Juvia hummed quietly as she stepped carefully over all of the roots marring the jungle floor. Even though she used her legs more than ever, she was still clumsy when it came to walking. Juvia stumbled over the next tree root and Gray wrapped an arm round her waist to stop her falling.
"I can carry you, if you want..."
Juvia beamed at her beloved and the affection in his dark eyes, "Juvia is fine, besides this is good practice!"
Gray watched her skip away humming again and stumbling over the various foliage that littered the floor. He shook his head in disbelief; since they had arrived at Tenrou, Juvia had been very erratic in her moods and she seemed to be tipsy. Gray guessed she was sort of drunk on the strong mermaid magic that imbued the island. He watched her closely as she stumbled around in a daze humming a haunting tune, native to her people; Gray held a lantern aloft, making her blue hair glow brightly in the dark.
The thick roots overhead, made the jungle extremely dark; Juvia seemed to be able to see through the gloom.
Every now and then Gray could see a flash of blue from her eyes; looking back to check on all of them. Levy held the map, muttering to herself as Gajeel tapped the compass grumpily. Juvia stopped suddenly clinging onto a vine for support.
Gray looked at her frail hunched shoulders anxiously. "Juvia. What's wrong?"
The mermaid turned her head and smile at him with a light blush on her cheeks, "Gray shouldn't worry about Juvia. Juvia has just noticed that the magic is getting stronger and it is strongest that way."
Gray followed her pointing finger towards a fork in the road; one path lead into dense jungle, the one Juvia was pointing towards followed fast moving rapids, with a crumbling path. Gray gulped wondering how on earth they were going to walk along it in the dark.
"Stripper! Why'd ya stop!?"
Gray frowned at Natsu's loud yelling, "Shut up idiot! Juvia's just pointing us in the right direction!"
Natsu growled and balled his hands into fists as he stomped over towards them; a menacing grin on his face, "What stripper! Ya scared of the dark!?"
Gray met his menacing glare with a frosty look of his own, "No way in hell you fire brained moron! We're just waiting for you lot to get your asses over here!"
Erza soundly slapped them across the backs of their heads before the lame insults could continue. "We haven't got time for this! Focus!"
Natsu and Gray cowered back under her fearsome glare; Natsu shuffled over towards Lucy for protection looking up her deadpanned expression with a pitiful look on his face.
Lucy huffed and crossed her arms, looked pointedly away from his crouched figure, "I'm not doing anything. Stop behaving like a child!"
Natsu whined pathetically and tugged at her arm; she fixed him with a withering look and batted his hand away before heading over to Juvia with Levy in tow. Gray and Natsu watched the girls talking with matching pouts and dejected expressions, while Gajeel chuckled mercilessly.
"Where are we headed Juvia?" Lucy smiled at the mermaid and patted Levy to listen in.
"Juvia thinks...this way...it's where the magic is getting stronger..." Juvia bit her lip, twirling her long blue hair in her fingers.
Levy peered at the map while Erza held up a lantern; illuminating the paper. Levy frowned and traced the line of the map.
"Well...this root isn't marked on the map, but the river does lead towards the caves...I guess we could follow it and it does look quicker...w-wait! Juvia!"
Erza, Levy and Lucy watched as the mermaid skipped off neck to the rapids, humming again.
Lucy grinned, "I guess we're going this way then..."
Erza nodded, dragging Natsu and Gray behind her while Gajeel jogged to catch up.
The continued to follow the river for half a mile all of them sweating profusely. Gray had quickly discarded his vest and shirt and held Juvia's hand as she walked unsteadily across the mossy terrain. Natsu groaned and slumped across Lucy's back bringing them to a halt.
"Are we there yet!?"
Lucy pushed his pink locks from his forehead, clipping them back with a hair pin, "No Natsu...just learn some patience please!?"
He grinned lazily up at her and pulled her onto his back. "No Natsu. It's too hot!"
He chuckled and took a step forward, "Yeah but your feet hurt don't they?"
Lucy nodded begrudgingly and mumbled something into his shoulder. Levy was already perched on one of Gajeel's broad shoulders, swaying slightly as she read the map; her brow furrowed in concentration.
"We shouldn't have far to go guys?" Levy waved the map at them with a wide grin on her face.
Erza nodded enthusiastically, "We cannot give up yet! We just need spirit!"
The rest of the pirates groaned slightly and carried on after the overzealous red head.
After another hour of trekking, Juvia halted them all suddenly with a pale hand as they approached a large rock face. She ran her palms across its surface murmuring to herself and tapping lightly in different areas. She continued tapping until she heard the sound of rushing air and a hollow echoing of her taps. Grinning widely she pried at the rock desperately.
Gray watched her strain and stepped forward panicking slightly, "Juvia stop! You could hurt yourself! Just hang on a se-"
CRASH!
They all stood bent over with coughing fits as rock, dust and debris flew through the air. Juvia stood triumphantly holding up a sizeable bolder above her head; her sharp white teeth bared in a maddening grin.
"Gray! Gray! Did you see?! Juvia found a way into the caves! Juvia did it all by herself!"
Gray smiled at her weakly and looked at the large hole she had made in the rock face which led down a narrow tunnel. The rest of the pirates blinked at her with dazed expressions, Gajeel was the first to snap out of it as he crouched down and entered the tunnel with a lantern; shaking his head and muttering about "crazy mer-folk!"
Erza patted Juvia proudly on the back and strode after Gajeel. Lucy tapped Natsu's slack jaw, giggling at his dumfounded expression. "Come on pinky, a fly could land in your trap it you don't close it."
Natsu's tanned jaw firmly clamped shut before he fixed her with an angry pout; Lucy led him into the tunnel with a wide grin as they all entered the cramped space in the rock.
A good half an hour later and after much whining and moaning from Natsu, they reached a large chamber within the caves. This one was faintly lit by many small pools that appeared to be very deep and filled with luminous blue water. Juvia's humming echoed throughout the chamber and she clapped her hands excitedly.
"Juvia thinks we are close! Juvia can smell the mermaid!"
With nervous grins they continued into the next chamber, stopping at the edge of a large pool of water. Juvia lent down and ran her hand over its surface faintly singing in a strange melodic tongue.
Lucy stared around the cavern in awe of the calming blue light and the crystals on the ceiling that twinkled between the stalactites and stalagmites like the stars in the night sky. Juvia gasped suddenly as a pale hand similar to her own skin gripped her wrist firmly. Angry blue eyes stared at them from small lake and the water swirled dangerously. Lucy stared in shock at the newcomer, tears welling in her eyes.
"Took you long enough brat!"
Minerva grinned smugly as the imposing tree of Tenrou came into view; peering through her telescope, she watched the small ant-like figures move across the beach. You fairies have nowhere to run. She tossed her hair haughtily, listening to Sting and Rogue bark orders to the pirates on deck. I've come to take what's mine daughter of Layla.
Dun! Dun! Dun! The drama is back people after a larger than planned honey moon period to appreciate the Nalu. I hope you enjoyed the Gruvia fluff and keep reading! Remember to R&R as always and thank you to those of you that have.
Tsukki086 k x
P.S I'm glad you guys are enjoying this but I can't really appreciate being told to hurry up with the story; I have a life and a summer job and so writing this is hard to fit in at the mo, but I am managing one chapter a week. I love you guys an' all but learn a little patience please? Thanks and enjoy as the story progresses.