With Natsu Dragneel completely cleaned and repaired, Gouma Konishi could at last focus on what he had just started. In order to demonstrate examples of the complete Natsu's Roundup rare toy collection to the Diamanté Toy Museum, Konishi took picture after picture of Natsu, Juvia, Romeo, Kemo-Kemo, and Brain and the Oración Seis in various poses and backdrops. But most of the pictures had been taken for the pull-string Dragon Slayer doll; he was, after all, the main star and a one-way ticket to endless riches. Examining the photos, Konishi was filled with glee and confidence. He knew what he was capable of, and knew what he wanted.
"It's like printing my own money," he chuckled delightfully. Just then, his cellphone rang, and he picked it up to answer it. "Who is it?"
"Hello, Mr. Konishi?" another voice spoke.
"Oh, Diamanté-san!" Konishi recognized. "What a coincidence! I was about to call you, but I didn't expect you to call me in such short notice."
"Do you have the pictures of the entire collection of Natsu's Roundup, just as I requested?"
"I got them right here! In fact, I'm in the car right now, on my way to the office to fax them to you," Konishi responded, putting the pictures in his bag as he prepared to leave. "I'm going through a tunnel! I'm breaking up!" With that, he rushed to the door and opened it.
Once the toy collector was gone, the toys sprang back to life. Natsu laughed triumphantly at his fixed arm, with Romeo, Kemo-Kemo, and Brain sporting impressed looks at how fixed and improved his arm was. Juvia frowned in disapproval, and it was, of course, for a good reason.
"Spicy meatballs, will you look at me? It's like I'm fresh outta the box!" Natsu smiled. He showed his arm to the other toys, "Look at this stitching! Ken's gonna have a hard time ripping this!" He then waved his newly functioning hand in front of a glaring Juvia, who crossed her arms. "Hey there! Hi, girl! Hello! Hi! Hello!"
"Great. Now you can go," Juvia said sarcastically. She jumped off the table, still upset over being accused of what happened last night.
"Well, what a great idea," Natsu countered with a sarcastic expression that matched Juvia's own. He likewise jumped off and walked over to the grate. With his arm fixed, he could unscrew it and leave the apartment… but at the cost of leaving behind the Roundup Gang. Moments before he approached the vent, the salmon-haired toy stopped. What he having second thoughts? He was glad that his right arm had been fixed, but with all the animosity, all the fever, all the rage… was it all worth it? Natsu felt a nudge from behind him, and turned around to see Romeo and Kemo-Kemo. A sad look crossed the black-furred critter's face, while the young Prospector expressed a sympathetic look. As much as he wanted to leave, Natsu didn't mean to break the hearts of the new friends he made.
"Natsu, don't be mad at Juvia," Romeo advised. "She's been through a lot more than you know. Why don't you make it up to her before you leave, huh? It's the least you can do."
Natsu glanced over to Juvia, who was sitting on the windowsill. He answered with a reluctant sigh, "Alright, fine. But I don't know what good it'll do."
"Go ahead," Romeo confirmed with a nod. He, Kemo-Kemo, and Brain watched as the pull-string Dragon Slayer doll climbed up the chair.
Natsu looked up at Juvia, who didn't seem to notice or care that he appeared in front of her. As the Rain Woman doll stared out into the sunlight obscuring the city, her mind seemed to be focused on something else. Every time she closed her eyes, she was there…
"Hey, whatcha doin' way up here?" Natsu asked curiously.
"I thought I'd get one last look at the sun…" Juvia gripped her knees, her fingers slightly trembling of an uncertain future inviting her. "…before I get packed away again."
Natsu felt a pang of guilt at her words. "Look, Juvia, I know you hate me for leaving, but I have to go back. I'm still Ken's toy." He added with a deep sigh, "Well, if you knew him, you'd understand. You see, Ken's a—"
"Let me guess," Juvia interrupted bitterly. "Ken is a real special kid. And to him, you're his buddy, his companion, and his best friend. And when Ken plays with you, it's like…" She paused, and bit by bit, her face softened. "…even though you're not moving, you feel like you're alive…" She paused again to let it sink in, "…because that's how he sees you."
Natsu's eyes widened in surprise, "How did you know that?"
"Because Makoto was just the same," Juvia answered. And just like that, all the anger and bitterness was gone, leaving her downtrodden and sad. "She was my whole world." The light blue-haired doll stared out the window, flashing back to the past. It was the story of how Juvia used to be the prized possession of a child, someone who loved and played with her…
Many years ago, Juvia was the favorite toy of Makoto Matsuda, an imaginative child, just like Ken, who was a major enthusiast of fantasy anime, manga, and otaku. When Makato was five, she received a Natsu's Roundup Juvia Lockser doll as a birthday present, and she grew to love and treasure her ever since.
When somebody loved me
Everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together
Lives within my heart
And when she was sad
I was there to dry her tears
And when she was happy, so was I
When she loved me
Even in her in-between state, Juvia could see Makoto now, laughing and cheering as the magic in her blazed. She believed that if you believe in magic, anything is possible, and your dreams instantly come true. Those proclamations of hopes, dreams, and miracles Makoto saw on TV gave her inspiration, made her what she was. And of all the friends she played with, her very best friend was the Rain Woman doll. Juvia was always the focus of Makoto's nursery games. For instance, games about fighting imaginary enemies, camping, outdoors, dress-up, hanging out with family, and the rest. Makoto shared her emotions, her biggest fears, and her greatest dreams with Juvia; she laughed with her, she cried with her, and she cared for her.
Through the summer and the fall
We had each other, that was all
Just she and I together
Like it was meant to be
Juvia was blessed to have been the object of affection for such a special kid. Whenever Makoto's mind was focused elsewhere, the light blue-haired doll would chance looking up to smile at her. She felt like a real member of the family, the most cherished member of all. The love, the joy, the happiness… it was never enough for Juvia.
And when she was lonely
I was there to comfort her
And I knew that she loved me
Then one day, when Makoto was eleven years old, everything changed. As usual, Juvia was resting in the middle of the pillow, expecting her owner to play with her again. Instead, Makoto rolled over with friends from school and grabbed the pillow, causing the doll to slide down onto the floor. Juvia came alive, blinking in confusion and crawling over to look out at the girls giggling and painting their nails. The Rain Woman doll was confused; didn't Makoto even know that her toy was under the bed?
Things only got worse from that day on.
So the years went by
I stayed the same
But she began to drift away
I was left alone
Pretty soon, Makoto's toys, those based on Juvia's likeness, and all the fantasy-related merchandise... they were all replaced with nail polish, CDs, posters, books, pictures, and other teenage stuff. Juvia was forced to face the facts; her owner was growing up, and she lost her passion for fantasy, a mere memory fading, vanished like a lost thought. Eventually, playtime became the less selective of choices for Makoto's new teenage life. Soon, she wouldn't even need Juvia anymore. The light blue-haired doll stayed under the bed, wanting to cry as some of Makoto's other childish possessions joined her. She wanted so much to be held, to be played with again. She was a toy, after all. But it seemed like Makoto didn't even know she existed anymore.
Still, I waited for the day
When she'd say, "I will always love you"
One day, Makoto was walking in front of her bed, and her bag spilled open. Some of her makeup stuff spilled under the bed, and Juvia was forced to freeze. And then… When Makoto reached in to grab her stuff, she felt a lock of Juvia's curly light blue hair, and suddenly, long lost memories began to surface. She pulled the doll out, and looked at her with a smile. She felt like she had fallen into the darkness.
Lonely and forgotten
Never thought she'd look my way
But she smiled at me and held me
Just like she used to do
Gone was the little girl who had laughed and played with her. Standing before her was a young woman in her late teens, about to leave for college. But just for a second as she held her once-favorite toy, Juvia could see the same sparkle in her eyes that she used to love. And before she knew it, they were riding in a car together, like they had so many times before, so long ago… Juvia was wrong. She still loved her after all! She closed her eyes happily, wishing this moment could last forever. For a moment, just a moment, it felt like there was enough room in Makoto's life and heart for her childhood toy and her more grown-up tastes.
Like she loved me
When she loved me
But it was not to be.
When somebody loved me
Everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together
Lives within my heart
That moment ended abruptly when Makoto stopped the car next to the hill she and Juvia used to play on, and put the doll in a cardboard box. Juvia gasped internally, and she noticed Makoto putting in her other old toys and stuff. Juvia peeked out of the small hole in the donation box to see Makoto driving off… right before her very eyes.
When she loved me
Juvia's heart broke into pieces that day. Makoto Matsuda, the little girl she loved and cared like a little sister for so many years, was truly gone. She was no longer a child. There was no longer a place for her in her life. Juvia wanted to cry, to sob, to bawl… and she did, hardly noticing or caring when the goodwill people came to donate her off with all of Makoto's discarded possessions.
Back in the present, Natsu stared at the Rain Woman doll with surprise, disbelief, and most of all, sadness. She used to have an owner, until she grew up and abandoned her. That's what made Juvia who she really was, her true nature. A child could bring so much affection to a toy, and as the years passed, a child couldn't recall what it was they have left in their lives… before it's gone.
"You never forget kids like Makoto or Ken…" Juvia hugged her knees, looking like she was about to cry again for recalling her sad past. "…but they forget you."
It made perfect sense. The reason why she was stuffed in storage all her life, how much she had suffered…
"Juvia…" Natsu tried to speak. "I… I didn't know…"
She choked back a sob. "Just go."
Casting one last glance at Juvia, Natsu quietly climbed down and walked over to the grate. With two hands, he untwisted one of the screws, and lifted up the vent, looking into the darkness beyond. Should he go home? What if what happened to Juvia... happened to him? Would the pull-string Dragon Slayer end up in storage? Would Ken outgrow his love for him and cast him aside?
"How long will it last, Natsu?" Brain asked sagely, his eyes glimmering with concern in the comfort of his box. "Do you really think Ken is going to take you to college, or on his honeymoon?"
For once in his life, Natsu didn't know how to answer.
"Ken's growing up," Brain continued. "All children are growing up. And there's nothing you can do about it."
The salmon-haired toy looked down wordlessly, and the sorcerer doll gave him a stare with a lacing of pity, hope, and certainty.
"It's your choice, Natsu. You can go back… or you can stay with us and last forever. You'll be adored by children for generations."
Natsu pondered in deep thought. Ken was currently seven years old, just six years away from being a teenager. And already, he seemed embarrassed to bring Natsu out in public with him since the arm accident. How long would it be before he ended up like Juvia, forgotten and abandoned, sealed away in the darkness and wondering if anyone would ever play with— or love him again? The more he processed the thought, the more he came to realize the terrible truth… that should the time came, toys could easily get discarded by their owners when they had no need of them. When they no longer had to play with them. The gears of time could not be stopped; all children are meant to grow up and move on with their lives, at the cost of forgetting what they have or what they used to be. There were some things that were never meant to heal. Some lies never meant to last. Some wounds that went too deep. That had taken hold.
Romeo and Kemo-Kemo walked over. Natsu slowly reached for their heads.
"Who am I…"
His face then curled into a wide smile.
"…to break up the Roundup Gang?"
Eventually, Natsu playfully ruffled Romeo and Kemo-Kemo's heads, the young Prospector laughing happily and giving a tight hug, with the pull-string Dragon Slayer doing the same. Natsu closed the vent tight and gave Juvia an encouraging smile. She smiled back, realizing what that meant. He had already made up his mind.
He had decided to go with them to the museum. He wasn't going anywhere.
Unbeknownst to the group, the toys responsible for ruining Natsu's escape last night were smirking evilly, tasting another inevitable victory… including Brain.
"He has finally agreed to stay with us," the sorcerer doll spoke, as if he was talking to someone else. "I should congratulate you, my five trusty underlings, for making sure that insipid fool knows his place."
"The pleasure is all ours, boss," another voice unexpectedly came from Lightspeed Racer's box. "Looks like our work last night finally paid off."
A third voice boomed from Snake Eyes Cobra's box, "As long as Natsu stays, nothing can go wrong. I can hear it, the sound of the future comin' to us!"
"Everything is going according to plan," a fourth voice echoed from Goodnight Midnight's box. "Soon, we will go to the museum, and power beyond imagining is ours for the taking!"
All five of the Oración Seis' boxes resonated with silent laughter, that of pure evil, and it wasn't long before Brain joined in. It would appear that evil was mint in the box…