A/N: This is a little idea that I've had sitting around for a couple of weeks that I've finally got around to starting. It's not going to be a long story, I imagine about 10 chapters.
Darkness crept into Merudy's vision, as she descended deep into the ocean depths. She wasn't sure how much longer she'd be able to hold her breath for, but she knew it wouldn't be long enough. She realized that resistance was futile, but she still desperately fought back, she had to reach the surface. She had to keep trying.
She gave one last push against her aquatic prison, but unfortunately it was no use. Her strength had been completely sapped from her body, and her will to go on faded as well. She hoped Ultear and the others would forgive her, one day, for giving up.
Visionless, Merudy felt herself be pulled deeper into the ocean, before gentle hands cradled her face. Did one of those idiots dive in after me?! she angrily thought, which soon left her body when soft lips met her own. Her consciousness was lost before she could open her eyes to behold the face of her saviour.
She awakened after a while, violently coughing, spread out on a hard, rocky surface. She pushed herself up slightly, despite the pain she felt in her chest, and scanned her location. Glowing moss that was everywhere granted her enough vision to make out that she was currently in a smallish cave, next to what appeared to be a pool of water. Was that how I got here?
Not able to fight against the pain she felt any longer, she collapsed, wincing as her body connected with the surface below. Luckily, she managed to avoid banging her head; Merudy was sure that her body wouldn't be able to stand much more trauma.
She realized she was alone, but she shouldn't be. She was sure that somehow had saved her from the ocean currents, could barely remember the feel of someones hands on her skin. Where had her saviour vanished to? Had she really been rescued by someone, or was it just a drowning induced vision? Was she actually dead right now? Was this the afterlife? If so, it sucked.
Unfortunately for her, Merudy realized she was too weak to use her magic effectively. She tried to reach out with her Sensory Link, to connect with the others, but her range was limited by her lack of strength. It was pointless to try it again.
The coldness of the cave, started to seep its way deep into her bones, and she groaned when she realized that she was still soaked. She needed to dry and warm herself up as soon as she possibly could; she would not succumb to a fever after the ordeal she just survived. That was if she did survive. She still wasn't sure.
A sigh escaped her when she turned towards the body of water, removing the wet locks of hair that stuck to her skin, so that her view would remain unobstructed. As she stared at it, wondering if she could possibly escape that way, she saw small bubbles break the surface, the serenity of the pool disrupted.
Before Merudy even had time to wonder what could be the cause, blue hair followed by a woman's face broke through the surface. Dark blue eyes locked onto her own green ones, and she found herself unable to look away. Was she the one who saved me? Merudy wished to ask, but she'd barely begun to form the words before her throat burned with pain. She coughed again, and felt like she her lung was trying to break free.
Sympathy clouded the strangers eyes, or at least Merudy assumed it was sympathy. It was difficult to tell in the limited light. The newcomer raised a finger to her lips, eye contact intact, and Merudy assumed she was being told to save her breath. She happily obliged, not wanting to suffer that again.
If she really is the one who rescued me, then I need to thank her properly. Merudy hoped the stranger wouldn't be going anytime soon. Even if she wasn't the one who rescued her, she must know the way out of here?
Her mouth opened, but before she could attempt to speak, her eyelids dropped, too heavy to remain open. As she fought to keep them open, she saw the other woman push her body up out of the water slightly. A warm sensation engulfed her body, and before she completely passed out, Merudy could've sworn she saw scales on the strangers lower torso.
A/N: Juvia will become a bigger character starting from the next chapter, as that's when the two will start to get to know one another better. (Hopefully) They'll be developing both together and apart within the coming chapters.
Originally this chapter itself was a lot longer, but I ended up adding to it whilst editing, and so I decided to split it where I did. It seemed like a good point. I just need to transfer the rest from paper to computer, and hopefully there'll be the second chapter up this weekend.