CH16: Fairy Picnic

As the returning members of Fairy Tail were trying to adjust to their new lives due to the seven-year time skip, they decided to let loose for a bit. They had been training hard to get back on par with the other guilds in Fiore and needed a break. Makarov made his announcement when all were present in the guildhall.

"Ahem. As you all know, ever since we have come back from purgatory due to Fairy Sphere, seven years have gone by. Thus, we are behind in stature and in power compared to other guilds who have only become stronger in our absence. I know you all have been working tirelessly to try to recover the time we have lost and the training we have missed out on. Which is why as of now, I am declaring a mandatory vacation day."

Everyone in the guild looked puzzled.

"This is not up for discussion. This coming Friday will mark the first Fairy Tail picnic hosted by the best in our guild. There will be tons of food, games, and for even further motivation… a bikini contest!"

At this point all the men in the guild started to whoop and holler like idiots.

"The games will be hosted by Laxus. I will be the referee. There will be potato sack races, three legged races, a volleyball match, and even sparring towards the end of the day. The food will be made by our amazing chefs, Lisana and Mirajane, who will obviously have help from other talented cooks in our guild. And finally, the bikini contest will star our most attractive female wizards and will be judged by… ME!"

Everyone in the room especially the women anime sweat dropped.

"He may be our guildmaster, but he is still a perverted old man." Lucy said.

"Prepare to be defeated!" Erza told her longtime rival.

"Are you sure you want to face off against me? You're pretty anxious to lose." Mira retorted with her signature smile. "After all, I don't remember seeing you on the cover of Sorcerer Weekly."

As the cat fight broke out between them, Natsu and Zancrow made eye contact with each other.

"YOU'RE GOING DOWN!" They both shouted in unison.

"Nonsense dragon breath. It won't even be a sparring match when we face off. It will be a one-sided annihilation."

"I agree, and you will be the one to be annihilated in our face off." Natsu replied.

"Wow, what a great comeback."

They butted heads and each was consumed by their signature flames.

'This is going to be one hell of a picnic.' Makarov thought rubbing his temples.

…

Friday came and everyone in Fairy Tail was at the Magnolia mountains. Master Makarov had found an exquisite field with soft grass and a small cove with a waterfall emptying itself into the lake. Once they were all there, everyone went to work. Mira, Lisanna, and Elfman began to do kitchen duties. They set up their tent and with the help of Natsu and Zancrow they made a bonfire where they could cook multiple pots of food at the same time.

Laki and Gray helped make furniture for the picnic. Laki with her wood make magic made many wooden benches that people could sit on to eat once the food was ready while Gray made the boundaries for the games with Juvia's help.

Laxus and Erza set up all the equipment needed for the games they were going to have. They unloaded ropes, cones, finish line tape, and first aid kits that they would surely need once the sparring matches were over. Everything was falling into place smoothly.

After everyone devoured the feast that was prepared for them, Laxus and Makarov began the games. Zancrow decided to sit out the potato sack race. He thought it was the dumbest thing ever invented. You literally hop in a sack toward the finish line and look like a fool throughout the whole thing only to get a ribbon for first. He viewed his surrounding and saw that he wasn't the only one sitting this event out. Gajeel and Pantherlily were both on a bench opposite of him just watching. Gajeel often focused on Levy as she tried to keep up with the leaders who were in front. Natsu and Lucy were further ahead while first place seemed all but impossible to achieve. Jet always came in first. No one could beat him in speed related games and the one who came in second was at least a good thirty feet behind him.

Zancrow was bored. He was seriously considering sneaking away and returning when the sparring matches began. Hell, he even considered coming back for the bikini contest since there were so many good-looking babes in his guild. But what was the point. Mira was already hitched to Laxus. Erza would kill him on the spot if she caught him looking at her in a bikini. Levy was flat chested. Lucy was pretty hot but her voice was so annoying. Both her and Cana were pretty much half naked on a daily basis anyway. Lisanna was a little young but he could work with it due to her developed features. Mira would kill him for sure if she knew what he was thinking at that point in time.

He wasn't interested at all in the picnic. He could be out making money or picking a fight with some thugs. But instead he is here at this guild social event. The potato sack races ended with Jet having several first place ribbons. Go figure. Zancrow stood up to take his leave as they started to set up for the three legged races.

"Going somewhere?"

Zancrow spun around at the sound of Erza's voice. After all he has been through with her, she terrified him. Not because of her power, but because of how quick her mood swings were. She could be perfectly happy one second, and beat the shit out of you the next for no reason whatsoever. 'How do Natsu and Gray put up with her?' He thought.

"Yea, away from here. I have no interest in this picnic. Not when I could be out working a job or something."

"So you aren't going to partake in this race?"

"No way woman. I've got better things to do."

"Oh, that's too bad. This is Natsu's favorite game." Erza smirked.

Zancrow stopped in his tracks. Natsu. How he hated that name. The God Slayer was looking forward to beating the hell out of him during the sparring matches. But any chance to humiliate the pink haired fool would be too good to pass up.

"Alright. You got my attention. Start talking."

"Well, you will need a partner for the race If you wish to play. Then the goal is to get to the finish line in rhythm to your partners pace so that you don't trip, fall, make a fool out of yourself, and come in dead last. Erza saw Zancrow's confused expression. "Is any of this sinking in?" She asked annoyed.

"Umm, yea. I just never played this game before."

For once Zancrow seemed sincere and unsure of himself. Being a part of Grimoire Heart, it is safe to assume that master Hades never made time for picnics, much less games. All Zancrow knew then was the power of destruction.

"Oh." Erza said sheepishly. Immediately her composure came back and she grabbed the God Slayer's hand and started dragging him toward the starting line.

"What do you think you are doing?" Zancrow yelled.

"I want to trash Mira in this race, and you want to stomp Natsu. The way I see it, we have the same goal."

"Our goals could not be more different actually. You just said you wanted Mira and I want…"

"The point is, if we team up, we will take both of them down at the same time. We both win."

"What kind of logic is…"

"Tie me up!"

"WHAT?"

"I mean tie our legs together and get ready to win. Because if I lose to Mira, you will pay dearly."

Zancrow's fantasy of Erza bonded by rope immediately faded and was replaced by the horrific image of her choking him with the apparatus should they lose. But Zancrow didn't plan on losing. In fact, he was going to smoke everyone especially Natsu. He finished tying his and Erza's legs and they positioned themselves at the starting line. Erza made raspberries at Mira who was attached to Laxus while Natsu began to envelop himself in his flames much to Lucy's dismay. This time Gajeel was participating as well and he tried to keep his balance while partnered with Levy. As the rest of the teams assembled at the starting line, Makarov got everyone's attention.

He then announced the rules. "This game is straightforward. You all are wizards so magic is allowed during this race. Flying however is not allowed. Get to the finish line first with your partner and you win. Should you become detached from your partner during the race, you will be disqualified. Aside from that, take your marks. Get set. Go!"

Everyone began to sprint toward the finish line. Jet and Droy took perhaps two steps before they tripped and both fell face first to the ground. Mira and Laxus were ahead of Zancrow and Erza but not by much. But in the very front was Natsu who was sprinting as fast as he could…trailing Lucy behind him as her upper body was being dragged on the ground.

"He either has no clue what he is doing, or he knows exactly what he is doing." Zancrow stated.

"This is how he planned on winning I suppose. Guess he forgot he had a partner." Erza remarked.

"I refuse to lose to him regardless. What about you?"

"As long as we trash Mira, I don't care what place we finish as."

"Nice to know you always aim high." He sarcastically answered anime sweat dropping. Zancrow then twisted Erza into an uncomfortable yet doable position where he could carry her upper body in his arms whilst her leg remained attached to his so as not to be disqualified. He then began to run faster. He passed up Mira and Laxus who were both puzzled at what they were doing.

"Hey! Isn't that cheating?" Laxus asked.

"Not if we aren't separated." Zancrow remarked as Erza made a face at Mira. Distracted, the most powerful couple in all of Fiore tripped. Laxus faceplanted into the dirt whilst Mira somehow landed on his back much to his dismay. Erza however was laughing her butt off as she stared at her rival on the dirt defeated.

"You do realize we haven't won yet right?"

"I am satisfied as we are now. My main goal was to trash Mira."

"Well I'm going for first and I just got a wicked idea. Hold on tight."

Erza wrapped her arms around the God Slayer's neck and braced herself for what was to come.

"Flame God, Boosters!"

Zancrow's feet began to burn with black flames as his steps became even faster. He then shifted his weight slightly forward and they shot off like a rocked catching up to Natsu and Lucy in record time. Natsu was stunned as they sped by them making him angry. As the unlikely couple passed them by Zancrow made a sneer at the Dragon Slayer pissing him off.

"Fire Dragon Boosters!"

Natsu's feet were also consumed in flames and he propelled himself off the ground making headway towards his rival. The finish line could not have come sooner, but the contestants seemed to have crossed the finish line at the same time. When the dust settled Natsu declared his victory.

"I won! In your face."

Zancrow couldn't help but laugh his ass off. "You, win? You are so clueless sometimes dragon breath. Look where your partner is…"

"NATSU!"

Natsu froze in fear as he realized that Lucy was not attached to him anymore. He looked behind him to see a battered, grass stained, dirt infested Lucy glaring daggers at him well behind the finish line. As Lucy began to beat the shit out of Natsu for leaving her behind, Zancrow, Erza, and the rest of the guild couldn't help but laugh.

"Since Natsu was disqualified due to leaving his partner and flying, looks like you've won." Erza said.

"I guess technically…we won. This game was actually kinda fun. I mean, I did have an OK partner."

Erza looked at the God Slayer and was taken aback by the compliment. She smirked and began to walk away. Zancrow stood there and focused on the red-haired wizard.

'She's actually not that bad concidering…'

"Well? Aren't you coming?"

Zancrow looked puzzled. "Coming…"

"The bikini contest starts in a bit and I need your opinion on the garments I am going to compete in."

After standing still for half a minute like a dumbass, Zancrow smirked and followed suit. After all, who was he to miss a bikini contest?