In Secret (Sequel to Behind the Scenes)

First Experiences

"Miss Levy! May I try that one?" James was standing in front of me, pointing off towards a game that was set up across the fairway. There seemed to be two chairs on a platform at the end of a strip of metal, each strip ending into a small pool of water. As we watched, one of the chairs jolted up a foot into the air, the strip pivoting with it as its occupant shrieked. Each tub was five foot deep, four foot across. There were rings nearby for children to wear in case they couldn't swim.

"Oh! That's too bad! Two more wrong answers and you're in the water!" The girl running this particular game was far too happy with the thought of dumping her participants into the tub at the end of the platform. My group of children squealed with delight, and we got in line so James could play. There was a family waiting at the game's exit, and I heard the father mutter something about not thinking they were so smart now, were they?

Just as he snorted laughing, the young man in the seat got another question wrong and the chair shot up in the air at such an angle that staying in it was a challenge. The boy groaned and stopped hanging on to his chair, sliding down to splash into the tub. I couldn't help laughing as the water sloshed over the side, soaking Jo as she stood watching.

James paid his money and stepped up to the platform. "Is there no one you want to compete against?! If you get your answers first, you could put them in the water!" The other children shuffled around a little nervously, Jo already drenched and the other two not wanting to be standing there shivering. "No, thank you. I'll compete against myself." James settled into his chair and waited expectantly.

"Alright then. Rules are that you have to answer three questions out of five. Three mistakes will end you in the tub! Are you ready?!" The boy nodded solemnly, staring at the attendant. "First question! We'll make it an easy one. Who is known as the Titania of the Fairy Tail guild?" James only thought for a moment before blurting out, "Erza Scarlet." A chime sounded from the booth the attendant was in. "See? Easy! Next question! What kind of tree does the town of Magnolia have a festival for?"

This question was tricky, because he could just say sakura, but it was specifically the rainbow sakura tree. I needn't have worried though as he threw out the correct answer. "That is right!" The cheerful woman yelled out as the chime sounded again. "Next question! How many Dragon Slayers does the Fairy Tail guild have as members?"

The timing of the question was incredible. Just as she asked, I felt more than anything the man standing behind me. I glanced up over my shoulder and smiled at Gajeel, the Dragon slayer standing with his arms folded merely a foot away. The children with him had gathered around to watch James' turn at this game, muttering their guesses to each other. "That's simple. They just had a new girl join who has a cat like the Salamander. Had that blonde guy who tried to destroy the city not too long ago, but he's gone so that leaves Fairy Tail two Dragon Slayers." I blinked in surprise as the platform lurched up a foot, the blue haired boy snatching at the arms of his chair for balance. "Incorrect! There are three Dragon Slayers in the Fairy Tail Guild! Next question!"

Does he not know Gajeel is a Dragon Slayer?! I thought back through all of our interactions over the last few weeks and realized Gajeel had never really mentioned his "father" to the children. With the nature and strength of his magic, he'd never really shown the kids much except his body transformations. As I thought it through, I wondered why he'd kept it from the children. And how it had stayed quiet, it wasn't exactly a secret amongst the guild or townspeople. I absently looked at him again, but he'd wandered over to collect his group and head to some other part of the carnival.

"This could be your final question! If you get this right you win a prize, if you get it wrong there will be one final chance! WHO is the Master of the Fairy Tail guild?" James released his grip on the chair, smiling again. "Another easy one! Master Makarov!" A momentary panic crossed his face as his chair lurched again, but then he realized it was lowering back to the platform. "Congratulations! You have won! Please step over to the booth and select your prize!" The children cheered and ran over to the counter with him, all of them pointing and cheering.

I watched James consider his options for a moment, glancing at a certain little redhead standing next to him before he pointed at a small blue bear, almost the same color as my hair. It had a teeny blue bow on her head, nestled between her ears, and a small navy colored heart between her arms. Sam's eyes lit up as the boy turned and offered the animal to her, an ear piercing squeal erupting from her as she took it and enveloped him in a tight hug at the same time. His face brightened in a brilliant blush as she kissed his cheek and disappeared, popping into the air next to me. "Levy look! Isn't she perfect?!" I chuckled and wrapped an arm around her. "She's beautiful. You guys ready to grab some food?" Excited yells answered me and I laughed as we turned towards the snack vendors.

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A/N - I'm so so sorry that I took forever! Wrote it a little long to make up for it! Fun fact, the carnival was going to take one chapter. But it's looking like it's going to be two. Maybe three if it keeps running away with me like this.
As always, tell me what you think! Comments make me go nuclear, and super inspire me to write. Just ask Muddyevil. She's truly the best, and you have her to thank that this got written in the first place.
Much loves! Hopefully the next chapter won't take so long.