Oncoming Storm (Fairy Tail)

Chapter 14

A couple days later, Kayla was sitting at the bar lost in thought. She had slightly recovered from the 'Storm Bringer' job, but the thought that someone from the guild is aware of her whereabouts and most likely told the master of Death's Storm made her clench her fists and her heart start beating quickly in panic.

But... they haven't come for me and it's been a few days since I was seen. She thought, maybe they're trying to find the whereabouts of all of us?

"Fairy tail!" The master shouted, breaking Kayla out of her thoughts as she looked up to the railing along. She saw that he had an envelope in his hand a stern expression on his face and her heart started pounding when they made eye contact. Her mind was running, and she felt that whatever he was holding in his hand somehow related to her. "I have received a letter— more specifically an invite to a Guild Gala."

The guild started cheering as Kayla's fear turned into slight confusion. "The Guild Gala?" She asked, turning to Mirajane who was cleaning some glasses behind the counter. "What's that?"

"Oh, that's right, you joined Fairy Tail just recently," she placed the glass she was cleaning down, "The Guild Gala is something that was started after the Grand Magic Games, more specifically the Grand Gala. It's a ball that the guilds hold once a year as a meet up for many of the members of each different guild."

"Oh, so it's like a guild get together." Kayla said.

Mirajane nodded and looked back up at the Master, who seemed to

He cleared his throat to get the attention of the chattering guild, and once they were quiet, he started to speak again. "It will be five days from now, and I would like the entire guild to attend this year." He looked over at Laxus who was standing next to Freed and Bickslow.

Laxus scoffed and rolled his eyes, giving Kayla the feeling that Laxus wasn't the gala type— though she wasn't surprised. She personally didn't know what a Gala was like, so thinking ahead to it, she was both nervous and excited to find out what it was going to be like— luckily she only had to wait five days.

***

A day passed since Master's announcement, and Kayla had been dragged out with Evergreen to a tailor so the older mage could get her dress, which when they found the one Evergreen wanted Kayla was almost appalled at how flashy and showy it was.

"I don't see why you need me for this." Kayla said, looking from the dress to Evergreen.

"Well, I couldn't ask one of the men to tag along. They would have no idea what would suit me as the Queen of the Faires."

Kayla just rolled her eyes. "Sure."

"Oh, that does remind me though, what are you wearing to the Gala?"

"Oh, me? I have a sundress that I was planning on— what's with that look?" Kayla asked, cutting herself off when she saw the look of disbelief on Evergreen's Face.

"You can't just wear a sundress." She opened her fan and placed it in front of her face, "The Gala is a time to wear fancy dresses to woo the men and to show off your style. You're a cute young lady with stuff to show off." She motioned to Kayla's body with her fan and the blonde haired girl flushed a bright red. "I've already gotten a dress picked out for myself, so the rest of today will be spent looking for a dress for you!"

"I don't think this is really necessary." Kayla said as Evergreen grabbed her wrist and led her towards a counter. And just as Evergreen had said, the rest of the day had been spent looking for a Gala dress for Kayla, who just wanted to go back to her dorm. She wasn't one to wear dresses unless she needed to, but it seemed as if Evergreen was not going to let Kayla wear a simple sundress to the Gala. She really regretted saying anything.

"Here, try these on." Evergreen said, shoving some dresses into Kayla's arms before directing her to the changing rooms in the back of the shop they were in. "And show me each one, since I do have a good eye for fashion."

"Yes ma'am." Kayla muttered as she was moved into one of the changing rooms. She sighed and shut the curtain, looking at the first dress she was going to try on. It was a silver, strapless, knee length dress. Quickly, she changed into it and looked at herself in the mirror

"Well it dosen't look too bad." She said to herself, now she only had to show Evergreen, which meant stepping out of the changing room. Taking a deep breath, she opened the curtain, and looked at Evergreen, who was sitting on a small chair right outside where Kayla was.

"Hm. From the front it looks good on you. But do a little spin for me." Evergreen said, motioning for Kayla to show the back part of the dress.

Kayla just nodded ad started turning, until she heard a gasp from Evergreen.

"What?" Kayla asked, looking over her shoulder to see what caused Evergreen's reaction, was it her dress or— once she saw over her shoulder, her eyes widened.

The back of the dress dipped down to just below mid back, but what Evergreen saw and Kayla forgot about were scars and barely healed wounds all up and down her back. There was barely a spot where there wasn't a scar. The crack of a whip echoed in her head.

"Kayla, what—" Evergreen started, and Kayla looked up to see the horror in her eyes.

"It's nothing." Kayla said, her voice barely a whisper, turning back around so she was facing Evergreen, "Just a reminder of something that happened in the past."