Grey woke with a start when he heard the sound of a door closing in the back of the inn. The old woman came out with a plate of food for the three travelers. He looked down where the silent woman placed the tray to find Juvia's head leaned against his leg. He grew a deep shade of crimson and became suddenly very self conscious about moving his legs. In a matter of moments his leg had become itchy and uncomfortable.
Juvia felt her head suddenly drop off where it was resting and bobbed it to her left. She opened her eyes slowly to find Grey reaching for a plate with biscuits on it.
"I uh," he mumbled, "didn't want to wake you."
Juvia smiled quietly and stretched, "Its fine. Since becoming human, my needs for things like sleep and food are still low." She sighed and stood up. She walked over to the window and looked outside. "It's a good thing we weren't outside last night," she said to Grey who followed her with his eyes. "Winter sent a freezing rain last night and coated the ground with a lot of ice."
Grey did not turn from Juvia as he slowly chewed his roll. He watched her as she walked over to the door and opened it up. "There is a layer of ice reaching halfway to my ankle outside the door." She knelt down and observed the ice in front of the door. Grey craned his neck to see her fully. His shirt fit her loosely, but he could still see her gentle curves as she moved. His pants fit her well, he realized, but she had to keep the belt tight around her waist to keep them from falling too low. She wore a pair of Lyon's old boots. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail and her light blue curls fell gracefully down her back. "Slippery," she said standing up once more. "What is it?"
Grey realized he was staring with his mouth slightly open and quickly turned around to take another bite of biscuit. "Nuffin," he said as crumbs fell down his chin.
"Save some for Lyon-sama," Juvia said as she leaned over the couch to reach for the plate as well. Grey's eyes fell on how his shirt became tight on the front as Juvia leaned over to reach the plate. She stood back up with the biscuit in her mouth and walked over to Lyon, who had made his way to the floor in the night. "Lyon-sama," she called quietly as she crouched beside his head. Grey felt jealous of her waking him.
"Meh," he moaned as he rolled away from her.
"Lyon-sama," she laughed, "We have to go up to the Hot Spring as soon as possible. Please wake up."
"Oi," Grey said kicking Lyon angrily, "wake up you lazy bastard."
"Who are you calling a bastard you ignorant nudist?" he retorted sitting up and yawning.
"Hurry up, you two," Juvia said with a laugh.
Grey blushed and gathered his things as quickly as he could. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lyon doing the same.
"Oi, Juvia," he said suddenly.
"Yes, Grey-sama?" Juvia answered as she pulled on her coat.
Grey had completely forgotten to think of something to say.
"Yes," Juvia called out again thinking Grey had not heard her response.
"Uh… we will definitely get your power back today," Grey blurted stupidly.
Juvia pulled her hair out from inside the coat and smiled at Grey, "I know we will."
Grey smiled at Juvia's enthusiasm.
Lyon watched the two from a distance. Part of him really wanted to be the one getting that close to Juvia, but another part of him was glad to see Grey willing to make a new friend of his own accord. He decided to let things happen on their own.
The three shared their farewell with Makarov and Juvia repeated her promise once more and the three headed out. Lyon and Grey took either of Juvia's hands and glided across the ice to their destination. Even with the cold wind brushing past the three's faces, nothing could remove the smile from Juvia's face. She was determined to save her family and restore balance.
By mid-morning the three nearly reached the top of the mountain. They stopped for a quick breather to restore Lyon and Grey's lost energy. Juvia provided warm drinks for their group.
"Thank you," Grey said taking the cup, making a point to touch Juvia's fingers when he grabbed the cup.
"Thank Makarov," Juvia said with a hint of a blush on her cheeks, "he said this would help restore your energies to endure the rest of the journey."
"Will this last us the rest of the day?" Lyon asked taking a drink from the cup.
"It should last you into tomorrow as well if you use your magical energy at this same rate," Juvia said with a confident smile.
"Are you going to drink any?" Grey asked as he watched Juvia pour her drink from a separate container.
"I will later. For now Makarov gave me this drink to help prepare my body for entering the spring."
"Can't anyone enter the spring?" Lyon asked swirling the drink inside the cup.
"Well, yes," Juvia said looking down at her own cup, "but I am originally a Spirit. My body, though it has been emptied of all spiritual capabilities, is still sacred. As such I will have a far different experience from that of you or Grey-sama. I will be able to see the Fairies and speak directly to them. That is how I will find out how to return my powers from Grey."
"So once we reach the spring," Grey said after emptying his cup, "you will enter the spring and receive the information you need. Then we will do whatever needs to be done in order to return your power to you. And finally, you will restore all your abilities and then go fight Winter."
Juvia let out a long sigh, "I know you may think I am some incredibly strong Spirit who can take on others easily but…" Juvia stared into her nearly empty cup, "I am still very weak against someone like him. To be honest, I doubt I can even beat the underlings he manipulated. Lucy said she was not alone, that means that the others were also taken over by Winter. They will be protecting him." Juvia raised a hand to her eyes and fought back her tears, remembering her promise to Makarov.
"What the hell makes you think you are doing this alone?" Grey said suddenly taking her other free hand.
"We can use ice magic," Lyon said placing a caring hand on her shoulder.
"And we will protect you no matter what," Grey finished with a big, cheeky grin on his face.
Juvia lowered her hand and met Grey's eyes. She breathed in and let out a releasing sigh and smiled. "You're right. I am never alone and I have great friends who will help me."
The three stood up and packed their things, ready to finish their climb with a voice echoed through the trees.
"Oh how romantic," a voice growled, "I think I may vomit."
"Wendy!" Juvia yelled as a little girl with long blue hair walked into the small clearing.
"Juvia," the girl sneered as she stared down the three travelers.
"A little girl?" Lyon said shocked.
"The Spirit of Winds, don't underestimate her by her size," Juvia said taking a step back.
Wendy smirked and threw her hands forward as a rush of icy cold wind blew Juvia back down the mountain.
"Juvia," Grey yelled as he followed.
Wendy knelt down and began to propel herself down the hill after her.
"No you don't," Lyon hissed as he knocked her off her feet.
"You willingly hit a helpless girl?" Wendy whimpered as she got to her feet.
"No," Lyon corrected, "I took out an enemy of my friend."
Wendy lowered her head and smiled at Lyon, "How romantic."
Grey ran to Juvia's side and pulled her to her feet. "Let's go."
The two ran back up the mountain to where Lyon was fighting to hold his ground against Wendy.
"Get her to the spring, I'll stay here and keep her away," Lyon yelled.
"Lyon!"
"Lyon-sama, watch out!"
Lyon was hit in his momentary distractedness and flew into an icy tree, scrapping his back.
"Poor baby," Wendy said placing her hands on her chin, "can't even stand up to a poor ickle girl?"
"Lyon!"
"Go!" Lyon yelled back standing to his feet, "I'm just getting started."
