Chapter Text
"Erza! Heads up!"
"I'm open! Pass it!"
Haru grunted as she bumped the beach ball toward Erza, who smacked it toward Lucy, who laughed as she spiked it toward Juvia. The Water Wizard gasped as she attempted to catch the ball, but it ended up going over her head while the others laughed, and she turned and laughed along with them. Meanwhile, Natsu and Gray were out running around in the surf while Blue Fang and Happy both lied under the shade of the palm trees.
The group had come here to Akane Resort, a seaside resort and hotel that was normally very expensive, but the group actually came here with tickets given to them by Loke, or rather, the Celestial Spirit, Leo the Lion. After Lucy had saved Loke from disappearing for good and appealing to the better nature of the Celestial Spirit King, she and her friends had been rewarded with tickets to Akane Resort as thanks. Needless to say, the group was more than happy to partake in the vacation. After all they had been through, they felt that it was very well-deserved. Plus, with the summer season coming to an end, what was a better way to spend it than going to the beach?
"WHOO-HOO!!" Natsu cheered as he ran out of the water. "I win, baby!!"
"Beginner's luck!" Gray called as he walked up to him... and soon after, everyone gaped as they realized something was missing.
"Uh... Gray?" Haru asked. "Isn't it a little... drafty down there?"
Gray blinked before he looked down... only to yelp as he realized that he was missing his trunks, causing him to look back and see that they were floating on the water. As he frantically grabbed them and ran to put them back on behind the cover of a bush, Natsu pointed and laughed at him while Juvia was blushing as red as a beet.
"You okay, Juvia?" asked Haru.
"Um... I will be... in a bit," Juvia answered.
'So... THAT'S how big he is...!' she thought.
After spending the whole day frolicking on the beach, the group soon went back to their hotel room to prepare for a night at the casino. In their suite, Haru was in the bathroom, looking herself over while Blue Fang was lying on the floor, snoozing away. She had brushed her hair and tied it back with her trademark dark red ribbon and was wearing a fuchsia dress with a plunging neckline, showing quite a bit of her cleavage, and a pair of purple pumps. The only thing she was having trouble with was the zipper.
"Ugh..." Haru groaned before she looked out the door toward the balcony, where she knew Erza was taking a nap. "Hey, Erza! Can you come help me with this zipper?"
No answer.
"Erza!" Haru called, again. "Can you come help me, please?!"
Still no reply... but she did hear the sound of a soft moan, causing the Beast Wizard to go out to the balcony. However, when she got there, she gasped upon seeing Erza tossing and turning on the sun chair she was lying on.
"Erza?!" Haru asked, worriedly.
"No... no...!" Erza muttered, sweat falling from her face. "Jellal... no... please! Jellal!"
"Erza!" Haru cried as she ran over and shook her. "Wake up, Erza! Wake up!!"
Erza gasped as she sat up, her eyes wide and her breath coming out in harsh pants. She looked around before she noticed Haru standing in front of her with a worried expression.
"Haru...?" Erza asked. "W-what happened?"
"You were having a bad dream," Haru answered. "Are you okay?"
Erza paused as she looked herself over... then sighed as she stood up and walked over to the mirror, and in a flash of light, she requipped out of her bikini and into her Heart Kreuz armor, which caused her to sigh in relief.
"Much better..." she said.
"Umm... Erza?" Haru asked, causing the Requip Wizard to turn to her.
"Sorry, Haru," Erza said. "I'm all right, really."
"You know... you don't have to be in your armor all the time, Erza," Haru said. "I mean... I know it's what makes you comfortable, but... we're at a resort. You don't have to be so on guard, all the time."
Erza chuckled, albeit halfheartedly. "I suppose you're right. I guess... there really isn't hope for a woman like me, huh?"
Haru smiled at Erza, who smiled back at her... and yet, the Beast Wizard couldn't help but notice how forced her smile was.
"Hey, Haru! Erza!"
The pair turned to see Lucy, who was already in a red backless dress and a pair of high heels.
"What are you two doing here?" Lucy asked. "We're still waiting for you at the casino!"
"Oh, right!" Haru exclaimed. "I almost forgot!" She then turned around so that her back was facing Erza. "I needed help with my zipper!"
"Oh, let me get that!" Lucy said before she zipped the back of Haru's dress up. "There you go, all set."
"Thanks," Haru said before she looked at Erza. "Hey, Erza, are you coming with us?"
"You know that I don't like things like gambling, Haru," said Erza, "but... I suppose this one time can't hurt." Soon, in a flash of light, she had requipped into an elegant purple dress with a red rose pattern and had her hair done up in a bun. She even had on matching gloves that went all the way up to her shoulders.
"So?" Erza asked. "How do I look?"
"Awesome, as always!" Haru replied.
"You could have gotten a bit more casual, though..." Lucy muttered.
"Well, since we're going to a casino, it would be an insult to go in half-baked, don't you think?" Erza asked.
"Can't argue with that," Lucy replied before she walked out. "Let's go!"
"Come on, Blue Fang!" Haru called, prompting the wolf to yawn as he followed her out.
"I'll be with you in a minute," Erza said as she looked herself over in the mirror just one last time, then smiled.
'It's all right to dress like this now and then,' she thought. 'It's all right to treat myself well... I have the freedom to do so...'
"Freedom does not exist in this world..."
Erza gasped silently, feeling a chill go down her spine... but then she sighed before she went go and join her friends. However, little did she or anyone else realize that this beach vacation... would turn into one of her worst nightmares.