Hi Everyone! Hope you enjoy tonight's chapter, I did try my best to be as accurate with attacks as I could, again not an expert. Nor do I own the right's to Fairy Tail and its characters! See you soon!
Chapter 6: Revenge
"No way…" Gray's eyes widened.
"The Winter General?" Erza was shocked. As were the rest of them.
"I didn't know he had a son?" Lucy asked.
"You wouldn't have. My father and I's relationship has always been somewhat hidden, but his blood runs through my veins nonetheless." He smiled, a smile that would give anyone nightmares.
"What do you want with Juvia's memories!" Gajeel shouted.
"Isn't it obvious? I want revenge. Revenge for the shame you put on my family, and for the death of the leader that the Spriggan 12 lost." His face grew dark, no longer smiling as he looked at Gray.
"I don't know what the hell you're going on about, but as much as I wanted to, I didn't kill Invel Yura. He was sent to prison and put to death for his crimes with the Alvarez Empire." Kurayami sneered.
"My father died in prison because you put him there, and for that you and the rest of the Fairy Tail guild will pay." He began to laugh at their expense.
"Kurayami! You're going to give us back Juvia's memories whether you want to or not! OPEN! THE GATE OF THE RAM! ARIES!" Lucy opened one of her celestial keys releasing the power of Aries onto her.
"HAHAHAHA! stupid girl. I've no desire to fight you, not yet anyway." Kurayami with a swoop of his hand shot patches of ice crystals at them, freezing everyone's feet where they stood. Everyone tried gripping out of it, but even Gajeel wasn't strong enough to break free.
"If Juvia wants her memories back, she need only ask." He smiled
"There is no way it's that easy! Whatever you're planning, we won't fall for it!" Cana shouted.
"But you already have, haven't you? " He looked at Levy, the spell book still in her hands.
"You knew we would come here. You've been following us, haven't you? That's why Juvia found us so quickly, with you controlling her, you could have led her straight to us without her knowledge! You knew we would do whatever it took to help her." Levy realized.
"Indeed, and since I'm the only one who can set Juvia free, I hold all the power. Even so, I will grant you one opportunity to take them back. In three weeks', time you will journey to my home in the land of Iceberg on top of Mt. Kumo. If you survive the journey and succeed, I will return the memories and let you take her home with you. However, if you don't succeed or don't come, Juvia will remain my prisoner and you will all be wiped of Juvia from your memories forever!" He beamed.
"You can't!" Wendy cried.
"I don't understand you. Why bring her to us if she doesn't remember who we are? Why save Juvia and give us a chance to help her if you despise us?" Erza questioned.
"To watch you suffer. I was on another mission during the attack of the empire, I didn't arrive in Fiore until it was almost over. I wasn't a fool, I saw the outcome of that battle before Zeref did, so I stayed away. I tried to find my father by tracing his magic to the last spell he casted. That's where I found the girl. Using my magic, I was able to see what happened during the spell, and its aftermath. My father had me learn multiple forms of magic, ultimately training me to be the best assault weapon in his armada. So, I had a great idea, I'd take this precious girl back to my palace and plan to turn her against you, but I needed time. I casted the Aslanis Web, erased her mind, and commanded her disheveled body into the ocean, this is where she landed." Kurayami pointed around the area.
"I knew those two fools would want to help her and they did, but when I got back to Alvarez Invel had already been incarcerated for his crimes and put to death. I swore retribution. I was cast out of my militia and thrown into despair, but then I remembered the girl. I would avenge my father, my family's honor, watch each of you suffer."
"Think about it. Juvia dies, but now you see her alive and well. You're all so happy, to then discover she has no memories of her life. How heartbreaking that must be, for her, for you, and when you fail, I will revel in your pain. Because you will lose her all over again!" Kurayami was laughing, enjoying the feared looks that everyone had.
"I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU!" Gray screamed in frustration using his own ice powers to break through Kurayami's spell. "I won't let you touch her! ICE MAKE: LANCE!" Gray extended his arms forward, creating long, curved ice lances that he shot toward Kurayami.
"ICE MAKE: SHIELD!" Kurayami blocked the attack and with a whirl of wind he vanished.
"DAMN IT!" Gray screamed with frustration throwing his fist onto the beach.
Lucy used Aries' power of wool to destroy the ice and set everyone free.
"What do we do now?" Wendy asked.
"We go back to the guild and then take Juvia to Mt. Kumo." Erza stated.
"No way." Gray grunted.
"You want to send Juvia straight into the fire? I agree with the ice cube, that's insane." Gajeel yelled.
"I don't like it anymore then you do, but we don't have a choice!" Lucy cried.
"If we don't go there isn't even a chance of possibly helping her. He will just come to Magnolia and take her by force, and who knows what destruction that could cause. If we succeed with the mission, then no one has to get hurt." Erza stated.
"You think he's really just going to hand over her memories because Juvia asks!?" Gajeel screamed at Erza and she glared in return.
"I don't think he thinks we will make it at all." Everyone turned to Levy. "Mt. Kumo is one of the most dangerous lands in history, who knows how many obstacles we will have to face besides the cold weather conditions. I think he is confident that we will fail, which is why he made the offer, and if we do somehow manage to survive, he will keep his word."
"There has to be a way to do this without having Juvia face this guy?" Cana asked.
"There isn't. The spell is binding Cana, she has to be the one to ask, and to make matters worse Juvia possibly won't make it regardless." Levy sighed. Gray froze.
"...What do you mean?" Lucy asked.
"According to the book, any slave who is attempting to ask for freedom will experience extreme discomfort. The closer Juvia gets to Invel the more pain she will feel." Levy explained
"Then it's not happening." Gray stated.
"Gray pl-"
"NO, I'm not going to ask her to do this, there has to be another way!" Gray hunched over, no one could see it, but he was crying.
Erza approached him placing her hand on his shoulder "Gray, I know you're upset, I am too, but this is Juvia's decision. We will tell her everything we know and let her decide. We will stand by her choice as her family and do what we can to stop Kurayami." Gray shook her hand off and walked away.
"Gray!" Lucy shouted.
"He will be fine. He knows what we have to do, even if he disagrees with it. Let's head home everyone." Feeling defeated, they gathered their things and began the walk to the train station. When they arrived, Gray was indeed there waiting for them, but he did not speak on the way home, no one did.
*Back in Magnolia*
"Wow Natsu-san! Juvia had no idea you could eat that many bowls of spicy ramen!" Juvia cheered as Natsu and her were walking back from dinner. They had spent hours at the park, with Juvia hanging onto every detail of Natsu's battle stories. By the time she looked up the sun was starting to set, and she could tell Natsu was starving so she suggested getting a bite to eat.
"It's one of my many hidden talents!" Natsu laughed.
"Thank you, Natsu-san." Juvia gave Natsu a warm smile.
"For what?" he asked.
"For spending the day doing all these things with Juvia! She is happy to know she has a great friend and guildmate like you." Natsu blushing from embarrassment.
"Aww gee thanks Juvia!" Natsu smiled.
"You liiiike heer" Happy Floated, obviously joking to make fun of Natsu.
"SHUT UP HAPPY!" Natsu barked.
"Last one to the guild is a rotten fish!" Happy shouted flying ahead of them.
"Oh yeah? Let's go!" Juvia gave him a look "Juvia is sorry but she is not fast Natsu-San." That's when Natsu grabbed her arm heaving her onto his back. "No problem, hold on!"
"Natsu-san what are you -AHHH!" Natsu jumped into a run with Juvia squeezing her arms around his neck so she wouldn't fall. He was so fast Juvia could not see anything they were passing. It was all blurry and she was sure he would run into something "Juvia thinks you should slow down!" She shouted.
"We're almost there!" with one final leap they passed Happy and were getting ready to land right into the guild's doors! "AHHHHHH!" Both shouted bracing themselves.
They rolled right into the guild hall, crashing into a few stools and benches. Then finally landing on top of one another with Juvia face first into the floor and Natsu on top of her. Juvia could feel her eyes spinning, but the second she looked over at Natsu they started laughing.
"HAHAHA, we did it!" Natsu cheered.
"Good Job Natsu-san!" Juvia also cheered.
"*Ahem*" They both looked up to see their guildmates in front of them.
"Natsu what the hell are you doing!" Lucy grabbed Natsu by his scarf and yanked him off Juvia.
"Luce! You guys are back!" He smiled clearly ignoring the daggers in Lucy's eyes.
"Juvia?" Gray asked looking down at her.
"Gray-sama!" Juvia jumped and gave him a hug, which he returned a little too tightly for Juvia's liking. Something was wrong.
"Where did Gray-sama go?" Juvia asked.
"It's a long story. How about we get some drinks and have a seat, we have something to tell you." Cana gestured.
Now Natsu seemed concerned, he looked to Lucy for a quicker explanation, but she wouldn't give one. So, they did as Cana suggested, and all took a seat, Mira and Master Markov had joined them, but other than that the guild hall was empty at this time of night. Once everyone gathered the group shared their tale of the day's events. Kurayami, Invel, the curse, the mission, all of it. Juvia felt cold again as she heard each detail, at one point Gray put his hand on hers, and then it began to rain.
"Juvia it's your choice that decides our next steps." Juvia locked eyes with Erza's. She could see how sad Erza was to tell her this, she didn't want her to be sad.
"Juvia." It was Gray who spoke now. "You don't have to do this; we can try and find another way. Don't risk your life for this." It was a plea, and to Gray, his last attempt to stop this, but he already knew in his heart what she'd decide, because he knew her.
Juvia sat there, taking a moment to think about it all. She didn't want anyone to get hurt, not after she'd only just found them. If she goes and makes it, they will be together and if she doesn't make, then only their memories will be altered, and even though that made her sad, she knew it would be better that way. No one would be hurt, and they would only be upset for a short while. She could make it, she was strong, and if her friends were with her, like Natsu was that day, then she could power through. Juvia had to try, she vowed she would, if she got her memories back everyone, including her, would be so happy...she didn't want to make anyone sad about her decision, but she knew what she wanted. She looked at Gray and squeezed his hand.
"Gray-sama, please, don't be angry with Juvia. She wants to go. Juvia wants to protect her home, she wants her memories back, she doesn't want this person having them. Juvia is strong, and with her family by her side, Juvia believes she can do it." She gave her best encouraging smile.
"We won't let you down Juvia. Not while I have a breath still in me." Natsu stated, clearly angry about the whole thing.
"We're with you." Lucy smiled.
Juvia began to tear up. "Thank you all." with that Erza laid out a plan for the mission. Tomorrow they will start their journey to Mt. Kumo, she told them what to pack and what supplies to get. Everyone agreed and made their way home to prepare. Gray escorted Juvia back to Fairy Hills once more, still silent, and solemn. When they arrived back in her room Juvia began discussing what she would need for the mission.
"Juvia." She turned to Gray to see him staring at the floor in frustration.
"I can't lose you again Juvia." his hands were shaking into fists
"Gray-sama." She slowly approached him, but he quickly reached out and pulled her into him. His whole body was shaking, and his heart was beating fast.
"I swear to you Juvia, I won't let him hurt you or take you away from us-from me again. I will be strong for you, and I'll fight alongside you until I'm dead in the ground, but please. Promise me you'll stay alive; I can't do this if you don't." Juvia felt her own tears forming and she threw her arms around Gray's neck, pulling her fingers into his hair. He was so vulnerable, almost like a little boy, and Juvia's heart was breaking for him. She didn't really understand the effects of her death until that moment. She knew if she promised him there was a chance, she couldn't keep it, but she would give it her all, and she hoped that would be enough.
"I promise."