Friendship: Preparation
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

This will be all over soon,
Pour salt into the open wound,
Is it over yet?
Let me in.
(Breath ~ Breaking Benjamin)

It had been two days since Juvia was told about her parents and she still could not figure out, what they wanted with her. From the way the moon looked from her window, it was almost full moon when they came in the next time. The one with the higher voice giggling (despite his monotone facial expression) that it finally was time. He practically skidded into the room and Juvia only raised a brow at him.

Easily they overpowered her and forced her to drink a tasteless drink. The fluid passed her lips and her taste buds but she tasted nothing at all. She only felt weaker when they pulled her out of the cell and threw her into a room, where several women were standing. They wore similar cloaks to the men, only that theirs were white and the women all had long white blonde hair.

Questions arose in the water mage when all of the women bowed down before her, looking at her in awe. "May I introduce you to our sister guild? They wouldn't believe us that we caught you. They still need to find their mage. They will ready you for the ritual.", the higher voice came calling from outside and the door was closed.

Juvia felt a magical aura surround her and pull her to a chair. It was like she could do nothing against following it and she was sure it was one of the girls' magic. She sat down and turned to the girls. Two or three came over to her to first wash, then dry, and lastly to braid her still damp hair. She was asked to stand up then and when she did not budge, the magical aura surrounding her once more willed her to stand up.

"It will be less painful to you, and much less troublesome for us if you just let us do what we do.", one of the girls said, a high soprano voice coming out of her mouth. "Juvia doesn't care if it will be less painful for her. She will never give herself up to you. She is a Fairy Tale mage. She will fight until she can't fight no more. She will stand her ground until there is no more ground to stand upon.", Juvia replied weakly. The girls shook their heads in unison. "That sure is a pity. Then we'll have to force you."

The magical aura around her grew stronger and stronger and willed Juvia to stand up. Two of the girls started to undress her until she only was dressed in her panties. Juvia tried to cover herself with her arms, but they would not budge. Two of the girls brought over a black dress and they zipped it open for Juvia to step into the dress. The aura made her step inside and she heard the dress being zipped in the back. Her hair was opened again and was brushed out it soft waves.

She caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror at the side and she turned her head. She looked like she had in her dream. Her hair was admittedly still not as long, but the rest was the very same. A tight, sleeveless black top part with silver linings at the hem that all met forming room for a blue gem, looking like a drop of water in the middle of the top. The black skirt part was wide, longer than her legs and out of a rather opaque, but still sheer skirt.

Juvia had to admit, she looked great, but that did not change that she did not want to be there. The magic aura forced her out of the room and into another, neighboring room. As much as she despised being forced somewhere and to be helpless against it, she was sort of grateful for it as she was able to move despite the much too long fabric of the skirt.

She gasped looking around the room. The room had no roof and the moon shone on Juvia's pale skin making her feel stronger. She tried to struggle, but the aura was oppressing her magic powers. Dressed in black cloaks the men that had captured her stood along the side of a round pond. The aura left Juvia but she could not turn. There was a small path out of pebbles reaching right into the middle of the lake and she followed the path until she was in the middle of it. She closed her eyes bathing in the moon's light and she noticed that it was a full moon.

The water of the pond was lifted into the air in front of the cloaked men, who had their arms lifted into the air, as if they were ordering the water to behave like that. But Juvia felt it was not them who lifted the water, it was a power deep within her.

The men started to chant the song from Juvia's dream and she felt herself being lifted into the air-

Gajeel was running faster than he ever had, the desperation bubbling deep inside him. He was at the end of his tether, but he could not stop. He carried Lily, who had fought until he had collapsed. His cat, no his partner, was wounded and Gajeel had to bring him to Wendy. Juvia had been kidnapped and Gajeel was not able to take up her smell. He had to get back to the guild for help.

He knew he was much faster on foot than by train, where he had to buy a ticket, take the train and somehow get out of it again. He was in no condition to take the train. He did not know how long he had run already but he never felt more glad than when the guild came into view. Pushing the door open he felt all eyes on him.

"We've been ambushed.", he panted "Lily- wounded... I'm- finished... Juvia... kidnapped." Natsu and Gray rushed forward to catch him as everything around him turned dark.

Busy me was not able to update last wee, sorry. University is taking its toll on me and my laptop did not want to work last week end.
And off I leave you with two cliffhangers.

NDrag21384- Why did you have to stop reviewing to my chapters? Your reviews made my day. But thanks for the support. I hope you will review some more.
Kochida- Thanks for your reviewing and for your praise. What happens with Juvia will be revealed At some point.
~Liliana-chan