The Fairy Tail guild hall was, as usual, a mass of chaos. Limbs and magic and furniture were flying everywhere as the guild members duelled it out. There was only one corner that remained untouched by the chaos, and that was where Phaya and Reedus were sat. Every single guild member knew better than to get Phaya involved in a fight. One frightened twitch out of her would bring the wrath of Setari, her older sister, down on whoever caused the tiny tremor of fear.
So Phaya remained undisturbed by the fighting all around her as she focused on drawing, the pencil flying across the paper as she placed the image in her mind onto the paper. She didn’t even notice that Mirajane was struggling through the brawl towards her until the white-haired mage was leaning over her shoulder. “What are you drawing, Phaya-chan?” She asked lightly.
Phaya looked up and smiled, flipping the sketch book so that the front was showing, she showed Mirajane the title she’d given this set of pictures. “‘Fairy Tail’s Fairytales’?” Mirajane read curiously. “Oh! That is such an excellent idea, Phaya!” She enthused, clapping her hands. “We should do that for the next Harvest Festival!”
Eyes wide, Phaya blushed. She smiled shyly and hunched her shoulders. “So, what sort of Fairytales did you have in mind, Phaya-chan?” Mirajane asked, leaning down again to look at the sketch book.
Phaya flipped to the first page, where a beautiful picture of Levi and Gajeel was drawn, the two of them standing at the top of a medieval turret at night. Gajeel was in his fighting form, with Iron Dragon scales encasing his body, and his hands in the forms of Iron clubs. His lips were drawn back in a snarl, but there was just the hint of tears in his eyes. Levi was stood close to him, tentatively reaching up towards him, a scared, but enraptured expression on her face; a book clutched close to her chest in her other hand. Look close, Mirajane could see, in the smallest writing: ‘The Cursed Prince’
Mirajane smiled. “Beauty and the Beast?” She asked, and Phaya nodded. “That’s very fitting.” She agreed, admiring the picture some more. Phaya smiled and nodded, waiting a moment longer before flipping to the next page.
On this page was a picture of Bisca and Alzack stood inside a large oriental style hall. Bisca, dressed in a simple Chinese style kimono, held a sword in one hand and a fan in the other, standing in a fighting stance, a smirk visible on her features. Her hair was done up in a bun, and there was a small red gremlin on her shoulder. Stood behind her, with his back to hers was Alzack, dressed in traditional Chinese armour, also holding a sword in one hand.
Mirajane laughed lightly. “Mulan?” She questioned, and Phaya, biting back a silent giggle, nodded. “Nice pun.” Mirajane complimented, hiding her laughter behind her hand. “What next?” She asked enthusiastically.
Phaya obediently flipped the page, this time showing Juvia and Grey. Grey was kneeling at the top of a cliff, reaching down to the sea below, where Juvia was sat on a rock, desperately reaching skywards. Instead of legs, Phaya had drawn Juvia with a long, beautiful white fish tail, and the only thing keeping her decent was a wrap of large, leafy seaweed. Strings of glittering pearls decorated her arms and neck, and a tattered piece of white gauze was wrapped around her tail. Grey himself was, typically, shirtless, wearing only a pair of expensive looking pants and black boots, a blue-white ice sword strapped to his belt.
Mirajane giggled again. “The Little Mermaid.” She stated, rather than asked. “That’s kind of obvious, but so cute!” She announced, cooing over the picture. “We just have to do this for the next Harvest Festival. I really want to see Juvia dressed up like that.” Mirajane announced, determination clear on her face. Phaya blushed, shrugging her shoulders slightly, and gazed at the picture in thought. “Are there any more?” Mirajane asked hopefully.
Phaya smiled and nodded, flipping once again to the next page. This one was far more depressing than the others. It showed Erza, locked in a rusted, old, crumbling cell. Kneeling on the floor, her eyes were wide with tears flowing out of only one eye. She was wearing her Heaven’s Wheel armour, but it was broken and tattered and dirty. The wings were all but gone, and the skirt was half the length it should have been, torn and ragged around the hem. However, the cell door was being held open, and Jellal was stood there, a soft smile on his face, tears in his eyes, his hand outstretched. Erza’s own hand was lifted, almost tentatively, as if she wasn’t sure whether to accept the hand Jellal was offering.
“Oh, my…” Mirajane breathed. “What Fairytale is that?” She asked, her eyes wide, a hand over her mouth. Phaya grabbed a light pen off the table in front of her, and wrote in mid air ‘Cinderella’. Mirajane looked back at the picture, and after a moment, she smiled. “Yes, I can see that now.” She agreed. “I hope the next one’s a little happier than that?” She asked hopefully, sniffing back tears of her own.
Phaya giggled silently and nodded. She turned the page and Mirajane laughed too. Mirajane had got her wish, for this picture depicted Happy and Charle. Charle was sleeping peacefully in a beautiful and elaborate cat basket that actually looked more like a royal bed. There was a small smile on her face in her sleep, and Happy was stood at her bedside, one paw placed on hers, leaning over slightly, his nose just barely an inch from hers.
“Sleeping Beauty, ne?” Mirajane asked, laughing quietly to herself. Phaya nodded, smiling an impish little smile. “Charle wouldn’t be happy seeing that.” Mirajane said, and both she and Phaya giggled again.
Without having to be asked, Phaya flipped to the next picture. This picture was set in a forest clearing, with Aries, clad not in her usual outfit, but in a long, slightly puffy pink dress, with thick white fur trims about the sleeves and neck. She was lying on the forest floor, her skin deathly pale, her eyes closed. There was the faintest expression of pain on her face. Her head was in Loke’s lap and he was holding her shoulders, her head pressed to his chest, clearly distressed. A single tear was falling from his eye towards Aries’ face. In Aries’ limp hand was a blood red apple, with a single bite taken from it. Hidden behind a tree in the background was Karen Lilica, her one visible eye glowing red from within the shadow cast by her hair and a self-satisfied smirk on her face.
Mirajane smiled softly. “Oh, that’s beautiful.” She murmured. “Kinda of sad, too.” She added. Phaya nodded, then, taking up her light pen again, she wrote ‘But we know they get their Happily Ever After.’ Mirajane smiled and nodded. “How many more have you done?” She asked. Phaya held up two fingers, then wrote ‘But the last one isn’t quite finished yet…’
Phaya flipped the page, and showed Mirajane the next picture. It showed Natsu and Lucy, sat together on a beautifully depicted Magic Carpet, sailing through the nights sky over a wide desert. Lucy was dressed in an elegant mint green Arabic style top and skirt along with a large amount of expensive golden jewellery. She was smiling indulgently, a soft laugh etched into her features as she rubbed Natsu’s back, her other hand resting lightly on his forearm. Natsu was, of course, looking ill and leaning over the side of the carpet. He was dressed in his usual attire, Igneel’s scarf wrapped safely around his neck.
Mirajane laughed. “What’s that one?” She asked curiously. ‘Aladdin’ Phaya wrote, and after a moment, comprehension lit up Mirajane’s face. “From A Hundred and One Arabian Nights?” She asked, and Phaya nodded. “Oh, that’s clever! Lucy’s a princess who ran away and got swept off her feet – literally – by a rough and uncouth thief, or in this case a destroyer-of-public-property!” Mirajane announced, and Phaya nodded, giggling silently into her hand. “Can I see the last one, please?” Mirajane asked. Phaya hesitated, blushing, then she shook her head violently “Why not?” Mirajane pouted. ‘Not finished’ Phaya wrote in the air. “That’s not all though, is it?” Mirajane probed. Phaya hunched her shoulders, and after another moment of Mirajane’s softly inquisitive stare, she caved and showed Mirajane the sketch.
It hadn’t been coloured yet, but it showed Macao, looking quite battered, sat beneath a large pine tree. He was dressed in his usual clothes, but in the picture he also had a large, old fashioned shot gun strapped to his back. Kneeling between his legs was Cana, dressed in her usual bra-top, but instead of trousers she wore a knee-length skirt that had tassels decorating it in a spiral around it, while her ‘top’ also had tassels along the bottom. Her hair was being blown to cover the lower half of her face, as one hand rested on Macao’s cheek.
Mirajane stared at the sketch for a full minute, before a devious smile spread across her face. “That’s Pocahontas, right?” She checked, and Phaya nodded. “You, Phaya, are a genius.” Mirajane announced. Phaya blinked at her, confused. “They make such a cute couple!” She exclaimed with a loud squeal.
Cana looked over, her attention caught by Mirajane’s squeal. “Who does?” She asked, trying to catch a glimpse of Phaya’s sketch. Phaya hurriedly shut the book with a snap and hid it under the table, blushing furiously. Cana narrowed her eyes. “You drew me, didn’t you?” She asked. Phaya didn’t answer, but the blush on her cheeks was answer enough. “Who did you draw me with?” Cana asked suspiciously.
Phaya shook her head violently, and Mirajane placed her hands on Phaya’s shoulders. “Now, now, Cana-chan. It’s not finished yet, and besides, knowing would spoil the romance!”
Cana pouted. “I just wanna know who it is. That wouldn’t spoil the romance… would it?” She asked, giving Mirajane a look that clearly said ‘and if you say yes, I demand an explanation!’
Mirajane just smiled in her classic ditzy fashion and said “Who knows?” before wandering off back to the bar to serve drinks now that the usual brawl seemed to be over. Phaya gave Cana an apologetic glance then scurried off after Mirajane. Cana sighed and took a swig from the barrel of alcohol before her, pouting sullenly.
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