DARE

. . .

Needing an escape from Fairy Tail, Lucy heads to a local dive bar on the outskirts of town. What she didn't expect was to meet one of the most powerful mages alive there, let alone get involved in a drunken game of truth or dare. With the stakes so high, can God Serena prove his strength? And if he does, can Lucy fulfill her end of the bargain?

. . .

"Oh my god, do you remember what your hair looked like?" Lucy laughed, damn near spilling her drink all over the bar.

Serena rolled his eyes. "Have some respect, woman. I am a Wizard Saint, after all," he responded, his voice teasing and a bit of mischief in his eye.

"Oh, pulling rank on me, huh?" Lucy responded, shoving a finger into the man's shoulder. Lucy had come to the bar to get away from the rowdiness of the Guildhall. Sometimes just having a drink in quiet was what she needed. She certainly hadn't planned on seeing the number one Wizard Saint walk into the dive.

The man had clearly had a makeover since becoming the strongest of the Four Gods of Ishgar. What used to be odd ginger colored hair tied into a high split ponytail was now cropped short and spiked high on his head. And what used to be a high collar that belonged in the Victorian age had been replaced with a modern looking white jacket atop a black tee and slacks.

Before Lucy had the chance to pull her hand back, the man caught it. The blonde woman gasped in surprise as the man lightly brushed his thumb back and forth across her skin, sending involuntary shivers down her spine. "Only when I truly want to impress."

Lucy blushed. "You're the strongest mage on the continent. I don't think you need to try to impress me," Lucy said, letting the man caress her hand a bit longer.

The man's blue eyes lit up slightly as a corner of his mouth lifted. "Oh I wouldn't say I'm the strongest," he mused.

Lucy furrowed her brow, trying not to let her face fall as the man let go of her hand. "Did I miss something? Or are you not still the First God of Ishgar?"

The man nodded his head, his ginger locks swaying slightly. "That much is true. But how does one really know they're the strongest? I've heard your Laxus is quite a force. Unless I fought every single mage, I simply wouldn't know whether I was the strongest."

"My Laxus?" Lucy said, her pulse increasing. Does he know about our agreement? Does he think we're an item? Oh god, I hope that didn't get out cause that is so not what is going on between us. Thoughts raced through Lucy's head as she tried to think about who else might know about hers and Laxus' strictly friends with benefits agreement.

"Is he no longer with your Guild?"

"Oh!" Lucy said, breathing a deep sigh of relief. "Yes, of course."

Silence fell between the two before Serena turned towards the blonde. "So what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" he recited the cliché line with a laugh.

Lucy responded in kind. "If you think I'm a nice girl, you've clearly been living under a rock?"

"Oh?" the man lifted a slender eyebrow. "The celestial princess has a dark side?"

"Not a princess and not necessarily a dark side," Lucy responded, trying to push away how much she enjoyed the sound of the man calling her princess.

"You've piqued my interest," Serena replied with a smirk. "Now you simply must share."

Lucy brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm not sure what there is to share?"

"Oh, come now, Lucy. Heir to the Heartfilia Estate runs away to become a mage, teaming up with the most destructive group of wizards in the most destructive Guild? And you claim not to have a dark side?" Lucy could see the twinkle in the man's eye and she knew he was trying to toy with her.

"Well, at least we know you don't live under a rock."

Serena chuckled. "I'll have you know that Nozama Prime delivers to, under, over and beside rocks. So, I have ways on staying up to date, notwithstanding my living situation."

Lucy laughed at the joke, the smile feeling good upon her lips. "So what brings the allegedmost powerful mage on the continent to a dive bar in Magnolia?"

Senera waved a finger slowly. "Not so fast. The Princess hasn't answered the original question put before her."

Lucy bit her lower lip, debating whether to play along, and ultimately deciding to do so. "Princesses get to choose which questions they answer and which they do not."

The man's lips turned upwards in a smile. "Do they now? Even if asked by a God?"

"I suppose it depends on the religion and her beliefs," Lucy responded.

Serena lifted an eyebrow. "Does my Princess not respect all religions?"

Lucy lifted a hand to her chest and delighted as she watched the man's eyes follow. "I'm sure I couldn't speak for your Princess, for I have never met the woman."

Serena reached forward, grasping Lucy's hand and bringing it to his lips to place a gentle kiss on it as Lucy's eyes widened. "My Princess."

"My god," Lucy responded, her voice flat so that Senera was unsure whether she was addressing him or simply uttering a phrase.

His eyes shimmered with excitement as he looked into her beautiful brown eyes before humming his satisfaction at her word play. "I concede, and therefore shall answer your question. But first," he added while lifting a finger to call the bartender, "a drink to celebrate our meeting."

Lucy smiled, raising the refilled shot glass up before touching it to his, the both of them throwing their heads back as the liquid coursed down their throats.

END CHAPTER 1

. . .

Don't get too excited! This will be a three-shot fun little exploration of the character God Serena and his small bit of backstory we got in the manga. Eventually, I'd like to expand and explore some of the other Spriggan 12, but for now, we'll start with God Serena. And I make no apologies for changing his appearance. Honestly, what was HM thinking?

Hugs!

Mus