Hi again, everyone.
Thank you all for your response to chapter 1. I'm glad to see people are already enjoying this story, cause it will be a long and wild ride.
Here are the shoutouts:
Star197: You might be on the right track with your guess...
Guest: Wow that was unexpected. I'm glad you've liked the beginning of this story and you're right, few people cover Juvia's backstory, which is a shame. I know there isn't much to work with, but that's why I love writing it so much. With no information, I get to make up my own and that's always fun!
Thanks for pointing me towards MizWrite's Rain Drop, I'll certainly read that now. I hope my story will indeed fulfill your expectations, but I have a feeling this will be much different from what you expected.
MasterGildarts: I'm glad you're enjoying this so far. I always try to give a different view to important moments, so I'm glad you think the scene with Gray's sacrifice was well done. I really love that moment, as sad as it is, so I've written it in multiple ways and point of views already. Each time, there's always something different.
ShizukaPamela: Don't worry, you're not being dumb. I just felt like it was pretty much given, but I'm the writer. Everything is obvious to me. I hope you'll enjoy the big reveal this chapter.
Ikhny Shy: You'll see most of it this chapter. Don't worry, there is some quality Gruvia moments coming in the next one.
lady lutka: I'm glad you do. I think you already have a pretty good idea what I have planned. Hope you enjoy it!
KassfromVenus: Good! I'm glad you like it.
This chapter's pretty much the whole truth about Juvia's past and I hope you'll enjoy what I did here. It's an idea that's been in my mind for ages and I've come up with at least 3 ways of executing it, until settling on this one.
Happy reading!
October 15th, X784
"This guild sure is exciting, isn't it?" Juvia told Gajeel while watching their friends celebrate before the Fantasia Parade.
"It's not boring at least." The dragon slayer shrugged and she giggled.
"Certainly isn't." Finding Gray talking to Loke, she smiled.
"Damn, woman." Gajeel followed her gaze and shook his head. "I know that look."
"What look?" She frowned, confused.
"The one you were just giving stripper." Sighing, he came to a realization. "You really love him, don't you?"
"I do." Though her feelings for the ice mage had began as an infactuation, after she had joined Fairy Tail a month before, they had quickly escalated into something much stronger.
"Better be careful." Gajeel's eyes narrowed. "Don't forget what happened with the last idiot."
"Gray is nothing like Bora." Juvia immediately said.
"Yeah, right." He rolled his eyes once Gray stripped to his boxers. "He's worse."
Juvia was about to protest, but Mira approached them with the brighest smile. "Hey, you two."
"Hi, Mirajane." Juvia greeted, trying to be just as cheerful.
"Why don't you join the party?" The she-devil suggested. "Everyone's having fun."
"No, thanks." Gajeel said. "All that noise is just making my wounds hurt. Think I'm gonna head outside."
"Well, what about you, Juvia?" The water mage looked towards her friends.
"I don't know." Biting her lip, she was unsure. Did they even want her to join?
"Come on. There are so many people who want to meet you." Mira gently grabbed her hand.
"Really?" The bluenette was genuinely confused. The concept that people actually wanted to meet her and become friends was still foreign to her.
"Of course! You're a part of the family, after all." A family. Now that was a word Juvia didn't use often, didn't even think about.
However, looking back at Gray, Lucy and the rest of Fairy Tail, she realized that she might have finally found it.
July 12th, X791
"Your Majesty." Juvia greeted the king with a curtsy once she spotted him on the couch.
"Please, there is no need for such formality." He told her, gently.
"Should I leave now, father?" Hisui asked, to which he shook his head.
"No, you should stay. This concerns both of you, after all." The water mage was confused at this.
"What do you mean?" Toma took a deep breath.
"I've been waiting to talk to you for quite a while now. It wasn't easy, but I knew it was best to do this once the Games were finished. Wouldn't want you to be distracted and possibly cause Fairy Tail to lose, after all."
"But why do you want to talk to me?" She found no reason for this; it made no sense.
"Because I have been looking for you for a long time, Juvia Lockser." While she raised a brow, he motioned towards the painting. "Do you know who she is?"
"No. I've never seen her before." Her heart-rate increased because, as confused as she was at the moment, she did notice the resemblance between the woman in the painting and herself.
"Her name was Iris and she was my queen." The king said, standing up from the couch. "Many years ago, I lost her during a rebellion that led to the invasion of the palace and she was murdered."
Juvia's eyes widened. Was that Hisui's mother? She didn't look so much like the jade haired princess. Or maybe...No, it couldn't be.
"I'm sorry." Toma gave a small smile.
"Thank you." Taking another deep breath, he continued his tale. "After my Iris was gone, I was devastated. Even more so because she wasn't the only one I lost that night."
There was a pause and her heart were beating so fast that she was sure they could hear it. Was he about to say what she thought he was? Could her assumption be true? Could she be...
"Our daughter was kidnapped that night. We don't know by whom exactly or why, but she was taken away and I never saw her again." The king lowered his head, face overcome with sadness. "Our Juliet was so young, only a few weeks old. We had so little time with her."
"Juliet..." Juvia whispered, feeling her hopes vanish. She had been wrong, then.
"I spent years mourning for both of them." The king continued after a few moments. "Even though I searched far and wide for my daughter, she was never found.
Eventually, I decided to remarry because the kingdom still needed a queen and an heir." He glanced towards Hisui, smiling softly. "And I don't regret it because that second marriage brought me my dear Hisui. You and your mother helped me move on and I'll be eternally thankful for that."
"Father..." Hisui was clearly getting emotional, silent tears streaming down her face.
"I still don't understand...Why did you call me here?" Juvia asked, confused yet again.
"Because...you're her." The princess answered. "My sister."
"You're Juliet." Toma said, taking a step towards the two girls. "I knew it from the moment I saw your picture on the newspaper six years ago. I've been searching for you for so long, but now I've finally found you."
Juvia was overwhelmed by so many emotions that she could hardly breathe. It all felt so unreal, so impossible, but it was true.
After years of wondering, she finally knew who she was. The only remaining question was, what would she do about it?
"This is...too much." The king nodded, understanding.
"I know it's overwhelming, so I want you to take your time." He reassured her. "Think about this, ask me all of your questions and don't feel pressured. I'm not asking you to come live in the palace or to become Juliet, because I know that's not fair. Just...I would really like to get to know you."
That was her undoing. There he was, her father, standing in front of her and saying he wanted to get to know her. It was too much, so Juvia couldn't contain herself and suddenly she had fallen to her knees and thrown her arms around him.
While surprised at first, Toma smiled before hugging her back. He held her while she sobbed like the world was over and Hisui fondly watched them until he signaled for her to join, so she too hugged the water mage from behind.
Years of loneliness, fear and unsureness were gone just like that. Even though Fairy Tail had helped ease her pain, it couldn't compare to finding her birth family and knowing that they hadn't given her up, that they had wanted her and looked for her all this time.
Having her father embrace her like Juvia had always wanted, finally healed her wounds.
It healed all of their wounds.
October 15th, X767
A woman with long blue hair and giant blue eyes smiled while cradling the dark blue bundle in her arms. Her eyes didn't leave the pale baby that had her eyes closed since she was finally asleep.
"Is she asleep?" A man came into the room. He had white hair and small black eyes.
"Yes, finally." The woman looked at him and her smile enlarged. "How was the meeting?'
"Long." He replied, walking further into the room. Finding a seat on the red couch beside her, he also glanced at the baby. "Our Juliet sure isn't easy to handle."
She chuckled. "No child is easy to handle, darling."
"That is true." He smiled fondly. "But I'm certain we'll manage. Together." He took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze.
"I hope so." She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning her head against his shoulder.
"You should go to bed." He told her, gently. "I can stay with her."
"No, I don't want to sleep yet." She disagreed, shaking her head. "We should spend as much time as we can with her." Looking back towards the sleeping baby, she frowned. "We never know how much we may have left."
"Iris..." Sadness overwhelmed both once they thought about issues which had not yet been resolved.
"I'm scared, Toma. The news of the rebellion... What if they come for us?" He protectively wrapped an arm around her, bringing her close.
"They won't. We are safe here." Looking around the office, he was certain.
"I hope you're right." Iris looked back towards the sleeping baby. "Because I want to be there for every step. I've heard so much about motherhood and now I want to see if it's all true."
"I'm sure it won't be easy, but as long as our little princess is happy, it will be worth it." Toma said, smiling fondly.
"Precisely." A smile came upon the queen's face before she turned to face him. They leant in for a soft kiss while her arms tightened around the baby.
Protective, caring, reassuring. Queen Iris had been willing to do anything for her daughter and King Toma had known that he would do the same for both of them.
Weeks passed after the big reveal, then months. Juvia distanced herself from her friends; not enough to become noticeable, but she started taking more solo jobs instead of going with Gajeel or Gray.
The latter didn't take long to stop avoiding her in the end, so their relationship went back to the close friendship from before Tenrou Island. After that, Juvia stopped being so affectionate and making her feelings clear.
As Lyon had suggested, she gave Gray time and it was clear he appreciated it. She watched him loosen up and relax now that she wasn't overwhelming him anymore.
They were finally in good terms and she was fine, even if she did love him still.
As it turned out, she needed time as well. Time to figure things out and decide what to do about her new identity. It wasn't easy when she thought about her family, a father and a sister who clearly loved and wanted her.
That was all she had ever wanted, but it wasn't as simple. With Fairy Tail and her friends, the choice wasn't clear.
After 2 months of consideration, Juvia decided that she wanted to keep her life as it was. She had no interest in becoming a princess and ruling a kingdom. That wasn't the future she envisioned.
Therefore, she decided to tell them about her decision and hoped they would truly understand.
September 12th, X791.
The water mage sat her father and sister down on the couch and revealed everything. Once she was done, Hisui's initial response was...unexpected.
"Is this because of Gray Fullbuster?" A blush colored Juvia's face.
"What? No. It's not just that, it's...How do you even know?" The princess smiled.
"You haven't exactly tried to hide the fact that you love him." Well, that did make sense.
"I've watched you two during the Games and I was told about what happened during the dragon invasion." Their father spoke next and Juvia frowned at the memory.
"I can't forget it. He died because of me." Hisui placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't beat yourself up for it." Juvia gave her a thankful look.
"Of course, it's not your fault." Toma was quick to say. "The choice was his and I believe that a man would hardly die for a woman he didn't love."
"I don't know about that." Her frown deepened.
"I do." He told her, determined. "I could see it so clearly. Even if he's fighting against it for some reason, he does love you."
"I think he just needs time. You know how slow men can be." If someone had told Juvia two months before that she would be having this conversation with Fiore's royal family, she would've never believed it.
"This is weird." The other two laughed.
"On the contrary, it feels natural." King Toma smiled.
"I wish you would stay here for longer." Hisui added. "It gets lonely sometimes."
"I'm sorry." The bluenette bit her lip, now conflicted about her decision.
"Don't be." Her father reassured her. "I meant it when I said you didn't have to choose this life."
"I'd still like to visit, if you'll have me." Juvia told him in a small voice.
"Of course. You're always welcome." His smile was bright and warm. It chased away her insecurity, her unsureness and she thanked him. She thanked both of them for being so king and comprehensive.
Once she left the castle, her heart was light and she was happy that things had gone so well. On the travel back to Magnolia, she couldn't keep her eyes off the small gift her father had given her: a pair of blue earrings that had once belonged to her mother.
King Toma had told her that they had been enchanted, so if she was ever in trouble, all she had to do was press them and help would come.
While Juvia hadn't imagined she would actually have to use them, a time came when everything fell apart and she needed her family more than ever.
So, thoughts?
Did you expect Juvia to actually be a princess? I hope my explanations sufficed, but if any doubts remain, be sure to tell me.
What do you think of her decision? Do you believe it fits with her character? I feel like, while Juvia would be ecstatic to find her birth family, she wouldn't be too interested in leaving Fairy Tail to become a princess.
Lastly, what do you suppose will happen next?
Ps: You shouldn't think too much about Juvia's kidnapping because it won't be important to the story. I only didn't specify who took her in case I wish to write about it in the future.
Next chapter: Unready. It will pretty much cover all the big Gruvia moments from Tartaros and Avatar Arc.
Think we can try 6 reviews by the 20th of January?