Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
The sky has turned a mysterious purple, changing to black as we all stood at the guild hall, waiting for Master's instructions. Everyone was excited, the first Fantasia Parade in seven years, we rehearsed a lot more than last time. Juvia is partnered with Gray-san again, much to the complaining of Lucy-san. Since Wendy-san won the contest, most us agreed to have Wendy-san lead the parade. Which is frightening the poor girl, she was shaking and hyperventilating with Carla-san giving words of encouragement.
"What should I do Carla, what if I trip and ruin the parade for everyone?"
"Wendy! You should have more confidence in yourself. You were lovely this morning, you can do it again."
"But…what if that if a fluke? I maybe got—"
"There's no way you can win Miss Fairy Tail with luck, the competition is too fierce." Erza-san placed a reassuring hand on Wendy-san's shoulders. "It was a great performance and you be proud of it."
"Erza-san…Thank You! I will do my best!"
"Good. Don't forget, we will all be there for you."
"Yes!"
"Alright you brats!" Master's echoing voice silenced the chatting of the guild. "I already went through this before, this parade is crucial to the festival's success. You don't have to be afraid! The parade will be a success. And it's all thanks to the time you put into practising! We even have help from reliable friends. Be proud of what you've have done! Finally, show them once again, Fairy Tail is the liveliest guild in Earthland!" The guild hall exploded in a cheer of promises, approval and confidence.
When Juvia got to her float it was already night time, all dressed up in another blue dress with a tiara. Gray-san was wearing something that a prince would wear. He got on to our float with nothing on it, save the floor lights.
"Just don't stripe in public, that costume looks expensive, it would be a shame not to use it.
"I know…Mira gave me an earful already."
"Juvia is glad then."
"Say, you want to mix things up?"
"What do you have in mind?" The music band began matching, playing festive music.
"Along with the castle we're supposed to build, do you want to create animals while I make trees and other plants. You know, to make it more lively."
"Juvia thinks that's a lovely idea, let's go with that." Wendy-san's float started moving. She was in the same white tunic as before. Keeping with the aesthetic, the float was decorated with wings. Happy-san, Carla-san, Patherlily-san, Lector-san and Forsch-san acted as Wendy-san's 'Messengers', they are in charge of flying around, handing sweets to kids.
Hearing the cheers from afar was comforting to Juvia, they like it. Next came Erza-san's float. Normally, she would be leading the parade. However, she gave up that role to let Wendy-san get some experience and give her more confidence. Erza-san wearing something she would never wear for battle. It was too flashy and had too many places where the opponent can grapple her. For a parade, it was perfect. Erza-san summoned her swords and made them dance, following the movement of Erza-san's arms and body movements.
"Looks like we're next. Don't slow me down." Gray-san said.
"Don't worry, we've went on many jobs together, you know Juvia won't slow you down." Our float started to move. Juvia created archways, Gray-san froze them and made steps leading to a flat platform. A castle made of water sat on top, which quickly froze to a clear, dazzling structure. The lights, reflected and highlighted the right parts of the castle, making it shine with a bright glow.
Juvia summoned birds that took to the skies. Once Gray-san made trees for them. They nested on the branches.
"Let's finish this with a bang. Juvia, summon something big!"
"Yes!" The first thing that came to mind that fits with the castle was a guardian. Adding the books she read as a child, there was only one thing that could work. It might be in bad taste due to the recent events, but here goes…
Juvia created a large scaly body standing on top of the castle, a pair of massive wings, a strong tail and finally, a head of a dragon. It flapped it's wings twice before Gray-san froze it. To top it off, Gray-san rained thousands of coins, crowns, jewellery down, accumulating in a pile at the castle foot.
"The dragon was a great idea!" Gray-san said, waving to the crowd. Juvia did the same, wearing a satisfied smile.
"Juvia must thank you for adapting to her choices."
"No, it made perfect sense."
"Then Juvia is glad, Juvia thought is made be bad to make a dragon considering what happened at the games."
"Just think of it as a tribute to us fending off dragons."
"That's true."
"Though it was mainly the dragon slayers that did the work."
"Everyone did their part."
"I guess…" The Fantasia Parade was a huge success, we had requests to make next one just as or better than this year's. But more importantly, everyone had fun. Juvia didn't see anything that could be taken as a frown. Juvia heard that Saber Tooth's twin dragon float was really popular with the teens and children. Master even considered asking for other guilds for help next time.
After the festival was over and everyone else went back home, Fariy Tail and guests were still celebrating. It was a special day, so there were more drunk people than usual. Juvia was sitting with her friends drinking a small amount of wine, not wanting to repeat what happened last time.
"But still, Wendy did great!" Cana-san said, chugging what seems to be her tenth bottle of whisky.
"T—that's not true! I just…"
"Don't be so modest! You made a great debut." Lisanna-san intercepted.
"What I loved was how romantic Juvia's performance was." Levy-san said. Was it really that romantic? Juvia just put what was on her mind into the performance, the forest Juvia went to with Natsu.
"Speaking of which…" Cana-san wrapped her arm around Juvia. "Which one did you hope to be your prince hmmm?" Juvia's mind blanked out. An image formed in her mind. But Juvia shook it off before any defining feature came out.
"No—no one! Juvia isn't in love with anyone!"
"Are you suuure about that?" Cana-san continued her attack, adding her fingers as well, poking at Juvia's cheeks, which is turning red.
"I think I have a good idea on who is it." Lucy-san! Don't make misunderstandings!
"Really! Who is it!?" Cana-san switched her target to someone with a looser mouth.
"But…Juvia isn't ready to tell us tell, so it's still a hunch."
"It doesn't matter, hurry up and tell me!" Lucy-san, please don't do it! Juvia is begging you!
"No way! I worked so hard to be on good terms with Juvia, I'm not throwing it away my hard work." Lucy-san, Thank You. "But, I'm pretty sure you can figure it out yourself, a girl in love is pretty easy to read." Don't provoke them!
"Juvia really doesn't have anyone! Juvia just…likes being around him…"
"Ermm…how about we change topics…Juvia-san looks uncomfortable…" Wendy-san said.
"Fine! But Juvia, I'll ask you one of these days, and I won't let you get away!"
"P—please give Juvia a break!"
"A—anyway, Bisca-san why didn't you join in the contest?" Wendy-san saved Juvia again.
"Well, I'm married, and I gave birth, people probably don't want to see a woman like that."
"Is that how it is? But Bisca-san is pretty…"
"Wendy, you'll know when you're older."
"Don't treat me like a kid!" Wendy-san pouted.
"My bad, my bad."
"Mama…I'm tired…" A little girl was hugging at Bisca-san's leg, head drooping down.
"Okay sweetheart, let's go to sleep then!" Bisca-san picked up the wobbling Asuka-chan in her arms. "Sorry, I'm going to leave early, enjoy the party okay?"
"Good night!"
"You too Wendy-chan, you won't grow if you sleep late you know!"
"I know that! I've been drinking plenty of milk too…"
"Sorry! If fun teasing you like this." Bisca-san walked out of the guild hall after finding her husband.
"A kid huh? If you guys have to get children, how many would you get?" Cana-san asked with a warm expression. "My old man said he wants one grandchild to dote on. He also said it's a way of making up for not taking care of me."
"Juvia think she wants…at least two…" Cana-san smirked. Juvia has been caught!
"So, who is the lucky man?"
"Cana-san lied just for this?"
"Yup! I don't think I can get a boyfriend time soon anyway, he's so protective, every time I'm out with him, he would glare at any guy within three metres of me. Now! Out with it!"
"L—Lucy-san! How many kids will you have?"
"Let's see…I don't have plans for kids but…I say'd one."
"What do you think the child will look like?" Mira-san asked, placing down another round of drinks.
"I—if it's with Gray then…"
"What do you mean 'if'?" Levy-san intercepted.
"Well…it's only been about a month since we started dating, so I don't know if we will stick…"
"Juvia is supporting you. The same with everyone right?"
"Of course!" "Yes!" "Why wouldn't we?" "One-hundred percent!" "Isn't it obvious?"
"Thank You, everyone." Lucy-san's face has a faint pink tint to it. But Juvia isn't sure if it's because of the alcohol, or because of the embarrassment from thinking about her relationship.
All of Juvia's friends has left, she was about to leave too. However, Juvia spotted Natsu sleeping on the floor in a weird angle. Juvia should return the favour, Natsu did help Juvia get back home before. After talking with Mira-san, Juvia leaned Natsu on her shoulders. Heavy…how much food did you eat Natsu? Or is that how much you normally weigh? Perhaps Juvia is just weak? Why is Juvia doing this?
The winds rustled the leaves, it caressed Natsu's hair, cooled Juvia's warm cheeks. Juvia could feel Natsu's breath brushing against Juvia's neck. The moon and stars that shone through the near naked branches and guided Juvia.
"Juvia?" Natsu rubbed his eyes. "Where's Happy?"
"It seems he went back home."
"He didn't tell me." Natsu yawned. "Furry bastard, why didn't he wake me up?"
"Can you walk?"
"Sure." Natsu's weight left Juvia, exposing her left side to the Autumn winds. "Sorry to have you carry me all the way out here."
"No, it's fine, you did the same for me."
"I'm not light like you. Plus, I'm strong, so it didn't matter to me. It must've have been tiring for you right?"
"It's fine."
"If you say so. So, how your second 'Harvest Festival'?"
"It was even better than last time, Juvia had a lot more fun. Juvia spent more time with her friends rather than tail Gray-san."
"I see. I'm glad that you're having fun now, you were a real mess when we found you by the lake."
"Yes…It's all thanks to you, Juvia wouldn't have recovered so quickly if it wasn't for you. Juvia is grateful."
"You don't need to thank me," Natsu placed his hands behind his head. "anyone else would have done the same."
"That may be true but, it was your kindness and silly actions that helped out a lot, no one else could do the same thing you did." Natsu stopped walking
"If you have any other problems, come talk to me, I swear I'll help you anytime." Natsu gave Juvia his signature smile. It seemed different than the other ones Juvia had seen before; more cheerful, more kind, more…perfect. Can Juvia have this moment framed? "Hmm? What's wrong? You had too much to drink?"
"Huh? Why do you ask?"
"I mean, your face is red and you have a weird smile, it's like when Cana is drunk. Do you need me to walk you home?"
"Juvia isn't drunk! Juvia is perfectly fine!"
"That so?"
"Yes!" We continued our walk to Natsu's house.
"Shouldn't you go back home? It's pretty late." Is Natsu trying to get rid of Juvia? Juvia won't let that happen!
"Do you dislike being with me?"
"The opposite, I love hanging out with you!"
"Then why are you telling Juvia to go?"
"I mean, I can walk back home now, you don't have to follow me back. I just don't want to keep you up is all."
"Oh…Juvia thought—"
"In the first place, why would I hate a fun woman like you?" Juvia is fun? The gloomy 'Rain Woman'? "But if you want, you can walk with me until I get home."
"Juvia will do that."
"Why?"
"Juvia…doesn't know…"
"You really are weird."
"Do you hate weird women?"
"Depends, you're cool though." Juvia breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank You."
"You really are being weird."
"Is that bad?" Juvia said, having a faint smile on her face.
"No, I kind of like it."
"Then no complaining."
"Yeah, yeah." A stone house came into view, along with the charming sign Natsu made. "Looks like we're here."
"Yes…"
"Come back another time!" Natsu put on another bright smile. Yep, that smile, really is perfect. His two fangs that sticks out of his teeth line, the noticeable dimples. Juvia's heart is beating from the alcohol, it's a bit delayed but, this isn't too bad.
Thanks for reading! A bit of a shorter chapter this time, still hope you enjoyed it nonetheless.
With this 'arc' ending, I really have no idea where to take this story. Maybe you can give me some suggestions. I'm generally pretty happy with this chapter, but maybe I rushed/make some things revolving around Juvia's love, still trying to get a hang around these things. It is my first love story.
Thanks for the supportive words you guys gave me in the reviews. I look forward for more great feedback!
