Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail


"What is this power? He took out Brady in one hit! Odis, you take care of the woman, I'll handle this guy myself." The man's magic power flared into dangerous levels. "Boy, I am Alphonse, what is yours."

"Natsu Dragneel." Natsu scowled at his opponent. "What are you doing here?"

"To get rich of course!" Alphonse waved his hands in a grandiose manner. "Aren't you here for the same reason?"

"We're not scum like you!" Natsu kicked off the ground "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu's punch was blocked by a wall of darkness.

"What's wrong in wanting to become rich? Almost everyone is the same. I just use more…effective methods"

"You're the exact person that Demetrius doesn't want in here! Get out!" Natsu turned his stopped momentum into weapon by delivering a roundhouse kick to Alphonse's chest, sending him backwards.

"Heeey. Shouldn't we get started baby?" The green-haired man—Odis said—pulling Juvia out of her observation. "You're lucky that I know how to cut back unlike the boss. I would hate to harm a body like yours." The pig licked his lips. "I'll take good care of you after we're done." He laughed manically, sending lustful eyes Juvia's way, making her skin crawl. Juvia will dispose of this man!

"Your words disgust Juvia, leave before Juvia makes you."

"Oh Hoooo! A babe that talks funny!" Odis let out another hyena laugh. "This really is the best!"

"Water Slicer!" Two whips of water rushed towards the creature at high speeds, dissipating upon touching a dirt wall that wasn't there before.

"Feisty too. I'll enjoy breaking you! Go! Get me a new toy!" A dozen hands erupted from the ground, charging at Juvia. Juvia used another 'Water Slicer' but, utilised what she gained back at the mountains. The already thin blades compressed into a sheet of deadly water, parting the hands in half.

"Juvia will ask you again," Forming water blades behind Juvia's back. "leave now, or else!"

"Fun! Let's go out on our first date!" Odis covered his hand in stone and ran towards Juvia, dodging the blades she sent at him. Odis punched Juvia in the stomach morphing Juvia's body into water. "What the?"

"Too bad. Juvia's body is made of water. You should have taken Juvia's advice. Water Lock!" A dome of water formed around the confused man, sealing his movements and depriving him of oxygen

"Y—you bitch…"

"Maybe if you didn't underestimate Juvia, this might have gone differently. You did manage to block Juvia's Water Slicer after all. However, you looked at Juvia with eyes that Juvia would only reserve for her lover." The dome whirled violently, acting upon Juvia's feelings, steam coming off it. "Juvia felt disgusted, it's like thousands of worms squirming around Juvia's body." Odis finally fell unconscious, so Juvia released him from his prison. For safety, Juvia bound his limbs with climbing rope Juvia originally intended for the mountain. Now to help Natsu.

Natsu and Alphonse was exchanging blows with Natsu having the advantage.

"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu let loose a breath attack, blasting Alphonse away. "Looks like your friend is taken out. Juvia! You stay out of this!"

"Aren't you the cocky one? Telling your partner to stay away and not work together."

"I don't need Juvia to defeat you." Natsu ran at Alphonse again.

"I don't know about that! Grim Reaper!" Alphonse leached the shadows from the trees, consolidating them into a scythe. The tables have turned. Alphonse kept Natsu at bay with his additional range all the while delivering nicks into his flesh. The more wounds the scythe created, it grew bigger and Alphonse's wounds began to heal. Juvia fought back the urge to help Natsu. Juvia must trust Natsu.

"What's wrong kid? Need a nap already?"

"As if! Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu blasted his breath at point-blank range, forcing Alphonse to use his scythe to block the flames. The scythe was melted at first, but it shrunk back to its original size and repaired. Not giving Alphonse time to rest, Natsu rushed in for a series of attacks. "Fire Dragon's Claw! Wing Attack! Sword Horn!" Alphonse flew into a tree, sending it tumbling down.

Alphonse's scythe seems to have faded in exchange for healing some of the damage Natsu has done.

"Not bad kid. You would do great as my right-hand man. How about it? I'll even let you keep that blue-head and you'll be the only one allowed to touch her."

"I belong to Fairy Tail." Natsu said menacingly, hands lit aflame.

"That's a shame. Death Billows!" A wave of darkest took Natsu to the skies. "If only you took up my offer Natsu Dragneel. Cocytus!" Alphonse gathered magic energy in his hands and unleashed a powerful blast at the falling Natsu.

"Crimson Lotus: Phoenix Blade!" Like a golden comet through a dark sky, Natsu tore past Alphonse's spell and crash right into the caster.

"What…are you?"

"A dragon slayer from Fairy Tail." Alphonse fell to the floor, losing consciousness. Before he did, his magic power inflated.

"I'll take the girl with me! Kiss of Death! Your water body can't save you!" A spear made of malice surged past Natsu and aimed at Juvia's heart at blinding speeds. Juvia can't dodge in time!

"You bastard! Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!" The next thing Juvia knew was tasting Natsu's blood in Juvia's mouth…metallic and unpleasant.

Where Natsu's stomach was, is a quickly fading spear touching Juvia's chest.

"Nat…su?"

"Sorry Juvia, looks like we can't come back here again. I'm staying." Natsu wrapped his scarf around Juvia's neck and collapsed to the ground, soaking the ground with his blood.

"Natsu…" Tears were forming in Juvia's eyes, the sky beat Juvia to it. It was already crying. "Wake up! Don't you have more of that medicine? Please…don't leave Juvia here. What about your family back at Fairy Tail? Don't you have to settle the score with Gray-san?" Juvia was shaking the unmoving body constantly. "You can't die here! You still haven't found Igneel-san yet!" Juvia gripped onto Natsu's scarf. Juvia sees a large shadow cast over her. At least Juvia will go with you…

The phoenix didn't eat Juvia but stretched its head over to Natsu's body and started to drip tears over Natsu's body. The tears! Juvia's attention went back to the ugly wound, wincing at the sight of it. Drop by drop, more tears landed on the wound, closing it slowly. Thank You for saving him! The rain stopped.

"But why? Why save him now, when you could have done it earlier?" Juvia stared into the green orbs.

"Because I want to see the extent to this child's kindness. I want to see if the son of Igneel is as noble and righteous as he is." A voice rang into Juvia's head—a female voice. "I've been watching you two from the moment you entered the forest. You didn't try to find this tree instantly, instead, you had fun in this garden, the main reason why Demetrius created Vertwyn in the first place." The wound now fully closed.

"A—are you the old friend Demetrius-san mentioned?"

"Yes. It is my duty to determine who is worthy of the Catalyst."

"Catalyst?"

"The gemstone which you came here for."

"Then did we pass or not?" Natsu's voice! It was rough and pained but that's Natsu's voice! He tried to sit up, failing instantly.

"Just lie down Natsu."

"Juvia, she knows Igneel, I have to ask her where that old lizard is." Determined eyes told Juiva whatever she says won't have an effect on him.

"Then before you do, just promise Juvia that you won't do that again or Juvia will tell Erza-san about this!" Natsu's face pale, looking like he was on the verge of death again.

"I—I promise! Just don't tell Erza please!"

"Good."

"Juvia, you can be scary at times you know?"

"Only when dealing with reckless dragons."

"I was just trying to save you."

"Juvia doesn't need saving at the cost of your life!"

"Natsu Dragneel." The phoenix began. "While I have fought against your father many times and is in a rivalry relationship with him, I don't know where he is."

"I see." Natsu went in deep thought. "Well, thank you for saving me then…"

"My name is Vermillion."

"Thanks Vermillion." "Thank You for saving Natsu, Vermillion-san."

"No need to thank me, I'm only repaying for letting you two get in that situation in the first place."

"That's fine I guess. So, did we pass your test?"

"Yes. Follow me." Vermillion-san led us to the foot of the tree. "Both of you, take a fruit." Natsu grabbed a fruit that took after an apple and Juvia took one that looked like a pear.

"Thanks for the food!" Natsu tossed the 'apple' right into his mouth, stem and all.

"N—Natsu! We need that!"

"Bwut whime bumbry!"

"That's not the problem here!" Vermillion-san brought about a laughter that echoed throughout the forest.

"I have given ten or so fruit away ever since I took position as the guardian of this place, but none of them actually ate the fruit."

"Seee! You are a werido!"

"But he made the right choice."

"Ehh!?" Natsu spat out the seeds into his hands. Pretty! Five little gemstones shone brightly in the sun. They seemed to made of liquid, changing colours constantly and moving like a lava lamp.

"That is the Catalyst. All the people that got a fruit wasn't adventurous enough to risk what they worked so hard on. Wasting most of the Catalyst's true potential. Of course, the fruit itself is powerful, but can't hold a candle to the seed." Natsu gave Juvia a really smug grin that irritated Juvia.

"Come on Juvia! Eat it! It's delicious!" Still mad at Natsu's face, Juvia took a bite. The juices of the pear gushed out, filling Juvia with a combination of flavour she had never tasted before. It was light like a person's first love, then turned to sweetness of a relationship, then the bitterness of conflict and finally wrapped up with a sweetness and satisfaction that wasn't there before. Juvia kept taking bite after bite, showing Natsu an embarrassing side of Juvia. What will he think of Juvia now? After getting five gemstones, Juvia looked away, her face the colour of Natsu's hair.

"Hey Vermillion, do you mind if I give one to someone that hired us to some here?"

"Of course, provided that they are using it for a good cause.

"It's for a proposal ring."

"Then it is fine. Come, touch the trunk of this tree, it's the last message from Demetrius. You two are the first one hear this." Natsu locked fingers with Juvia.

"Ready?"

"Anytime." Both of us placed our free hand to the trunk of the tree. A message played in our heads

"Travellers, to be able to hear this message means that you have the true form of the Catalyst. I am glad that there still such people left in this world. I have a favour to ask. Please spread happiness throughout these lands.

"I have seen too much sadness and sin. Teach the people of laughter, love, living. Teach them how to look forward to tomorrow, how to focus on the positives, how to enjoy life.

"As a parting gift, I will tell you of the Catalyst. The Catalyst will change its magical properties to which will suit the user the best. But it will always have these characteristics no matter the mutation.

"The ability to store and release magic, to amplify magic, and to grow another tree. Sadly, the last one is tricky to manifest. Only under special conditions will the gemstone ever sprout. However, if you truly are the person I think you are, it should be an easy task for you.

"Farewell, I wished to have met you in person. I, Demetrius Vidal bless you with safe travels and a happy life."

"Climb on." Vermillion-san said. "I'll take you out of here."

"Thank You Vermillion-san." Juvia got on Vermillion first then followed by Natsu. Vermillion flapped her strong wings twice and took off. Tired from the fighting, Natsu fell asleep immediately. Just watching his cute sleeping face drew a yawn from Juvia's mouth. Juvia moved closer to Natsu, wrapped his arms around Juvia and drifted off to sleep. This first-class blanket, really is the best! O—of course! He makes a great friend too. Maybe...a bit more than that...


"Farewell, Natsu, Juvia, feel free to come back anytime."

"Are you sure? Fairy Tail is a rowdy bunch, I'm coming back with my friends next time."

"No problem. If your family is like you, you all are welcome." Vermillion flapped her wings and left.

"Natsu."

"Hmm?"

"Looks like Vermillion-san brought us close enough to town, we don't need to take a carriage."

"Really? Thank god!" Juvia giggled at Natsu's silliness.

"Come on! We still need to walk there."

"Beats the death machine."

"Last one there loses." Juvia took off after saying those words, ignoring the accusations from Natsu.


"How's…that…" The two of us were heaving from the race. "I still…beat you."

"Juvia was…going…easy on you…you just…recovered after…all."

"Liar!"

"Let's just go in…" Not wanting to argue with Natsu, Juvia knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Juvia, we're back from the quest."

"The doors are opening now." Caroline was greeting us again. This time, in a lovely purple dress and free-flowing hair. "Melvin was really anxious for the past few days. He thought you two might've died."

"We ain't dropping that easily!"

"Then, I will guide you to Melvin's room" Caroline-san led us on the same route the first time we came here. "Mel-kun, I brought them here."

"Come in." We entered the room again and Melvin-san was sitting at his desk. Bags were under his eyes.

"Were you that worried Melvin-san? You have bags under your eyes."

"N—no, Caroline kept pestering me at night so—" Melvin flinched at the sight of Caroline looking coldly at him. "Yes I was, I kept thinking what if one of you got sick, or maybe the carriage broke down, or you two ran out of food. Perhaps—"

"A—anyway, we got the gemstone you asked for." Juvia placed a Catalyst onto the desk.

"Y-yes, Thank You." Taking the gem into his hands, Melvin-san realised the gravity of the Catalyst. "That's some intense magic coming off this tiny thing. What if I run it through a test to see the composition and find out what's makes this so—"

"Melvin-san!"

"My apologies. I have this nasty habit of running my mouth for a long time. That's why my friends always call me 'Tappy' and it's the most—"

"Mel-kun." Caroline added anger into her voice, snapping Melvin-san out of his rant.

"A—anyway, here's your reward." Melvin-san lifted—with trouble—two large sacks of Jewels on the table. After counting the amount, Juvia and Natsu rose from our seats.

"Well then, Melvin-san good luck."

"Th—Thank You."


Now back at Fairy Tail, we were instantly interrogated by Levy-san in rapid succession.

"Welcome back you two! Well, what happened? Did you find some ruins? Where was it?" As we told Levy-san of our adventures—leaving out all the playing we did. we attracted the attention of Master and more than half of the guild members present.

"I see…" Master took a gulp from his mug. "to think I gave a S-class mission to Natsu and Juvia, it's my fault. I'm sorry you two. I put you in unnecessary danger."

"it's fine gramps. I had fun."

"That's not the point you brat!" Master slapped Natsu on the head. "In any case, we must honour Demetrius's wishes. Listen you brats! Demetrius makes a great point, we must influence other's lives in a good way, lead them to a good life. Laugh when we're happy; cry when we're sad; be humble when we win; be calm when we lose. Live life to the fullest! Without regrets." The guild hall erupted with:

"Yes Master!"

"Good, now here's to hoping Demetrius's world comes true! Starting from Fairy Tail! Let's party!" Everyone raised their mugs and another Fairy Tail party began. Complete with brawls, laughter, and…happiness. Juvia spotted Natsu brawling with Gray-san, his feral eyes, toned body, scarf fluttering from moving around. This side of Natsu is cool too.


Thanks for reading! Really sorry for the sloppy writing on this one! The pacing feels a bit fast. If you guys think so too, I'll re-write it one of these days. Maybe when I run out of ideas and need some time to brainstorm.

Sorry for a bunch of clichés I used, like a character taking a shot for another character, said character having plot armour so strong, they can jump into lava and not die, etc. I'll try my best to avoid these in the future. If it's really bad, I'll take it down.

One thing I need to get off my chest. I used this site to help me get over my laziness. It worked too well. I'm compromising the quality of my work for quantity. Hopefully, in the future, I'll take my time into writing and not worry about things so much.

Thanks for the kind words, I look forward to your feedback!

Edit: Finally got rid of that unsightly cliché storm. Not all of it though as some of it its needed sadly. After a great person's opinion, I have made some slight tweaks to re-align Juvia's feelings to a gentle slope and not a mountain. Still looking for that fight scene feedback though!