Ten Days Until Christmas [Gratsu]

One day left

Everyone was stressing out at the guild. Some good wasn't ready, a candle was out of place, it was like they came up with problems just to have them.

Gray was standing in the middle of it and to him it didn't look so bad. So what if a little glitter was missing? Christmas would come anyway.

Then someone screamed. It sounded like they were being attacked, and not as a joke. A legit attack.

Everyone turned to the source of the sound. It was Lisanna, who was now being hugged by Natsu, sobbing.

Mira ran to her. "What's wrong?" she asked her little sister.

In between sobs, Lisanna answered. "The star... for the top of the Christmas tree- it's gone!"

Gray sighed. Had she really screamed that loud just because of a star? A replaceable star?

And then all hell broke lose.

Gray found an empty table and sat down on one of the chairs. Around him people were freaking out. He could hear distressed where can it bes and it's not a real Christmas without the stars but he didn't understand the problem.

Mira was running around the guild hall, checking every nook and cranny for the tree topper. She was soon joined by Lisanna in her search.

When the Strauss sisters came to Gray's table and asked if he had seen the star, he raised an eyebrow at them.

"I haven't seen it, not since last year," he said. "But can't you just get a new one?"

Lisanna let out a loud gasp and Mira looked at him like he was completely mental.

"That star is tradition!" Lisanna said, upset. "It's been with the family for so long, it was one of the only things we bother keeping when we fled out home!"

Gray wasn't having it. "What does it matter? I get that family and traditions is important, and I get that we need a star, but shouldn't the star represent the Fairy Tail bond, not the rich, old ways of the Strauss family?"

The sisters looked at each other, then at Gray, and walked away. Gray sighed.

When after half an hour, they hadn't managed to find the star and were running around the guild like mad men, there was no trace of Christmas spirit left. Gray stood up on the table he'd been sitting at.

"Enough!" he shouted as loudly as he could, getting everyone's attention. "You want a star, right, is this good enough?" He didn't bother showing off, he just got into fighting stance and shot some ice towards the Christmas tree top, creating a copy of the star they usually had.

Gasps could be heard, but immediately people started protesting. Especially Mira, Lisanna and Elfman were upset about it. But then an unexpected voice was heard.

"Jeez, I think it's beautiful, just as good as the old one." Natsu's voice was the thing that's beautiful, Gray thought, but he was thankful for the help the flame brain offered.

Lisanna, who'd been taking comfort in Natsu's arms struggled her way out. "You're supposed to be on my side, Natsu."

"Hey Lis, take a look at it. Look at the way it reflects the light. Accept the change or you won't get anywhere in life."

Now Lucy spoke up, too. "Gray just saved Christmas by giving us a star, why are we mad?"

Mira smiled as she realised the truth in those words. "It's almost Christmas. Lisanna, let's appreciate our friends. I'm sure the star will show up, but it won't kill Christmas if we don't find it right now."

Lisanna wiped her eyes with her sleeves. "It's just that... I don't like to mess with traditions. But thanks Gray, the star is really pretty.

Gray wasn't sure how to take in the attention he was getting, but he felt kinda proud he had "saved" Christmas.

Tomorrow.