Chapter IV: Realization
It was suggested by Natsu that the two of them would begin sparring in the earlier mornings, testing each other's strengths and weaknesses. They've had a running bet that the loser of the mock battles would have to be the one to make breakfast under the winner's instructions with no arguing or complaints about how they want their meal to be done. For Natsu, there was no way he felt he could lose the mock battles, as Juvia was as strict in the method of her cooking as she was slippery to defeat in battle. This didn't do him any good, as most of his attacks were physical and just magically enhanced, which could easily phase through her.
Swift, Natsu weaved his way through the blades of water she would throw at him with slight precision. Every now and then a bit of the blade would knick him, but it wasn't too terrible. "Water Cyclone!" Juvia would muster, unleashing a vicious pressurized torrent of water at him.
"Fire Dragon's,... Roar!" seeing the attack coming head on, he gathered a large amount of magic into his mouth and spewed a stream of intense flames to clash with Juvia's attack.
The temperature in the area soon began to drastically rise; mixed from the heat Natsu was releasing to meet Juvia's head on, as well as the sudden increase in temperature. He had to be careful, because if he let loose a little too little, the water would just be boiled, and if a little too much, he could seriously hurt his friend. Luckily, the collision of forces resulted in a constant production of a mist of steam into the area, taking that moment to quickly slip away from the attack to close in on her. Although, he picked up a swift presence being thrown at him through the thick steam, prompting him to dodge anywhere he felt was safe.
"W-what was that,..." thinking to himself as he kept still, listening. "Dragon Slayer's Secret Art- Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon's Fist !" his fists igniting on fire, he aimed towards the presence, feeling something slimy upon impact just before the explosion from his spell took effect, "...!" again, the same feeling lurked, dodging something similar.
He was stuck, having to deal with something slimy attacking him in the steam. Not only that, but the steam had been getting to him too, tiring him out more and making it difficult for him to breathe. Whether or not Juvia was affected by this, may it be good or bad, crossed his thoughts, wondering if he could use this to his advantage. Luckily, the steam was starting to lessen, all he had to do was buy enough time until the steam dissipated, and he could finish the match with Juvia.
Eventually, he was caught by two slimy things constricting around his body "No chance, this is cheap but,..." controlling his breathing slightly as best he could, he relaxed his body, "Fire Dragon's Roasting Bath!" immediately tensing himself, flames erupted around him, shrouding himself in burning hot flames.
"-Ahh!" he heard a scream of pain just before the watery tentacles around him released him, and the steam finally vacated the area.
As he finally relaxed, releasing the spell, he caught his breath as he noticed Juvia was on the ground, doing her best to cover her scalding hands in water from the pressure. Realizing that she was the one behind the attacks in the steam, as well as the receiving end of the heat spell, he began to run up towards her, "J-Juvia!" calling out to her, concerned for her well being. It wasn't his intention to have hurt her this much, as he didn't think the sudden increase in raising the water temperature would have affected her this bad, "A-Are you okay? Is there anything I can do?" lowering himself to see what he could do.
"Y-Yes... there's something you can do for Juvia..." her breath ragged, as if the steam was having a worse affect on her, "You can just... Water Lock!" instantly, she threw her hand out towards him, as a sphere of water engulfed him, trapping him in there with no oxygen to breathe. "Hehehe... Juvia wins this round again, right Nat-..." just as she was gloating slightly over her victory, she had realized that she was starting to suffocate the pink-haired dragonslayer who was beginning to drown by this point.
Immediately, she had released him, catching him as he fell so that he could regain his senses once more. Coughing up water, "I lost... again,... didn't I?" asking her as he tried to regain his composure after nearly drowning.
"S-Sorry, Natsu" guilty, she apologized, hitting his back with just enough force to draw out all the water in his system, "Juvia should have stopped it just when you ran out of air,...instead of, you know,..." her expression began to fall slightly, thinking about how dangerous the situation could have been otherwise.
Relieved being able to breathe at a normal pace, he let himself tumble to the side to relax, "Nah,... don't be" assuring her with a light smile, "I should be the one sorry" stating, "Which reminds me,... let me see your hands real quick" remembering what had happened earlier. Sitting up, he faced her direction and gently grabbed her hands. Carefully, he was sure to make sure there wasn't too much pressure as he gently felt around her hand, testing how hot it was, "It seems all right,... thankfully your entire body is water so it must have dampened the damage" relieved, "You go tend to it, all right? I'll make breakfast as per our usual agreement" sheepishly grinning, "First off, getting the materials!" standing up quick, "What would you like, Miss Juvia?"
"H-Heh?" taken back by his sudden action, she fell back a little, "M-Maybe some fresh fruits and the plants I told you about?" throwing an idea out.
Mulling over what she had been teaching him, he threw himself into deep thought trying to remember it. Eventually, his eyes burst open in a sudden jolt, as if he just remembered, "Ah, got it!" hitting the bottom of his fist onto his open palm, "Happy! We're going food gathering!" shouting out to the little exceed sleeping.
"E-eh..." stumbling around, Happy stirred in his sleep before tiredly getting up, "Natsu lost again didn't he?" hitting the nail on his friend, "Finee~" stretching, he popped out his little wings and flew over to him as the two of them went venturing out for food.
Watching, Juvia sat there tending to the light burns on her hands in a sphere of cool water produced by her Water Lock, as she waited for Natsu to come back with the foods she requested as per their agreement. However, something had occupied her mind for the moment as she kept her eyes fixated on her hands submerged in the water. Recalling how he held her hands, even if it were brief and just to inspect, sent a strange feeling cycling through her. Natsu was her kind friend, who took her in to help her forget what happened. Thinking along that line, she had believed that she was likely taken back by just how cooperative he was; not trying to weasel his way out or try anything funny like usual.
-[x]-
Just like he promised, Natsu cooked and cut breakfast under the watchful gaze of Juvia, who instructed him the right boiling time and temperature, as well as making sure that he cut the right parts. Without complaining, he did as he was told, much unlike how it first started out with him adding his own preferences instead of taking heed of her guide. Her hands were much better, leaving only a slight sting every so often, a sign that she just had to take it easy for a day or so. Luckily, he was kind enough to help her if needed. Whether it was cleaning up the messes or repacking her things, he offered if she needed any assistance before the two of them continued along on their journey.
The longer the two of them traveled, he caught a scent in the air, and as he did, she also saw something catching her eye. "Natsu" calling out to catch his attention, "Juvia sees something!" running up a little ahead, she pointed up at the smoke, rising in the air. She wasn't sure what could be up ahead, "Should we follow it?" turning to ask him.
"Hmm..." trying to mull the scent a little, "I think we better" telling her, "That doesn't smell like your average every day smoke" he couldn't pin point it, but there was something about it that turned him the wrong way, "Either way, let's be on our guard" advising her.
Again, he couldn't place his finger on it, but he felt there was something strange about this part of the place they were in. He caught something's scent, but no matter where he looked, without being obvious to scare Juvia; it felt like they were being watched.
Eventually, the two of them found their way into a village, small of course to be in the wild, but also fairly big probably accommodating 20-30 people. Everywhere they looked people gave them terrifying eyes, hiding behind either their stores or in their homes as the two carefully made their way in. Startled just from the atmosphere, she felt her skin lightly crawl like something haunting was possessing this place, and that their presence lightly made things worse.
"Over there!" she cried pointing out. A short ways away she found the source of the smoke, a burning stand that was trailing onto some of the homes. Running up a little closer, she swung her arm out towards the burning flames, "Sierra!" pausing for a moment, her body instantly turned to water as she rushed over in a small tidal wave and doused the flames, reforming as the water collected onto the ground, "Is everyone okay?" rushing in to see a terrified father and son, "It's okay to come out now, Juvia saved the day" smiling bright.
Timidly, the two of them made their way out, shaking from the shock of the fire "T-Thank you, M-Miss..." the supposed father had said, helping the son out of the place.
"What happened here?" asking, she slowly helped them out, "was there an accident?"
Shaking his head, the father spoke, "N-No..." answering her question, "You s-see,... this village is under the ownership of the 'Thunder god tribe'" he began to explain, "My son made a comment about how thoughtless they were being and in their anger, struck our stand and home with lightning!"
"Juvia..." hearing her name, she turned to see Natsu with a slightly dark look on his face, "I think we have company"
Turning to look past him, she saw what he had meant. Entering were three mages, two guys and a girl with slight barbaric looking armor. They had snarky looks on their face as they were looking around, expecting something as people finally ran up to them with some sort of offering. From the looks of it, they seemed like they were mages that belonged to one of the scattered Dark Guilds at the least, or a group of bandits that ransack villages of all they have to offer before burning it to the ground when it's of no use.
She could see the anger plastered on his face, but she couldn't figure out what caused his expression to grow furious. "Keep these people safe, Juvia" he asked of her, dropping his bag and cracking his knuckles, "I'm starting to get fired up" as if it weren't noticeable already, light flames began to flare out of his body. "This was probably the presence I felt earlier" thinking to himself, "It was like they were using this place to bait us".
"Not by yourself" she urged, "There's three of them, Natsu" telling him, "What more this village is too small, we could end up destroying it if you were to go head on by yourself. Please, let Juvia accompany you" changing the deal, "Juvia too, would like to 'talk' to these people"
He couldn't argue with her, or rather, he felt there was no real gain to be starting an argument right here when the threat was already here. Whether he liked it or not, she dropped her bag and followed closely beside him, keeping a firm awareness of the people around them so that she could keep track and control her movements and power when she'd need to. Though, she would be lying if she didn't feel the slight worried for her companion, who looked like he was going to blow the entire place off the map alongside the mages.
"These fruits aren't even edible yet!" the biggest one shouted, smashing the offering to the ground, "This will be the last time your village disgraces us! Dos, shock this town off the map" ordering the female amongst them.
Nodding, just as she threw her hand out towards the village, a torrent of water in the shape of a cycle was immediately shot towards the mage. Baffled, by what happened, the other two immediately looked towards the source of the attack only for the dragonslayer to appear in a flash, round-housing them away before turning a full rotation and crashing his fist into the remaining one, knocking them into the ground. Burning, she felt the aura of a raging dragon surrounding him as his rage began to drastically rise by the moment.
"Juvia! Take care of the mage!" telling her, "I'll fight these chumps" his fists began to ignite on fire, "The ones who dare to dirty the name 'Thunder God Tribe'"
She had wanted to change the offer, but she had realized that the primary reason he had chosen to do it this way was because he was going to handle them head on, and had the strength to pull it off. "Juvia understands!" agreeing, she sped on, hydroplaning towards the female mage, Dos.
It was a tricky battle fighting the lightning mage, as any strike could end up not favoring her in the least. Swerving around, the two exchanged blasts of their own element, water from Juvia, and lightning from Dos. She was lucky in the sense that her experience fighting Natsu gave her a slight more reaction time and light foresight as he was always proved to be tough as well as agile in their little mock fights. However, there was also the issue of the surrounding villages who cowered in fear from all the fighting. Thinking, she realize if there wasn't going to be opening for her to quickly take out Dos, she would have to create one herself.
"Water cane!" throwing her arm towards her, it instantly turned into a liquid extension of her own that easily latched onto Dos' leg during the preparation of their spell.
Quickly, Juvia swung her whip-like arm to the side to toss Dos before she had a chance to send electricity throughout her body and towards Juvia. Observing as she tumbled against the ground, crashing up against the walls of one of the houses, she could faintly seeing Natsu go on a slight rampage, taking hits and dishing out his own damage while trying to avoid the villagers. The rage he displayed burned his flames hotter, making everywhere in the surrounding area heat up drastically.
"Juvia needs to at least incapacitate them" cringing a little, she, while Dos was stumbling a little from the added damage, threw her hand out "Water Lock!" casting, as a dome of water surrounded the lightning mage and keeping her there. She had to keep an eye, concentrating as to make sure she didn't accidentally kill her while keeping her in this.
Unfortunately, keeping her concentration set on the spell, keeping her contained and simultaneously waiting until she fell unconscious, she was struck by another lightning spell from one of the other two, before being rammed into by one of the big built mages, crashing into the building. Her body was growing unstable from the electricity as well as the pain of something having pierced her paralyzing her. Stumbling, she tried to move as much as possible, only to be struck more with electricity as she tried, and further hindering her movement. Watching, Dos had gotten up, likely preparing a spell on her complete immovable being. However, just as she saw a bright flash, she had also noticed something stood in the way, taking in the blow.
"H...oi... what do you think you're doing,... to my friend?" she heard. His voice was ragged and worn, and as she slowly began to be able to see more of whom it was, she noticed Natsu was there, taking the blow for her. "Juvia... are you,... okay?" asking her, knowing she was still there and conscious. He was trembling, but she could also see that the other three were slowly moving in on him now that both of them were beaten and ragged, "You have no idea,... how angry it makes me... when you hurt the people I care for!" His body then exploded in a burst of flames and electricity, shocking those around him. "Lightning Fire Dragon's Firing Hammer!" his fist and forearm engulfed in intense flames, cackling with electricity, he charged forward with it held back, aiming at Dos.
Just between them, one of the large men jumped in the way, confident in their ability to tank the shot. However, as Natsu took into the changed account of another person to fight, he threw his fist forward in a blinding flash, sinking his fist into the chest of the tall mage, ferociously crashing into Dos as the two were blown away to who knows where. However, that was all Natsu had in him before falling to his knees, out of magic power and stamina.
"Ju...via" calling out to her, "Get,... away! There's st-" taken by surprise, they had forgotten the third member, who had struck him once more with lightning, dropping him to the ground, twitching as electric static crawled all over his body.
Watching him fall to the ground like that caused her eyes to constrict as a scene of slight horror began to befall her. Footsteps from the remaining mage thumped loud, as she watched him pick up the pink-haired dragonslayer by the neck. She had to do something, and it only began to frustrate her that her body wouldn't move like she wanted, until, she began to imagine. Where would that smile be if she couldn't move and do something? The glass mirror image began to crack before shattering into dust, as something in her snapped.
"Water-Make: Revitalize" suddenly all the water in the village, and any surrounding bodies of water swarmed above to crash into her, flooding the village temporarily as she was able to stand once more, "Water-Make: Bullet Hell" the water that wasn't used to remake her body formed into large orbs before shooting themselves off slowly, one by one, at the mage. Each bullet had the force to forcefully push him back, until he finally let go of the pink-haired dragonslayer. Then, the bullets fired faster, flying off just as they formed until countless shots were fired, pelting him with a force slowly increasing.
Slowly, she began to feel like her old self back when she was in the guild Phantom Lord, as rain began to heavily fall. As the pelting of bullets continued without cease, she raised one of her hands slowly, engulfing the mage in a more contained version of her Water Lock, keeping her hand fixated to keep the man stuck. Slowly, she began to clench her hand, increasing the pressure of the water, so that she wasn't only suffocating him, but also crushing him with the water. Watching, she noticed him gasp out for air while also screaming in pain from the slowly increasing water pressure.
"Juvia..." snapping out of her mode, she felt someone fall against her from behind. She watched as a beaten arm slowly reached their way up parallel against hers, "...Stop" grabbing onto her gently, lowering her arm down to let the mage go.
Soon, the water ceased, as the man panicked and made a run for it, screaming out of fear of almost dying in two different ways. The remaining water fell to the ground and was absorbed by the soil. Still, the fear clung to her heart now, as she was remembering the cold chill she once felt before everything had changed. The rain then began to worsen, showering the entire place in what would turn into a flash flood if it wasn't gotten rid of quickly.
"Juvia... Juvia's so sorry,..." fearing what she had done. She was ashamed of herself, for having fallen that low, for reverting slowly to her old ways.
Falling to the ground, she still felt his presence latched onto her, probably too worn and battered to leave. "It's fine..." telling her, breathing a little tiresome, "You're back though right,...? That's all that matters..." growing tired, his body grew heavier on her, "Long as,... you're back... it's okay,... Juvia"
It wasn't fair. She had wanted to cry for the error of her ways, but he had already assured her that it was okay as long as she was still back to her senses. He wasn't angry with her, he wasn't upset. All that mattered was that she was able to snap herself out of it and regain control over herself again. Slowly, the rain around her began to cease once more, having put out any fires that were made during the fight. As the two of them sat there in their slightly bitter victory, his arm lightly around her body to comfort her, that strange feeling once more began to surface within her. Natsu was just her friend, that's what she believed in. Natsu was just her friend. Right?
A/N: OH MY GOD ITS DONE. Seriously this took longer than intended Lol. Anywho! What do all these things mean?! (Ask me what it means, Ask me what it means~~~~) How was the fight overdosed steroid of a chapter? I thought it was okay, then again I thought what I wrote when I was 13 was utterly fantastic at the time so what do I know. xD. So yeah, new spells made up... anyone have thoughts on it? Should I just stick with already named spells? I wondered too like "Wouldn't it have just been easily for Natsu to lightning dragon mode and use his super roar?) but then that would be worse,... I think. Taking out half the village,... and super out of juice. Anywho! I felt Juvia was super cool... I mean, both she and Natsu got knocked out, and the both knocked other people out... and I dunno it's like... Anywho i'll shut up, you already had to read all this ;). Pleaase let me know what you thought, if i need to improve anywhere is also helpful. Or you can just comment going "YEAH! NAVIA" that works too. I wonder what's going to happen?! will they just be,...SUPER BESTIES?! we'll see :Grin: ;;;;) -Darkness outttt-