A/N: Hello, guys! This is the first part of a self-imposed 30-days challenge to get me back in the habit of writing! Each day I'll be writing about a different Fairy Tail character skating over the ice. There's still something like a month before winter officially ends (22 March) so I guess I'm just in time! The start so far is good, so I hope it keeps like that to the end!

The girl slid over the ice, arms close to her body. Like a fairy, she flew on her skates, snow glistening around her. Slowly, she drew circles over the ice, before stopping and looking at Erza.

"And that's the basics, I guess. Now you can try it, too."

Lucy smiled and extended a hand. An invitation. To go with her. Over the slippery, thin ice. Wearing sharp blades on her shoes. Erza could kill a person with them, or to cut through wood - hell, even through stone! - but to walk on them…

Lucy pulled her hand back to her body. "If you are still scared, we don't have to start now. We can-"

Afraid? No one in Fairy Tale could see Titania afraid of shoes! What would Natsu and Gray say if they saw her? Well, the fire mage could not skate at all, but one look at Gray, moving with perfect grace over the ice, convinced Erza. "I'm going!"

She jumped on the ice, almost smashing head-first into Lucy.

First step - done. Now Erza had just to pretend she knew what she was doing… How had Lucy skated? One leg in front of the other… Erza's foot slid over the ice, pulling her weight forward.

"Erza! Are you alright?" Lucy came immediately to her and, holding her by the hand, helped Erza stand up. "I'm sorry! I should not have left you alone, but you were so fast and I…"

"Don't worry." Erza smiled with stiff lips. "I have faced much worse enemies than a frozen lake." A partial lie - those enemies did not take more effort that few attacks with the sword. The lake on other hand, with its icy blizzards and treacherous waters - that was a horrible monster that would require Erza's whole attention. One leg first… Erza slid her foot. It slipped away once again.

Lucy was still holding her - the only reason to avoid another kiss with the lake. "I guess I should show the motions to you once more…"

Erza had fallen a few more times. Boiling with rage hot enough to melt the lake, she pushed herself up form the ice.

One leg first, then the other, keep your balance… Three seconds, then four, and then more - she had not fallen yet. Yes, she had mastered the skating!

Erza looked at Gray, still dancing over the ice, jumping and spinning. "That." She pointed at him. "Lucy, now that I know the basics, teach me that!"

Lucy glanced at the direction of Erza's finger. She kept watching for a few seconds, mouth wide open.

"I am happy that you think I'm so good, but-"

"No buts!" answered Erza immediately. "You are going to teach me!" She put on again that stiff smile everyone in Fairy Tail knew by heart - "I need help, but my pride doesn't let me ask outright."

"Well," Lucy looked at Gray once again, "I can try asking him to teach me…"