Happy Sunday everyone! Mslead here to bring you your weekend chapter! Enjoy!


CHAPTER 39

Challenger Deep

The Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the deepest known point in Earth's oceans..


"And that's the current situation ladies and gentlemen." Zeref concluded as he leaned back, "The goddess has asked we not harm her children, so we must take care not to."

"Quite a problem you've laid at our doors Sire." One of his generals mused, "But if the creatures themselves are confused and in pain out of the depths we may be able to use that to our advantage." She glanced up from the map table to where Mavis was staring at the map with a thoughtful frown, "What input have you for us your Majesty?"

Mavis blinked and smiled at the assembled officers, "Tell me your thoughts first?"

"I'm thinkin' bait o' some sort." One of the older generals growled, "If the beasties're confused an' hurt then we give 'em somethin' nice. Somethin' that remind 'em o' home an' makes 'em feel safe."

"Agreed." The first general replied, "Perhaps if the goddess would consent to return to the abyss for a time? Surely they would trust their home is secure if she's in residence?" She glanced diffidently at Juvia, "Is there something you could use to call them Lady Tempest?"

Juvia nodded, "Yes, but in their agitated state they may resist. They simply don't trust their home is safe."

"Then we shall need to gentle them first." The third general mused, "If we were to gather our best singers to sing songs of peace and homecoming perhaps we can lure them back to their doorstep. Once there, the Lady's presence alone may well be enough, and if not perhaps she would consent to raising her own voice in song?"

"Aye!" The first exclaimed excitedly, "That could work. Promises of food and shelter and all the things they want but can't find above. Then once they're there our Lady can keep them soothed until they believe it."

"There is a time limit." Zeref reminded them, "Our Lady has her own duties to perform with the gates escaped and cannot remain indefinitely."

"Of course not." The general agreed, "But the Renewal is coming up. The blessings of new life and prosperity for the coming year have always brought peace and tranquility for a time after it. Perhaps all these factors combined would be enough to convince them to remain where they are rather than venture out again."

"Then we have a plan in place. If we time it correctly we can lead the majority, and clean up those who are lingering behind," Juvia smiled serenely, "I look forward to hearing your voices."

"Begin gathering the supplies to lure them home," Mavis nodded to the generals, "Let's make this as smooth as possible."

"I'll let Natsu know what's going on. As much as he denies it, he has an excellent voice on his own," Zeref mused, "And he's always more energetic this time of year. It'll be good for him to throw some of that into his voice."

"Dismissed," Zeref gestured to his generals, all of them parting ways.

He waited a moment once they were gone for him to glance over at Mavis and wrap his arms around his wife. Any day now she would be ready to give birth to their baby. A child born on the Renewal was considered exceptionally lucky. Blessed by the Celestials. However such a thing rarely happened.

Still though, Zeref was amused by the idea that a celestial was nearby.

Speaking of which, he needed to get his errant brother and his goddess in training. That was if he didn't catch them making out behind one of the ornate suits of armor again.

No sooner had he entertained the thought however, did the devil himself poke his head in with his customary grin.

"Is all the boring stuff over with now? Can we come in?"

"You know you could have come in as well," Juvia chided lightly. Natsu just grinned and shook his head, "Maybe, but it's not really my scene."

And in truth, Natsu already knew his days under the sea were numbered. He never had any claim to the throne under the sea, nor did he have any intention of claiming the dragons seat of power.

The only one he wanted was a place by Lucy's side. Whether she regained her memories or not.

Zeref shook his head in exasperation, "Yes Natsu the so called boring stuff is over." He drawled, "We have a solid plan to lure the abyssals back down to their home."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Lucy asked, and Zeref smiled.

"Actually yes." He replied, "We plan to use siren song to gentle them enough they can hear Lady Juvia's own song. For that, we'll need Natsu's help." He eyed Lucy, "Can I prevail on you to help protect our singers when the time comes?"

"Of course!" Lucy replied with a smile, "Aquarius is unbeatable under water, and I'm certain some of the others will be able to help too. Ares has a very effective binding attack and Leo's light might help deter without harming."

"Excellent." Zeref nodded, "That will be a tremendous help."

"What about me?" Gray asked.

Mavis giggled a little at the ice mage, "Why you'll be joining Juvia of course!" She exclaimed.

"I will?" He asked at the same moment Juvia asked, "He will?"

"Well of course!" Mavis replied factually, "The Renewal is the key to convincing the abyssal creatures it's safe to remain home. So the better it goes the greater the chance of success!"

Gray turned bright red, "You... want me to participate in the Renewal with Juvia?"

Juvia blushed brightly at the prospect, "Ah, uhm, I'm not certain I can ask that of Gray." She demurred.

"Why not? Many of the gods do it to honor the Renewal and the Celestial Family? You two have done it before," Natsu smirked at Juvia, who looked so close to killing him that Lucy was concerned the goddess might turn him into a clam.

"We have!" Gray burst out, this time everything on his face going red from the waist up.

Juvia covered her face and gave Natsu a scandalized glower, "Natsu! That's not just something you wave around and announce!"

"You gods have been too tight lipped about our past," Natsu grinned at them, once again not showing even a hint of remorse. Juvia for her part looked as if she was about to die of embarrassment, clearly not up to date on how much Gray remembered.

"Juvia you haven't participated in a Renewal in over four hundred years. I think there's a reason for that," Natsu pointed out, "Besides Mavis is right. Lay it all out on the table, I already told Gray a while ago who he was."

Lucy tugged at Natsu's ear and linked her arm with him, "I think you've dug your own grave deep enough thank you."

She looked at Mavis and Zeref, "I think these two have a bit to work out. Let's give them a moment."

"An excellent idea," Zeref groaned and pulled an arm around his amused looking wife's waist.

Juvia watched everyone practically flee the war room, Lucy dragging a cackling Natsu in her wake while she was left with the slack-jawed Gray.

"Gray, don't let what Natsu and Mavis said bother you. You don't have to participate in the Renewal with me. I know you are a private person, and to ask you to do that with me when we aren't even together is too much," Juvia twisted a long lock of hair between her fingers.

"Was what he said true though?" Gray asked, finally finding his voice again.

"About us being together?" Gray tried again when his first question only earned him a blank stare.

Juiva blushed but nodded, "Yes." She admitted and eyed him curiously, "How much do you remember exactly?"

Gray shrugged a little, "Not much really. Bits and pieces from dreams." He crossed his arms, "I know Natsu was my captain four hundred years ago, and that we were lovers, and I turned down being your champion. From what we talked about I know you were in love with my past self. What I don't understand is why you haven't said anything."

He held up a hand before she could reply, "Besides the protections." He told her, "Why didn't you say something when it was clear the Pyro and the Cap'n were getting theirs back?"

"Because I wanted you to love me in this lifetime for yourself. Not because of your past." Juvia replied seriously, "A mortals heart can change with each lifetime they experience while we gods remain much the same. It's as inevitable as the tides. The differing times, places, and experiences shape the same soul into making different choices. I didn't want to influence you."

She stepped up to him and brushed his face gently, "The Gray I remember four hundred years ago is very like the one before me, and yet there are differences. He had a home in the mountains and did not labor under a curse. He didn't carry the burden of guilt you do." She smiled, "And yet you are the stronger of the two of you. Perhaps you don't smile as often, but I believe you would persevere in situations your past self could not."

She pressed her hand to his chest, "And small though the differences may be, to you they are significant. So I remained quiet to see if I was fortunate enough for love to happen twice."

Gray swallowed at the way she looked at him, his hand settling over hers. He let the touch take him to a memory from a dream, of a time where she smiled at him with all the adoration in the world.

He almost buckled under the weight of it, and pulled her hand from his cheek.

"The reason you returned to help Natsu after four hundred years," Gray murmured, "Was it because of me?"

Juvia gave him a sad smile and nodded for a moment, her arms wrapping around herself. She bowed her head, chin lowering to her chest, "I wish I could be selfless like the Titania and say, no. That I did it because I wanted to help a friend— but that would be a lie."

"At least not the whole truth," Juvia looked at him apologetically, "I saw you in the back of Natsu's mind when he prayed, and that's what drew me out of my self-exile long enough to answer his prayer."

"I was stupid in ignoring him, and before I even realized it, 400 years had slipped away because of my grief," Juvia sighed, "So in a way, Yes. Had Natsu not met you that day on the ship, I doubt I would have answered his prayer. He was a painful reminder of who I lost..."

Gray swallowed, wondering just how deep a relationship he had with this goddess had been. Enough for her to withdraw from her friends and fall into a depression to last centuries.

"Didn't you think you would be able to find me? Like Lucy and Natsu?" He asked

Juvia gave him an incredulous stare, "And look at how well that worked for them. A goddess and her champion, a pair bonded over time and space."

"It's so rare to even find a reborn mortal, I had given up hope that it could happen. Especially with your curse keeping you in Acnologia's clutches. It would have taken a miracle to find you again," Juvia trembled.

"And miracles are beyond the purview of gods?" Gray asked wryly, "You really should have more faith in your fellow gods. Acnologia might be a bastard, but they all aren't."

He shook his head, "But that's neither here nor there." He sighed, and rubbed the back of his neck, "Look Juvia, I'm not going to lie... this is weird." He met her gaze, "I like you. A lot. I won't deny that. I mean hell, I took you out on an unofficial date when you signed on! So yes, I'm interested. But the rest of this?"

He gestured around him, "Where do I even begin? First, you turn out to be my patron goddess." He ticked off one finger, "So I have to deal with the fact I'm attracted to a goddess, which I think technically is supposed to be blasphemy of some kind." He ticked off two more fingers, "Now I'm finding out that not only am I the reincarnation of the guy you were in love with four hundred years ago, but that you two were apparently in a serious relationship. One you spent four hundred years mourning to the exclusion of all else!"

"I mean, I'm really interested in you, and I would love to do the renewal with you, but I don't know what to think of all this. I really don't!" He gave her a helpless look, "I'm not even clear about if you love me or the memory of me! And no matter how much I like you, I'm not going to break my own heart because you can't see past my previous incarnation!"

Juvia studied him for a long moment, forcing down her knee jerk reaction to really think about what he was trying to say. This was important. Vitally so. And if she wanted even a remote chance of having Gray in her life again she would have to tread carefully.

"I do see past your previous self." She replied slowly and gave him a small smile, "That was why I appeared as a mortal at first and forbade Natsu from saying anything." She floated closer to him, "I wanted the chance to get to know you for you, as a mortal, and for you to get to know me the same way. I never intended to tell you. At least, not until we'd had more time to get closer."

She spread her hands helplessly, "But then the gates broke out, and things have been difficult since. And for that I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to muddy the waters between us, but I had little choice."

Gray blew out a breath and nodded, "I know." He said quietly, "Just so much has happened lately..."

Juvia held out her hand, "Come down to the abyss with me." She said, "In all this time the last time we had alone to talk outside the crow's nest was in Magnolia. Let's take some now." She smiled, "Let me show you the real me, and you can show me the real you. No pressure. Renewal or not I believe our plan for my abyssal children will work."

"Jeez," Gray sighed and ran a hand through his hair, looking hesitant at the idea of going into the crushing darkness, but he reached out and accepted her hand. Despite everything, he still liked and trusted her.

He slid his hand in her grasp, noting her delicate fingers brushing against his. Snorting, he reached out and took a hold of hers, their fingers weaving together.

There was a shimmer of magic, where from one moment to the next Gray found the world melting away. The ocean deepened in color and their surroundings morphed. Juvia murmured something, her wrist flicking through the air as something settled over him.

At once the world fell away, transforming to something he couldn't recognize. There was pressure all around them, relieved by the magic Juvia cast over him.

He yelped when the darkness encroached on him next. Grays eyes widened as they parted to look around one another.

Curling her hands forward in a wave that spilled out from her wrists beyond to her fingertips, he watched bioluminescent algae and flora glow.

It illuminated the cavern they inhabited, filling every crack and crevice with a light that Gray found enchanting.

"Welcome to the Abyss Gray," Juvia encouraged him with a smile, "You are one of the few mortals to ever find your way down here. An impressive task."

"This is... not what I was expecting." Gray admitted, watching in fascination as an entire coral tree lit up in bright blue, illuminating the dark around it.

"This is only the beginning." Juvia smiled as she led him forward, "Most believe the abyss to be a place of cold darkness, bereft of life and able to contain only the most bizarre and twisted of my children." She smiled, "As you can see they're only partially right."

"How does that work?" He asked curiously as a school of bright white fish flickered by, "I mean, we're so far down..."

"Partially by magic." Juvia admitted, "This is my realm and except for the Creator my will rules here. But all I did was expand on what would've happened naturally."

She pointed along the bottom edge of the cavern they were in where the wall glowed a dull red and moved sluggishly while strangely beautiful creatures grew around it.

"The thermal vents provide warmth and a hint of light." She explained, "However, away from the vents it gets very cold and very dark very quickly, so the creatures themselves adapted and created their own light. That was the basis."

She grinned as she led him out of the cavern and to the gate of what appeared to be a massive, and massively thick, underground bubble anchored firmly on top of a wall surrounding an enormous palace.

"And this is what I created with that." She smiled, enjoying his stunned expression.

"A giant bubble?" He asked, "But how?"

He pressed his hand against the side and found it was both slightly rubbery feeling and very sturdy. It gave slightly when pressed, but showed no signs of popping. Though more startling was the light that rippled from it.

"That's the magic." Juvia laughed, "I created this place to be my sanctuary, and if necessary my fortress. The bubble is one of my protections, also serves as my primary source of light inside."

Gray looked beyond it and his jaw dropped as he saw all manner of creatures and plants swimming and growing freely within. They were, all of them, variations of creatures he would expect to see further up. There were fishes and corals and even a sting ray and sea turtle swimming lazily around each other. They were all similar to their upper counterparts, but each of them sported some form of glow.

There was even a forest of giant kelp and other plants all outlined in bright green with their leaves turned towards the bright light of the bubble.

And sitting in the middle of it, almost looking tiny in comparison, was Juvia's palace.

It was a beautiful thing, with an sort of reddish brick that Gray has never seen before. It looked as if the castle itself had emerged from the stone itself.

He felt strange in this place, but enraptured by its beauty. This was not a place he could survive in long term, and even if he were physically capable this place had a certain ethereal quality that was so different from what he was used to that it was haunting.

There was a beauty to it that could enchant a sailor to stay forever.

It was the same magic the Sirens used to draw their voices from. Gray was sure of that.

Juvia snapped her fingers in front of Grays face. Her lips curled into a warm smile. She linked her arm with his, aiming to steer him in the correct direction.

Gray looked all around him, his eyes swiveling round to see all the sights before she could be dragged away fully.

After all, when would he be gifted a chance like this again?

He smiled as she led him into the palace, seemingly determined to show him around, and decided that even if he wouldn't want to stay here forever, he would enjoy his visit. Not even the pyro would ever be able to say he'd visited the abyss like this.

And that alone was more than enough reason to make the trip worth it.

The gorgeous goddess, who had more than halfway captured his heart, was a particularly lovely icing on the cake.


And that's the wrap for your Sunday update! Next chapter should be a little longer. Unfortunately we didn't get enough reviews for a sneak peek, but we appreciate everyone who did review! Maybe next time! Hope you guys enjoyed this one, we will see you on Wednesday when Kytrin brings you the new chapter!

I'm sure you guys have noticed by now, but we changed our screen name from Mslead to Mslead-Kytrin. This used to be my solo-posting account, but since Kytrin has co-written the majority of the stories on this page, I figured it was time to make it obvious there are two of us.

If you guys are fans of Voltron, Klance and are thirsty for more content, Kytrin and I are participating in The Voltron Games 2018 for the Green team, check out our one-shots if that's your thing! You'll find them on our profile. Or ignore them if that's not your style!