The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Chapter 32: It's Just Five Minutes

The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic):
Chapter 31: It's Just Five Minutes

Third Person POV—

In the sunlit section of the forest, the golden rays created an almost magical aura around the contestants as they dived into the Pumpkin Puzzle Pit. The ground was littered with hay and weeds, giving off a rustic charm as it cushioned the fall of the participants. Surrounded by a sea of orange, the contestants, including Elaine, Erza, Mira, Lucy, and Juvia, and Gray were already deep into the challenge, each grappling with a pumpkin as unique as the next.

Master Makarov, perched near the edge of the pit, glanced over the bustling scene with a mixture of amusement and impatience. He raised his voice, breaking through the laughter and murmurs, "I've already told you kids, no Magic!" His tone was laced with annoyance as he repeated the rules. "And remember, these pumpkins are tricky! They'll try to confuse you with their jokes and complaints!"

The pit was alive with activity; Erza was sternly instructing her pumpkin to behave as it kept trying to roll away, while Mira was negotiating with a pumpkin that seemed intent on telling her the worst possible advice. Lucy giggled at a joke her pumpkin made, only to frown moments later when it sneakily tried to mislead her with a riddle that made no sense.

Gray, dealing with a particularly sullen pumpkin, Juvia pleading with hers to stop making everything about water. Elaine, on the other hand, was laughingly arguing with her pumpkin, which seemed more interested in gossiping about the other contestants than helping her solve the riddle.

Master Makarov clapped his hands, drawing attention once again. "The first to solve their pumpkin's riddle will have a significant advantage later in the Trial, so hurry up!" he announced, chuckling as he watched the frantic efforts.

Lucy groaned, glancing around at her friends, clearly exasperated. "Any luck with your pumpkins, guys?" she whined, running her hands through her hair in frustration. Her pumpkin, which had an oddly squeaky voice, piped up immediately.

"Luck? Oh, sweetie, luck isn't going to help you! Maybe if you asked me nicely, I'd give you a hint...or maybe not!" it said, giggling in a high-pitched, mischievous tone.

Everyone around them burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of Lucy's pumpkin, while Lucy crossed her arms and pouted, looking like she was two seconds away from flinging her pumpkin across the pit.

Elaine, still tipsy and feeling light-hearted from the earlier drinks, giggled as her own pumpkin leaned in conspiratorially. "Psst," it whispered, its voice low and gossipy, "you see your friends? They're all stuck just like you. But between you and me, you might want to keep an eye on that one in black."

Elaine couldn't help but giggle, thankful her pumpkin was at least honest. It was kind of fun talking to it, almost like it was her own snarky companion. Still riding the buzz, she joked, "Hey, you think you could just give me the answer to this riddle?"

Her pumpkin shook its head, its voice turning serious for the first time. "Nuh-uh. This one is actually important for you to solve."

Elaine blinked, surprised by the shift in tone. She looked down at the riddle etched into the pumpkin:

"I sparkle in the darkness, yet hide in plain sight,
A keeper of secrets, reflecting the light.
In countless forms, I change and shift,
But within me, a secret you'll find, swift.
Not all can see my hidden glow,
But those who seek, the truth will know.
What am I?"

It felt oddly personal, but she couldn't quite piece it together yet.

Meanwhile, Erza's pumpkin had no such depth. It grumbled loudly, "That costume of yours is a bit... much, don't you think? What are you, trying to be a lioness or a circus act?"