The Skull Hidden in the Sand

Festivities

A/N: random sketches. (Clockwise from left) Aras in rain gear, chibi Aras in the rain, original design for Almaria's child form, Min's hammer, and magic circle design for the puppet darts.

"Lu-chan, sit down. You're making me nervous!"

"I can't help it!" Lucy retorted, pacing back and forth in the girl's room. "Not only are we suddenly going to a party, but we don't even have our outfits and it's getting close to sunset and ohgodwhatifthoseidiotsdestroysome-!!"

"Lucy." Erza said firmly, grabbing the blond by the shoulder. "It's going to be fine. Relax."

"Okay. Okay. Relaxing. I'm relaxing." Lucy said, trying to breathe slowly and evenly.

"Juvia didn't think Love Rival was the type to get pre-party jitters." Juvia spoke up.

"NOT FOR PARTIES I KNOW ABOUT!!"

"Lucy..."

"I'm calm. Caaaaalm and relaxed..."

"We throw parties all the time, though." Lisanna said, poking her head through the adjoining door.

"Not...parties like this." There was a knock at the door.

"Coming!" Levy trotted over.

"Hello~!" Mira said perkily. "Here are your dresses~!" She and Almaria, who was behind her, carried in several bags. "One for Levy, one for Erza, one for...oh, that's mine, one for Juvia, one for Wendy, one for Lisanna, and one for Lucy~!"

"Wow Mira! These are gorgeous!"

"How did you get our exact measurements?" Erza said in wonder, stroking the fabric.

Almaria smirked and shifted into almost an exact copy of the scarlet-haired Mage. "Duh."

"Juvia thought your impressions weren't exact."

"They're not. But I can choose which aspect is wrong. I was choosing eyes this whole time to get your attention."

"You can chat later." Mira said. "Right now you need to get dressed."

"What about the boys?" Wendy asked. "And the exceeds?"

Almaria waved a hand. "Don't worry, they're covered."

The door across the hall opened. "Look, either you get dressed now or Mira-san and I will strip and dress you ourselves!" Aras retorted, shutting the door on the boys' protests.

"Something wrong?" Mira asked.

"Nothing out of the ordinary. I think the ties are in one of your bags."

"Oh, give me just a moment.......Here you are~!"

"Thank you." Aras walked back across the hall and opened the boys' door.

"FOR MAVIS SAKE, AT LEAST KNOCK FIRST!"

"You act like I've never seen men in their underwear before!" Aras retorted, closing the door behind her.

*************

"You all look gorgeous~!" Mira squealed.

"Not to shabby yourself." Erza responded.

Mira's dress was a deep black, highlighted in a few places by silver, making her white hair stand out. Erza was dressed in a gown of a deep burgundy with golden streaks and designs. Lucy's gown gradated from a magenta color to a pink so pale it was almost white. Juvia was very happy with her dress, as it was the deep blue of the sea. She was especially fond of the belt, which had stylized white waves on it. Wendy's dress was of the purest white with barely visible silver designs along the back and bottom. It was the general opinion that she looked like a little angel. Lisanna was in a flowy gown of pale lavender and Levy's dress was a bright yellow, with cleverly placed ruffles to disguise her...less endowed chest.