, the old woman died on the same day Merudy's first and only child was born. She and her husband named the baby girl Ultear, and, when the girl grew up, her uncle Gray taught her Ice Devil Slayer Magic. Little Ul never knew why, but sometimes when she was in a tough situation, she could look over her shoulder and see two people standing there – a young woman with short dark purple hair and black eyes holding the hand of a young brown-eyed girl with matching hair in pigtails. Both were smiling happily, and they always gave Ul the courage to keep going, no matter the obstacles.