The next day Juvia decided to take a little break from her work and explore the labyrinth. She hadn't really done much of that since she arrived and it wasn't everyday that she was in a magical world. With Jellal as her guide she saw some very interesting places.
"And over here my lady is the hedge maze." The knight said. "A very confusing location, a person could be trapped here for days if they did not know the way."
"Good thing that you're such a smart guide." Juvia said.
"Well I wouldn't exactly say smart." He said feeling very bashful. "Experienced maybe but smart? Heavens no."
"You don't give yourself enough credit. I really appreciate all that you and Mirajane have done for me. You've been nice to me ever since I first arrived. I thank you for all your kindness noble sir."
"My lady." Jellal said bowing respectfully to show his gratitude for her compassionate words.
They continued down one of the corridors in the hedges and during the walk, Juvia spotted Gajeel. He was alone which wasn't so unusual but he looked troubled. She decided to see what was the matter.
"Hello Gajeel." She greeted with a smile.
"Ahh!" The troll cried, feeling startled by her appearance. "Don't sneak up on me like that! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be sewing or something?"
"Probably but I decided to take a break and look around. See the sights and I don't mean to pry but you looked upset. Is something wrong?"
"No!" He denied. "And even if there was I wouldn't tell you! Because it's none of your business!"
"Well don't get angry. I was only trying to help. That's what friends do you know."
"There you go again calling me your friend."
"But you are my friend."
"But I don't want a friend. I don't need a friend."
"Everyone needs friends." Frosch said popping out from Juvia's jacket pocket.
"Don't pretend to be so hard." Juvia said. "But I know deep down you're glad that we're friends. To be honest I think I'm actually starting to get through to you and a lot of people here. Including Gray."
"Now that's a laugh. Nothing could get through his thick skull."
"I wouldn't insult him if I were you." Jellal said. "You know how he is, he can be anywhere in this place at any time. You never know if he could be listening and if you make him angry well...I'm not sure what he'll do but it can't be good."
"Honestly I don't think he's as horrible as everyone thinks he is." Juvia said. "I mean alright he's very difficult and stubborn but I think he has a good heart and that he could be a really good person if he tried."
"Just don't be too trusting of him." Gajeel told her. "He's the Alok's son which means there's no telling what he's capable of."
"Oh Gajeel you do care." After giving him another smile she leaned over to give him a kiss.
"No! Don't kiss me!" He cried. "Don't kiss me!"
But in the end her lips planted a harmless little peck on his cheek and the very moment she did that the floor moved out from under them which sent the three of them falling into the bog of eternal stench. Luckily they manged to latch on to the edge of a wall which kept them from landing in the foul smelling lake.
"My lady are you alright?" Jellal asked Juvia as he helped her down from the wall.
"I'm fine." She answered. "Frosch are you okay?"
"I am." The little cat said, still safe in her pocket.
"Thank goodness...Oh good God what is that awful smell?"
"It's the bog of eternal stench!" Gajeel gagged.
"I've never smelled anything like it." She said holding her nose. "It smells like...Like..."
"Who cares what it smells like?!" Gajeel shouted. "It's a bog of eternal stench! Oh why did you have to go and kiss me?! Now we're stuck here!"
"Not necessarily." Jellal said before coughing a few times due to the wretched smell. "I know a short cut that should take us right back to the castle. Unfortunately it's in the Enchanted Forest so we'll have to get through this bog to get there."
"Please tell me you know the way." Gajeel said.
"Of course. Cough! Cough! Oh good lord this is horrible! And Alok thinks that sending someone here is too merciful?!" He coughed a couple more times.
"How long will it take us to get out of here?" Gajeel asked.
"Ten minutes if you do as I say and don't stray from-"
But he was interrupted when they heard a rumbling noise and saw that wall above them was crumbling a little.
"Brace yourselves!" Jellal said as he covered Juvia's head to shield her from falling debris. But it wasn't debris that fell, it was Elfman who fell right from the wall.
"Oh my!" Juvia gasped. "Elfman are you alright?"
"I think so." Elfman said.
"How did you get down here?" Jellal asked.
"I don't know. One minute I'm walking around and minding my own business next think I know I'm falling."
"That's odd."
"You're not hurt are you?" Juvia asked.
"No. I landed a bush that broke my fall."
"Uh good sir I don't mean to belittle your intelligence but that's not a bush." Jellal said pointing to what Elfman was sitting on and indeed it wasn't a bush. It was Gajeel.
"Get off of me!" The troll shouted and the giant quickly stood up. Jellal and Juvia both helped Gajeel get back on to his feet.
"Sorry Gajeel." Elfman apologized.
"Everyone follow me please." Jellal said.
"Whatever you say sir." Juvia said.
Jella led them over a few stones and past some trees until they reached apart of the bog that was between two edges.
"We just have to across this and we'll be able to enter the forest." Jellal said.
"You're joking." Gajeel said looking down at the disgusting ooze. "How are we supposed to get across that?"
"It looks like we'll have to jump." Juvia said.
"No one can jump that. We'll fall in!"
"Jellal do you know any alternate ways we could get across?" She asked.
"None that I know of."
"Then I guess we jump."
"My lady I could carry you across."
"No then you would stink for God knows how long. I'll jump."
Juvia took a few steps back, started to run, and jumped off the edge. However she didn't make it and ended up grabbing a nearby tree branch, clinging to it desperately.
"Oh no!" She cried. "Stay in my pocket Frosch! Don't come out!"
"No problem there." The cat squeaked.
"Fear not fair maiden I will save you...Somehow." Jellal said.
"I got this." Elfman said.
He then let out a mighty roar which caused the oozing bog to bubble and boil until several rocks and stones rose up to construct a bridge which allowed Juvia to safely land on one of them without falling into the bog.
"Why didn't you do that in the first place?" Gajeel asked.
"It slipped my mind." Elfman said.
"I must say that's a brilliant ability you have there." Jellal said.
Juvia carefully walked across the rocks and stones before making toward the other side. Her three friends followed soon after. Soon they reached the enchanted forest and as they were leaving Gajeel tried to throw the peach Briar had given him into the bog. He was just about to send it flying when he heard Alok's voice in the wind say.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Oh please." He pleaded nervously. "Don't make me do it."
"If you don't not only will I throw you back into that bog but I'll throw Elfman and anyone else you're fond of back in there."
"You're a monster."
"Now, now, there's no reason to be so upset. Briar never said the peach would harm her."
"So it won't?"
"She never said it wouldn't either. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. You don't know for sure but you do know for a fact that harm will be definitely be done to you and your other miscreant friends if you don't so as she says. Now hurry up! Before I lose my patience!"
Poor Gajeel. He had no choice but to do what was demanded of him and pray that it wouldn't lead to Juvia getting hurt. The opportunity to do it presented itself when Jellal went to check if the short cut was in the same place and Elfman went to look for something to eat due to the group getting hungry.
"I hope Elfman will be able to find some berries or something." Juvia said. "I really should have eaten earlier."
"Uh...Juvia." Gajeel said as he reluctantly pulled the peach from his pocket.
"Yes?" She said.
"Here." He said presenting it to her.
"Oh Gajeel thank you." She said taking it from him. "But you're probably hungry too. Wanna split it?"
"No I'm not hungry."
"Then I'll just share it with Jellal and Elfman when they get back."
"No! I mean...Don't because Elfman is allergic to peaches and Jellal's not really hungry. It's best if you eat it."
"Alright."
Gajeel held his breath as she watched Juvia bite into the peach, chew up that piece, and swallow it. At first she found the peach to have a very strange taste but that was quickly forgotten when she felt a deep pain in her stomach followed by her face and body feeling very hot but also very cold. She was dizzy and light headed, things to be spinning. Something was wrong and she could tell by Gajeel's guilt ridden face that he knew about it.
"Gajeel what have you done?" She asked in a weak voice.
"Oh! Damn you Alok!" Gajeel shouted in immediate guilt and regret. "And damn me too!"
He ran off and shortly after that Juvia fainted. Frosch came out from Juvia's jacket pocket and tried to get her to wake by nuzzling her but it did nothing. He attempted to move her pulling on her jacket but she was too heavy. Unable to think of anything else to do, he went to get help.
He searched for Jellal or Elfman but the cat had a terrible sense of direction and he ended up bumping right into the left boot of Gray who was casually looking around for some lower level goblins to tease.
"Hey why don't you watch where you're going?" He looked down at the cat who became very frightened by him. "What are you looking at? What's your problem?"
"Don't hurt me." Frosch pleaded. "Please help!"
"Help? Help what?"
"Juvia fell. I think she's really sick."
His annoyed demeanor instantly became one of deep concern and he gently picked up Frosch.
"Where is she?" He asked.
"In the forest. Somewhere near the edge."
Gray headed there as fast as he could, taking Frosch with him.