Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail
"Good job Wendy!" Juvia could see Carla-san shouting within the crowd, pride brimming from her face. Wendy-san, you are Juvia's biggest obstacle! Natsu was wearing a supportive smile towards Wendy-san, giving her a thumbs-up. Juvia will win that smile too!
"Now we have a woman persistent like the waves!" That's Juvia's cue! Juvia started to cast her magic, starting with orb of water; moulding it; giving it form, to the shape of a horse. "A woman like no other! Dazzling like a sea-side view! Give a round of applause to…Juvia Lockser!" Wearing a blue dress and a tiara, Juvia grabbed onto the reins of her horse and guided it to the stage. Just watch Natsu! Juvia will show you what Juvia can do!
"A—a princess walked up to the stage! Now, what will she do!?" The horse Juvia made scattered to countless droplets, most of them formed into floating orbs in the air, the others, gathered into a nightingale. Juvia held out her fingers, the nightingale landed softly on Juvia's index finger.
"Which one of you will be Juvia's prince?" A barrage of 'me!' came from the crowd, followed by cheering as Juvia left the stage, not as big as Wendy-san's though. That doesn't matter, that look Natsu gave Juvia, was supportive and happy. The results of the contest seem less important now as Juvia breathed a sigh of relief. Juvia did her best!
All of us were standing at the stage with the lights dimmed. "Thank you for waiting, the results are in! But first, how was this year's contest? Was it good?" Approval exploded from the crowd. "Did you enjoy it!?" More noise. "Then without any more waiting! In third place…Erza Scarlet! Congratulations!" A spotlight shone on Erza-san wearing a maid outfit. Juvia didn't even make it to third…Lisanna-san's appeal was amazing afterall…
"And in second…" Spotlight shone on Juvia. Ehhhh? Juvia beat Erza-san? "Juvia Lockser!" Something must've gone wrong.
"Good job Juvia, it was an amazing performance." Erza-san patted Juvia's back. "I won't lose next year!" Erza-san…Thank You!
"Yes!"
"And now! For the winner. Please give a round of applause to…Wendy Marvel!" People down the stage started to cheer and whistle as the spotlights graced the overwhelmed girl's head. "Wendy, what are your thoughts?"
"Ehhh! Ermm…umm…T—thank You very much!" Wendy-san did a steep bow at the crowds.
"Now I have an announcement to make! The next event will be 'Battle of Fairy Tail'! If you'd like to attend, please follow the signs that we have placed throughout the city. Feel free to ask our guild members or the Saber Tooth guild members for directions. The exhibition match between Natsu Dragneel and Saber Tooth's Master: Sting Eucliffe will start at two! Until then I hope you enjoy the festival!" Doesn't Natsu have to participate in the tournament as well? Then why is he doing an exhibition match? What if he gets tired in the actual tournament? Then his training will be wasted!
"Good job Juvia! You got second place this year. Congratulations!" Natsu was leaning over the stage.
"Natsu! Why are you in the exhibition match?"
"Let's talk while we get some lunch! I'm sure you're hungry right?"
"Aye!"
"Wait for Juvia to get changed okay?"
"Hurry up! I'm starving!" When Juvia was done changing, Juvia found Natsu and Happy-san waiting outside.
""Which one of you will be Juvia's prince?"" They both said, striking the same pose as Juvia did. The two of them started to laugh uncontrollably. Juvia's face ignited upon recalling what she did.
"She actually said that! My sides!"
"Aye! But…"
"Yeah, we shouldn't laugh at her like this…pfff." The two kept laughing at Juvia's expense. Juvia wants to die…
"I didn't expect her to go that far! She must've been desperate!" This cat…
"At least Juvia won against Erza-san! Even Natsu hasn't done that yet!"
"That doesn't count!"
"Why doesn't it!? It's just a different type of battle!"
"A—anyway, let's go eat! We'll celebrated your second place, it was a great performance. It's my treat!"
"Natsu…"
"Maybe we'll find your prince at a restaurant." Natsu snickered.
"Natsu! Don't ruin the moment!"
"What do you mean?"
"Let's just go find some food…"
"Natsu." Happy-san tugged on Natsu's scarf.
"What is it?"
"You really are stupid."
"Say that again! I dare you!"
"So, why are you in an exhibition match?" We were sitting at a restaurant, Juvia finished her meal, Happy-san was playing with a fish bone. And Natsu was, still eating, a lot.
"I wanted to warm-up before I do the real thing, so I volunteered." Natsu slurped down some soup.
"But it's Sting-san you're up against!"
"That's why it's warm-up, it won't be one if my opponent is weak"
"Who are you against in the first round?"
"Elfman."
"Who else is in the tournament?"
"Gray, Freed, Bickslow, Gajeel…"
"Sting and Rogue." Happy-san finished.
"Oh yeah! Rogue and Sting will also be there!"
"But there're from Saber Tooth!?"
"Not enough people joined. I heard that most people didn't join because there were too many strong people."
"How did you find that out?" Natsu pointed to his ears. "Juvia understands, but can you blame them? Who wants to fight against a bunch of battle maniacs?"
"I guess." Natsu finished his meal. "That was great!"
"Juvia wants to make sure, you are paying right?" Juvia saw the pile of emptied plates and started to get worried.
"Leave it on me! You can go ahead, we'll meet back up at the arena!"
"See you later then, Natsu and Happy-san."
"Aye!" "See ya!"
With still an hour left, Juvia checked out the festival. The streets weren't as crowded as in the morning. Maybe because people are still having lunch? Juvia wandered around the streets, hopping from store to store, ultimately not buying anything. Perhaps Juvia should look for house decorations and not everyday items. Juvia's room is still plain after all.
Juvia found a booth selling art. This is a good start. The booth had traditional things like paintings, statues, drawings and so. Stuff like patterned rugs, crystal carved into certain shapes were displayed, there was even round stones with runes etched on them.
"Welcome! How may I help you?" A middle-aged man greeted Juvia. "Are you looking for anything in particular?"
"No, Juvia is looking for things to decorate her house."
"I see…Miss, what kind of things does your boyfriend like?"
"B—boyfriend!? Y—you got it wrong! J—Juvia doesn't have a…a b—boyfriend…"
"My apologies! I assumed that a pretty girl like you would have a boyfriend. Then, what kind of things do you like?"
"A painting would be nice."
"I see! Then, please look at this one." The owner held up a painting of two kids playing by a tree. "What do you think?"
"Do you have anything else? Say like a drag—no umm…a horse."
"Of course!" The man grabbed an illustration of a horse eating grass. "Or would you like something more dynamic? If so, you might like this one." He reached underneath his table and pulled out the same horse but galloping through the fields.
"Then, I'll take that one." The owner placed the painting in a bag and handed it to Juvia
"Thank You very much! That'll be a thousand Jewels" Juvia hesitantly paid the man and walked away from the booth, hugging the painting she just got. Why did Juvia buy this? Juvia could've just asked Reedus-san to paint something for Juvia, Juvia did get those paintings of Gray-san from Reedus-san in the first place. And Juvia was about to say dragon…what is wrong with Juvia? He wouldn't have a dragon. Except Acnologia, dragons haven't been spotted for generations. Well, there was those seven dragons that showed up...
Juvia continued wandering around town for a good while. Juvia doesn't know how but, it was long enough for Juvia to put the painting back in her room, come back to the festival, and walk for roughly half-an-hour.
"Mama! Hurry up! The semi-finals are about to start!" Semi-finals? Could it be?
"Don't worry, the arena isn't going anywhere!" Guilt ran through Juvia's body, mainly her legs. Juvia ran as fast as she could push herself, hoping Juvia would make it in time. Sorry Natsu, Juvia said that Juvia will be there. Please make it on time!
Juvia's legs were abused, her heart was begging for mercy but, Juvia has made it! It seems that the first match in the semi-finals was Natsu's match. He was about to go up a few steps to the arena. Juvia can only see the tips of his wild pink hair but, that's Natsu without a doubt! Juvia pushed past the crowd to get a closer look. He was about to get on the arena. So Juvia did the only thing in Juvia's mind.
"Natsuuu! Good luck!" Juvia shouted with all her might, even that seems quiet in the chanting of Natsu's name. He turned to Juvia's direction and put on the smile Juvia has been so many times before.
"Juvia? Why were you so late? Never mind, you can tell me later, let's get to our seats reserved for members." A hand with a pink guild mark on it pulled Juvia out of the spot she worked so hard to get.
"Lucy-san!? Why are you here?"
"To cheer Gray on of course! But…he lost to Sting, it seems like he's been training hard."
"Who else lost?"
"Elfman lost to Natsu, Freed to Gajeel, Bickslow to Rogue."
"Only dragon slayers remain!?"
"I know! I swear, the match making was rigged, Master saw how successful Natsu's fight with Rogue and Sting was, so he tried to re-create it. It worked too! We sold so many tickets"
"So, who is Natsu fighting against?"
"Rogue. We're here." Lucy-san took Juvia to arrays to seats filled with Fairy Tail and Saber Tooth members.
"Thank you."
"Let's sit down." We found two empty seats around the back"Anyway. Juvia, Thank You…"
"Why? What did Juvia do?"
"I know we haven't talked much after…you know…and every time we did, I wanted to say sorry for the pain I caused you. But…I couldn't. I felt so guilty, that I couldn't bring it up."
"Lucy-san, you don't have to apologize to Juvia, Juvia is over it now so you don't—"
"Then at least let me thank you! Gray told me you were supporting the two of us, I was so happy…but I was ashamed that I didn't make the first move. We hurt you, and you forgave us. Not only that but you're now supporting us! I don't…I don't deserve a friend like you!" Tears were streaming down Lucy-san's face.
"Lucy-san, you got it all wrong." Juvia used her magic to get rid of the tears. "Juvia isn't your friend, but your family, and family support each other until to end."
"Juvia…" Lucy-san rushed in and cried on Juvia's shoulders. We sat like this for a while. Natsu and Rogue-san used their strongest magic and clashed, kicking up dust. In the end, Natsu was the only one standing. Next, it was Sting against Gajeel-kun. "Hey Juvia."
"What is it?"
"Me and Gray have been thinking of ways to thank you for a while now…"
"You don't really have—"
"Even family can thank each other, right?" Lucy-san has a cheeky smile. "Anyway, we would like to support you in your love life as well."
"B—but Juvia isn't in a relationship…"
"Y—you aren't!? But rumours about you and Natsu are all over the guild you know?"
"Ehhh!? Is that true?" When did this happen? Juvia and Natsu, together!?
"Isn't the job you two when on an excuse to go on a date while keeping things a secret?"
"N—No! Juvia needed to pay her rent and…and the jobs at the time were all boring. So Juvia went with Natsu..."
"So that's how it is. Sorry for getting things wrong. But, are you really not interested in anyone at all?"
"N—no!"
"I see. Well, tell me when you're ready and we will help with everything we got!"
"Juvia just said she isn't interested in anyone!"
"You're not fooling anyone with all the jittering you've been doing. Also, your face is all red. Wait, I take that back, you can definitely fool Natsu, even with that face."
"Is that so…" Juvia sighed after hearing what Lucy-san said.
"I see…" Lucy-san looked at the resting Natsu, then at Juvia, then at Natsu again, finally stopping at Juvia.
"It isn't what you think!"
"I know, it's still not there yet." Lucy-san gave Juvia a knowing smile. "When you find someone you like, let me know okay? See you Juvia, thank you for letting me get this off my chest." Lucy-san left and joined Levy-san in cheering Gajeel-kun on. Juvia should cheer for him too.
Gajeel-kun was in close-quarter combat with Sting-san, exchanging blows. Gajeel-kun was pulling out on top thanks to his hardened body. Magic was soon added to the mix, allowing Sting-san to get in some good hits on the stomach, head and back. The back and forth continued until:
"Gajeel-san, shall we end this?"
"Gi hi! Thought you would never ask."
"Since we need to save our strength against Natsu-san, let's finish this in one go."
"You asked for it!"
"White Dragon's…"
"Iron Dragon's…"
""Roar!"" Extremely destructive magic left the two's mouths, colliding into a splash of silver, not moving for a second, then, pushing Sting's breath backwards and exploding on him. Taking too much damage, Sting-san forfeits. With Sting-san taken out, Gajeel-kun raised a fist in the air and looked at Natsu.
"Salamander, you're next."
"Bring it!"
Now on a short break, Juvia was talking with her guild mates. We were sitting in a circle, guys of the left, girls on the right, save the couples, they sat together.
"So, let's get this bet started." Cana-san got out two hats. "The brown one is for Natsu, the black one for Gajeel. Now, make your bets, who do you think will win? Vote with your wallet."
Overall, the bets were pretty even, only slightly favouring Natsu. Juvia placed her money on Natsu and Lucy-san betted of Gajeel. We both decided to split the money won between us—we did it without telling anyone of course. "Alright, anyone else? If not, I'm closing it." No one responded. "Okay! Bet closed! The match is starting."
Natsu and Gajeel-kun stood stoically on the arena, not knowing of the bet we made. The moment the signal to start went off, the two rushed at each other and punched their respective faces.
"Doesn't hurt…try harder."
"Gi hi…don't lie, I got you pretty good."
"I said, it doesn't hurt!" Natsu kicked Gajeel backwards and followed it up with a fireball to the chest. "How's that?"
"Doesn't hurt."
"Liar!" The two clashed again, throwing magic at each other without a single thought besides winning. Thankfully, Master set up a strong barrier in case things get out of hand. Without the barrier, Fairy Tail might've been disbanded from causing mass destruction and injuring civilians.
It was now sunset; the tournament is running twenty minutes over-time. Both Natsu and Gajeel-kun looking exhausted. Sweat ran down Natsu's body, bruises everywhere. Gajeel-kun didn't wasn't doing too well either. Minor burns were on his body, panting heavily.
"You really are one tough bastard Salamander."
"Same to you."
"But I'm gonna win this!" "You're going down!"
"Fire Dragon's…"
"Iron Dragon's…"
""Roar!"" Streams of magic rushed out of their mouth, barely keeping form, wavering at times. Before they touched, it fizzled out. Two unconscious dragon slayer laid out the ground. It ended in a draw, so the money went back to everyone without loss.
You did great Natsu, it was an amazing fight, let's both try harder next year. We'll take the top, the two of us!
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed! Bit of a slower chapter this time. However, I think I managed to further Juvia's feelings a bit more than usual, it shouldn't take long for the big realisation.
Sorry for cutting the fights short, but it's like with the other contest appeals, I didn't think that the fights were important for the story. Speaking of which, mind telling me which appeal I described the best? I want to know what parts I did good or not.
I have decided before the ending of the story, I will update and make changes to the story according to your feedback. Unless the chapter is super bad, I will change the chapters nearing the end of this story.
Thanks for the support! I am hoping for some great feedback!
