During the whole carriage ride back to Gray's castle he didn't stop asking her questions about who and what she was. She told him over and over again that she was just a human woman but he found it hard to believe her. There was just something not completely human about her. She looked human, she sounded human, and she acted human but there was something about her eyes that seemed completely unreal. Whenever Gray looked into someone's eyes he could see their inner darkness. He could see what made them ugly on the inside. He could see what really made them human. He could see their flaws. But with her it was completely different.

When he looked into her eyes he only saw light, beauty, love, charity, hope. Basically all of her virtues. Now obviously she had flaws and he could see virtues in other people but in others the flaws were obvious and the virtues well hidden but with Juvia it was just the opposite. Obvious virtues and well hidden flaws. He had only known one other person like that and it was Natsu. His eyes were full of fire, courage, justice, humility, loyalty and Gray knew that the reasons for that was because he was no regular human being. Hence why he didn't believe Juvia was either.

"You're positive that you're a hundred percent human?" He asked her for the thousandth time as they entered the castle.

"Yes I am. Why don't you believe me?" She asked.

"Because you just...You just don't seem like it."

"Well I am."

"What about your family?"

"They were human too. I had a human father and I human mother."

"Alright so you maybe human but have you ever used magic? Any kind at all?"

Juvia became quiet when he asked that because she didn't know how to answer that. Technically speaking magic had been used in her life but if she told him how that would mean she would have to reveal Levy and Gajeel to him. But she couldn't just lie. He would know if she was lying and that would make him really angry.

"You have haven't you?" He said. "What kind of magic did you use?"

"Technically I didn't use it but it was used on me."

"By who or what?"

"If I tell you do you promise not to hurt them?"

"Them? Who are they? Tell me!"

She had no choice. Part of her hoped that Gajeel had fled and taken Levy with him but she knew very well that they wouldn't just leave her even to save their own lives. Reluctantly she went up to her room and brought back her doll and cat.

"I thought I told you to get rid of that cat." Gray said.

"I know but he wouldn't leave and there's a reason for that. I only hope that you don't hurt them because of it." She hugged both the doll and cat protectively. "These two are no ordinary doll and cat. This is Levy, she's a fairy doll and parting gift from my mother. She was made to watch over me. Go on Levy show yourself."

She sat the doll down on the floor and it took on it's true form. Gray almost snorted at the sight of her.

"I thought I smelled the agonizing odor of fairy in here."

"Hey you're scent isn't exactly pleasant to my nostrils either." She scoffed.

"And this cat is Gajeel. He was normal but then Levy gave him boots that allow him to become human." Juvia said as she placed some adult sized clothes over the cat before slipping the small boots on to his paws. In no time at all he changed into a man.

"So you're a man now?" Gray asked Gajeel.

"Yes." He answered.

"Good. Then I won't instantly kill you when I do this." Gray then punched him across the face. "That's for what you did to my neck earlier you mangy thing!"

"Why you smug bastard! I'll break every bone in your body for that!"

"No! No fighting!" Juvia protested. "None of that."

"How long of these two been here?" Gray asked.

"Two days. I didn't bring them. They followed me."

"Then tell them to leave. You know my rules. No visitors."

"Sorry sir but we refuse to abandon Juvia." Levy said. "Especially when she's staying here with the likes of you."

"Well that's too bad but my estate has a no pet or toy policy."

"I am not a pet/toy!" Gajeel and Levy argued.

"Perhaps they could serve as staff to you." Juvia suggested. "I can do the chores you've assigned to me but it's an awful lot for one person. I can get it done mind you but it will take me such a long time. Perhaps you could divide them up amongst myself and them. I could continue to serve as your maid, Levy would make a fine cook, and Gajeel could keep away rats and other pests."

"I can't trust them to work for me. Especially someone created by fairies, fairies hate me and would love to see me dead. Isn't that right dolly?" He said venomously to Levy.

"That's true but you forget fairies and things made by fairies can only do good magic. I can't harm you or do any acts of ill will toward you."

"But how do I know you or him won't blab my secrets."

"They won't." Juvia assured him. "I have a deal in mind that will ensure that."

"I'm listening." He said interested.

"If they tell anyone any secrets you have then you can kill me."

"What?!" Gajeel and Levy gasped.

"How does that ensure my secrets are safe?" Gray asked her.

"They love me. They would do anything to protect me. They came all the way here despite the danger just so they could make sure nothing bad happened to me while I'm here. They wouldn't dare reveal any secrets of yours if it would put my life at stake. That's how your secrets are guaranteed to be safe with them."

"Hmm..." He thought for a moment before turning to speak with her companions. "Is that really true? You love her that much that you wouldn't reveal any secret I have no matter how minor if doing such an act would result in her demise?"

"Yes." They answered.

"We're loyal to only her until the day we die." Levy said. "But we don't think that this deal is appropriate for-"

"With all due respect only Juvia and I decide if this deal is struck." He turned back to the maiden. "I suppose I could make that work but I'm still not entirely convinced that they can be trusted."

"They're my only friends." She said. "If I never see them again I'll be miserable for the rest of my life and any time I'm not working I'll be crying because I'll be so alone."

That's what officially sealed the deal for Gray. He couldn't bear to go back to listening to her weep every night.

"Very well. It's a deal then." He said holding his hand out to her which she shook. "Of course you two realize you'll be working without pay."

"What?!" Gajeel said. "That's not fair!"

"Gajeel you're a cat." Levy said. "You don't need money."

"How am I going to eat?"

"Will he get food and board while he's working here?" Levy asked.

"Yes." Gray said. "I will provide necessities for you two as I do for Juvia but that's it."

"So they can stay?" Juvia asked hopefully.

"Yes." He said rolling his eyes. "I'm very reluctant to allow this but yes."

Juvia smile became bigger and brighter than it had ever been in a long time. Relief and joy filled her body to such a degree that she just couldn't contain herself and she did something very unexpected. She suddenly moved forward and hugged him.

"Thank you." She said gratefully. "Thank you so much. You have no idea how much having them here means to me."

Gray was as still and stiff as a statue. His entire face had gone into shock as his mind tried to comprehend what was happening. She was close to him. She was touching him. She was hugging him. She was doing all of that and not once recoiling in horror or disgust. Gray wasn't sure how to react. He raised his arms a little, seemingly to return the hug but when his black skinned and clawed hands were just inches from her back he stopped.

"Uh..." He said flustered. "You're...You're touching me."

"Oh!" She said moving away from his quickly. "Sorry. I guess that you made me so happy that I lost a little control back there."

"I...I...I made you...Happy?"

"Yes. You're letting me and my two best friends stay together. That's all I needed to really be happy here. Thank you." She turned to her companions. "I have to show you two something amazing. Something that I know you two will just adore. Follow me."

While Gray was left still in shock, Juvia led Gajeel and Levy down one of the corridors to show her the two rooms that she knew they would find to be the most amazing ever. The library and the music room. She showed them the library book first and Levy was just speechless at the sight. Seemingly endless shelves filled with all the books in a Fiore. Literary masterpieces, classic fiction, ancient scriptures, written knowledge that was thought to be lost forever.

"This is incredible." She said. "I didn't think it was possible for any place to have so many books. Is this even real?"

"It is. I've dusted almost every shelf." Juvia said. "Just think, while you're here you can read all the books you want and learn so much. I bet there are works in here that not even the king's scholar has read."

"I guess this is impressive by Levy's standards." Gajeel said. "But I'm not really much of a book worm."

"I know Gajeel but the library is Levy's surprise." Juvia said. "Yours is another room."

"Really? What's in it?"

"You'll find out. Come on I'll show you." Gajeel and Levy were already out the door. Juvia would have been too but then she caught sight of the window that had been broken earlier when Natsu sneaked in. "Oh wait! Hold on! I need to clean up something in her very quickly! I won't be long!"

She carefully kneeled down under the window and with great care, picked up the pieces of broken glass. Most of them were rather small save for two shards that could that were as big as her hands. She held those shards and couldn't help but think at how pretty glass could be and how you could use it to create almost anything. Then she was reminded of that chat she had with Gray when she first arrived here. About how making shoes from glass.

"Glass slippers." She said out loud. "It does sound silly but if I had pair I'd wear them."

The very moment those words were spoken those two shards of glass were instantly into two silver slik mule style slippers with a jewel pattern made up of blue gems and a heel made of pure crystal clear glass. Juvia blinked a couple of times to make sure that she hadn't imagined it. But when the slippers remained even after she blinked she knew that it wasn't her mind playing tricks on her.

At first she was too amazed by how beautiful the slippers were to acknowledge how this happened. They were the loveliest pair of shoes that she had ever laid eyes upon. A thousand times finer than the expensive shoes Melanthe and Briar would buy. However after admiring them for five minutes, logic stepped in and she began to wonder on earth did two shards of common glass suddenly change into slippers? It couldn't have been something she did. After all she's not anyone or anything special. Just an average human servant girl with no special gifts or talents. Right?

...

Gren sat calmly and quietly in the jail cell the police had locked him in until they decided what was to be done with him for the crime he had committed. But Gren wasn't worried. Not at all because he knew how to work the system to where he wouldn't do any time. Of course he had to be patient and wait for the right moment to put his plan into action. That's what made him so crafty. He was willing to be patient.

When the door to the station opened he turned around expecting to see another cop who would advise him to get a lawyer but it wasn't. Nevertheless who stood there didn't surprise him. In fact he had been expecting her to show up any minute.

It was Lusha who at the moment was looking very proud of herself and feeling very superior which also was no surprise to Gren. He had suspected that she was the mastermind behind this whole thing since the beginning because only she would play a trump card like this. That is if she was desperate to get something.

"Well you really wanted to have that little chat didn't you?" He asked her.

"Apparently this was the only way I could do it." She said approacing the bars. "Sorry it had to come to this but you wouldn't take the easy way and well desperate times calls for desperate measures."

"You mean desperate times calls for desperate people right?" Gren corrected. "I must say Lusha you're getting smarter. You knew how desperate Yuki was, desperate enough to do something as stupid as robbing me. So you put him up to it."

"I merely suggested that I could work something out with his mortgage bills if he pick up a little something for me."

"Something that doesn't belong to you." He said. "Which raises the question, do you have what I want?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now when two parties have something the other wants, a deal can be made. So what do you want?"

"Before I answer let me explain something to you."

"Explain away. Right now I have no choice but to listen right?"

"Yes." She smiled vindictivly. "You know Gren this isn't the first time I've chatted with you behind bars. Nor is this the first time we've made a deal or have interfered in each other's plans. But you knew that already, didn't you?"

"No not really. I mean this is the first time I've ever been in prisoned here."

"Yes this the first time you've ever been in prisoned here in Edolas. But what about in other places?

"What exactly is it that you want from me?"

"I want you to answer one question for me and I want you to answer it clearly and truthfully. No splitting hairs, no clever word play, no riddles, just a clear and simple answer."

"Very well. What is your question?"

"What is your real name? The name you were given at birth and if you don't answer me this time then I will shatter that precious but extremely fragile stolen item of yours into a million pieces."

Gren sighed. He knew that it would eventually come to this although he didn't expect it so soon. Nevertheless he had to give her the answer she wanted or he would never get back what he so desperately wanted return.

"Now tell me your name." She commanded.

Gren looked at her with mischievous eyes before his mouth twisted into that grin she could never forget.

"Gray." He finally answered.

At this confirmation Lusha's victorious smile fell and horror filled with immediate horror.

"That's right Lucy, I remember everything. I know who you really are, I know who I really am, I've known everything all along for the past ten years." He chuckled sinisterly. "Did you really think that I would just let you strip away my memories and make me into some amnesiac slave?"

"How." She said. "How is this possible? How was your memory kept in tact?"

"That's my little secret and our deal requires me to only answer one question truthfully and clearly. I fulfilled my end of our bargain now give me what I want."

She slowly stuck her hand in her purse and pulled out what she had kept hidden in there. It was a slipper. A slipper of silver, gems, and glass. Very beautiful and but oh so very fragile.

"I can't believe you almost killed a man over this." She said. "I didn't think that little servant girl meant so much to you. I mean I knew you liked her but I didn't it was to such a degree that you would have a keepsake dedicated to her."

"Just give it to me." He said trying not to lose it again. At long last she handed him the slipper. "Thank you your majesty."

"You're not welcome."

"Ten years and you still have such horrid manners." His grin became bigger. "Now that we're being honest with each other let's remember how things used to be shall we? And don't let these bars fool you dearie. We both know I'm the one with the power around here."

"We'll see about that. I'm not as inexperienced as I was ten years ago."

"True but no matter how experienced, clever, or cunning you become I'll always be one step ahead of you. Little sister."

Her face was red with rage at the mention of that name he would taught her with so much. But she didn't say a word. Instead she stood up and walked away while he just looked down at the slipper in his hand. His grin didn't waver and he made no sound but he finally allowed one tear to fall from his eye and it landed right on that slipper which he held so dear.

Note: Juvia's slipper design is based off of the slippers used in Ever After