until i reach your star | natsu x reader

Chapter 39: 24 Hour Endurance Road Race

a/n: can i just say my heart melts for Happy on this episode.

Everyone was gathered at the park. It was the annual Fairy Tail 24 Hour Road Race. One of my favorite events ever. "Just know you guys stand no chance." I say to Natsu and Gray who were beside me. They glare at me. I had never won. Actually, every year I come in second. That's worse than last. Why? Because, it sucks knowing that if you pushed yourself a little more, maybe you could've won.

"There he is! This race's undefeated title holder: Jet!" Jason squeals. "Rumor has it he does this to compensate for being lackluster during quests!" After Jason says that I break out into laughter.

"Oh you think that's funny, number 2?" Jet taunts. I shut up and pout.

"Looks like Jet's gonna have another easy win this year." I hear Gray say from beside me. "We'll see about that! That title is mine!" Natsu states.

"People who talk like that never win." Gajeel buts in.

"I got myself a super secret weapon." Natsu smirks.

"Secret weapon, huh? You're such a kid." Gray chuckles. The three growl at each other. They stop when Master starts speaking. "Wizards are lost without great intelligence and physical endurance! I ask you to pit all that power of yours against others' today!"

"Who needs intelligence?" I hear Elfman says.

"Yeah, physical strength is all that counts here..." Gray agrees.

"The rules are simple. You'll start here and race along a predetermined course toward Mt. Ivor! This year, I've left wyvern scales on the summit of the mountain. You're to take these scales and bring them back here within 24 hours! Forfeiting's not an option! For Fairy Tail wizards always go that extra mile for the benefit of future work! And, at the request of many wizards, I've instituted a new regulation: flying magic is forbidden! You're free to use all other types of magic! As always, whoever comes in last... will have a horrific punishment game in store for them!"

I shudder at the thought of last year's punishment game. "Only one person does the punishment game, right? So don't come last." Gajeel says.

"That's very logical thinking... if not overly negative. If you're going to compete, compete to win." I hear Erza say to him from behind me.

We get to the starting line as it's about to start.

"Ready... Bang!" Jet takes off and his incredible speeds send many flying in dusts. I manage to use my magic to protect myself and I take on after him.

"Jet takes on overwhelming lead from the very start again this year- wait! It looks Y/n is not too far off behind!"

"I'm not losing!" I tell him as I use my magic to make myself a lot faster.

"Jet and Y/n are in the lead all by themselves! Behind them is Natsu! The Fire Dragon Iron Fist Booster was one cooooool idea! Behind them, Erza, Gajeel, and many more locking in a free-for-all! Which one of them will break out of the pack?! Now let's hear some commentary from Ms. Mirajane!"

"Jet is.... so fat he's not showing up on here."

As I'm running, Natsu passes me by due to his fire dragon boost or whatever. "No way!" I say. I extend my hands and a rope of light appears. I swing and it wraps around his feet which causes him to fall over. "Nothing personal! I just don't want 2nd again!" I tell him before running faster.

"There's movement on the summit of Mt. Ivor! It's Jet! The race odds sheet was right! Jet's the first to reach the summit! He grabs a scale! Now you just come back!"

I grab a scale and quickly run back. As I'm running back down, I look up and see someone flying. I scream when I realize they're about to crash on me.

"Get off!" I scream.

"That lousy Gajeel...!" The one on top of me, Natsu, says.

"I said get off!" I scream louder and throw him off before continuing to run. It's already nighttime. I could probably use this to my advantage. I cast a spell and huge stars fall from the sky and crash onto the ground behind me to block paths for the other contestants. I look ahead and I don't see Jet at all. I feel so slow.

I ran through the night, with the mentality that I was already 2nd and Jet had already crossed the line. I didn't slow down however since Gajeel, Gray, Erza, and Natsu were neck and neck to me.

I finally spot Magnolia from distant. I turn around when I hear something. "Is that Jet?!" I say and the others turn around. I was first! I was in the lead! He was catching up pretty quickly. I look behind and see Erza in a bunny costume. "Out of the way!" Jet screams at all of us and manages to catch up. And now we were all neck and neck. There was no lead.

"Now in Magnolia, Jet finally catches up with the others! These six are now in the running to win the title!"

Natsu falls a tad behind once his fist run out of fuel. He pushes himself though and was again tied with all of us. "The title is mine!" I yell as the finish line is so close. With my magic, I make the sky go pitch black. I hear some crashing from behind me. When I hear the crash and feel like I crossed the finish line, I turn the sky back to normal.

You can imagine my surprise when I see I didn't reach the finish line and someone beat me to it. I was step off and the others were looking at me in confusion as to why I stopped running. My jaw drops and I drag my feet to the finish line before fall onto the floor. "I lost to a cat..." I cry. The others were just as disappointed.

"And Y/n gets second... after stopping right before she... got first. Oh! Wendy comes in third! Carla comes in fourth!

Erza managed to cross the finish line and while the race was finishing, I was still disappointed. A cat. A Happy. I lost to Happy. But as for last place, it was a four way tie. Gajeel, Gray, Natsu, and Jet. I pick myself up and laugh at them.

So, again, I got 2nd place. I was the first loser again. As disappointing as it was, it was fun. It didn't matter whether I won or lost. What matters is that I had fun.... right?