I apologize for the wait. I've been so busy with school that I haven't had time to update.

But it's spring break, so I can finally get this chapter up

I hope you like it

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN FAIRY TAIL

Chapter 8: Fight for your Life

Juvia stood there, frozen. Her eyes widened in absolute terror. Zander's grin grew.

''What's the matter, Juvia-chan? Can't speak?'' Zander asked, his face feigning concern. In that moment, Juvia hardened. She took her fighting stance and her eyes narrowed in anger.

''Zander is right. We should settle this, right here and now. Juvia is tired of living in fear. She is going to finish this.'' Zander laughed.

''Finish this? What a joke! You couldn't even beat me the last time. What makes you think that you can beat me now!''

''Juvia is not the same girl that she was six months ago. She has gotten stronger. She will beat you.'' Zander smirked.

''No, it will be I that beats you. And this time, no one is going to interrupt us.'' Zander gestured to the other fairy tail members that were trapped in his prison.

''You guys get to watch as I kill your friend. And after I have killed her, I'm going to kill you too, Laxus Dreyar.'' Laxus growled.

''Zander! You son of a bitch, let us out! If you want to fight me so bad, than fight me! Don't drag Juvia into this!'' he shouted. Zander chuckled.

''Are you stupid? It was always about Juvia. Now, don't get me wrong, I will met my revenge on you as well, but I will kill Juvia first.''

''Enough talk! Water Cyclone!'' Juvia shot her cyclone of water right at Zander. In one swift move, Zander deflected the attack with the back of his hand.

''Now it's my turn. Galaxy Beam!''

''Water Beam!'' Both attacks hit each other dead on. Juvia stumbled back and Zander used that to his advantage.

''Star Bullets!'' Juvia cried out as she was hit.

''Juvia!'' Laxus shouted. Juvia looked at him and smiled.

''Juvia is okay. Don't worry.''

''You shouldn't let your guard down! Galatic Punch!'' Zander raised his fist and punched Juvia in the face. Juvia reeled back from the hit.

''I'm not done yet! Star Kick!'' Zander raised his leg and kicked Juvia right in the ribs. Juvia gasped and she knew that at least one rib was broken.

''Galatic Flash!'' Zander's entire body flashed white and he charged at Juvia with amazing speed. Juvia was hit dead on. She screamed and her body collided with the barrier that had everyone else trapped.

''Juvia!'' Everyone watched in horror as Juvia collasped to the ground, unmoving. Laxus knelt down and got as close to her fallen form as he could.

''C'mon, Juvia. Get up. You have to get up. C'mon please. Please get up.'' Laxus begged. Zander approached Juvia. Laxus glared at him.

''Don't touch her! Don't you dare touch her!'' Zander laughed.

''What can you possibly do to me? You're trapped in my cage, Laxus Dreyar. I can do whatever I want to your precious Juvia and you can't do a damn thing about it. So, why don't you just sit there like a good boy and watch?'' Zander grabbed Juvia by the throat and slammed her head against the barrier. Juvia cried out. He slammed her head again. And again. And again. Zander was about to slam her head again, but stopped. He dropped her instead. Juvia hit the ground hard. A small puddle of blood formed around her. Zander stared at her.

''It really is a shame. You weren't even a challenge. And you said that you got stronger. Pft, what a joke. You're still as weak as you ever was. Nothing has changed. You haven't changed.'' Zander muttered. He blinked, surprise crossing his features, when Juvia started to stand up. She stumbled a bit, but eventually, she managed to stand properly. She glared at Zander.

''Juvia has changed. Juvia has changed so much. She isn't that scared little girl anymore. She has gotten stronger. And she will prove it! Water Nebula!'' Juvia screamed and raised her hands. Zander, who was still in shock, didn't move. The attack hit him and he stumbled back. Juvia charged at him.

''Water Jigsaw!'' She hit Zander. He grunted and fell back.

''Juvia isn't finished yet! Water Cannon! Water Slicer!'' Zander was hit again and this time, he actually fell down. Laxus and the others watched the battle, their eyes portraying their shock. Natsu raised his fist.

''Yeah! You go Juvia! Kick his ass! Show him just how strong Fairy Tail is!'' he shouted. Juvia smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

''Yes! Water Cane!'' Juvia's water cane wrapped around Zander's throat. Juvia raised her hands and slammed Zander into the ground. Zander grunted and his face contorted in pain. Juvia swung her arms and sent Zander crashing into a tree.

''Now it's time to finish this! Wings of Love!''

Zander, who was still struggling to stand, was hit directly. He screamed as he was carried away by the attack. He was left lying on the ground, coughing up water. He growled.

''That's it! I am done messing around! Stardust Mist!''

The entire fighting area was covered in this weird type of dust. Juvia remembered this attack from the last time she fought Zander. She took up her fighting stance and looked around cautiously. But she still couldn't see a damn thing. So, it came as a complete shock to her when she was hit. She gasped and fell over. But the attacks didn't stop there. Juvia was left completely vulnerable as the onslaught of attacks continued. She screamed and collasped. She could feel nothing but pain. She closed her eyes.

Ignore the pain. Ignore it. Focus on finding Zander. Focus on blocking his next attack. Focus. Focus.

Just as Zander was about to attack her again, Juvia opened her eyes and grabbed unto Zander's wrist. She slowly stood up, using Zander's wrist for support. Juvia stared into Zander's eyes. He stared right back, his entire body was frozen and stiff. Juvia raised her fist and shouted,

''Water Punch!'' Juvia uppercutted Zander. The attack hit him waith so much force that he was sent flying in the air.

''Sierra!''Juvia shot up like a bullet through the mist. She hit Zander and continued to soar through the sky. When they were a good 50 feet in the air, she stopped. Juvia raised her hands.

''This is the end! Take this! Water Nebula!''

Zander screamed as he was hit. He fell to the ground at and alarming speed. Hit the ground hard and was left immobile. Juvia dropped to the ground and stood over him. Her eyes were covered by her hair, giving her a more sinister look. Zander stared at her.

''Now is your chance. I'm vulnerable now. You can kill me and I won't be able to defend myself. You can finally get your revenge.'' Zander said. Juvia started to shake.

''Juvia won't kill you.'' she whispered. Zander's eyes widened.

''What?'' Juvia continued to shake. Eventually, her legs gave out and she fell right next to Zander. Zander could see the tears running down her face.

''Juvia never wanted to kill you. Even though you caused her so much pain, she never wanted revenge. She just wanted to know why. Juvia wants to know why you did this to her. So please, tell her why. Tell me why.'' Zander looked away.

''I don't have to explain myself to you.'' he muttered bitterly. Juvia narrowed her eyes.

''Yes, you do. Juvia deserves to know why you put her though so much pain.'' Juvia said. Zander still didn't look at her.

''Look at me!'' Juvia shouted. Zander glanced at her. He started to panic when he saw the soft look in Juvia's eyes.

''Why? Why won't you kill me? After everything that I did to you?'' he asked. Juvia smiled, her tears running freely down her face and unto Zander's.

''You were Juvia's best friend. And Juvia was yours. When everyone shunned us, all we had was each other. Juvia loved you. And she knows that you loved her too.'' Juvia reached out and placed her hand on Zander's bloody cheek.

''You were more than Juvia's friend. You were like family. Zander-kun was like Juvia's older brother. You would always protect Juvia. Whether it be from bullies or the townspeople, Zander-kun would always protect me. And because of that, people began to shun you too. You ended up being all alone because you decided to defend Juvia. Juvia thought that you hated her, but you didn't. Juvia thought that you would leave her, but you didn't. You stuck by her and became her friend. And Juvia loved you because of that. And even after everything that you did to her, a part of Juvia still loves Zander. Not the Zander that ruined her life, but the Zander that was her friend. She loved that Zander. The one that was kind and treated her like a human being. Juvia loved that Zander and she wants to know what happened to him. She wants to know what made him like the Zander in front of her. So please, tell Juvia why. What happened to you? What happened to Juvia's best friend?''

Zander stared at her and for the first time in a long time, he felt something. Something other than hate and rage. His eyes welled up with tears and his heart ached. He closed his eyes and let the tears flow.

''My parents were killed. They were murdered by a bunch of dark mages. I came home and saw their mutilated bodies. And I saw the mages. I tried to fight them, but I lost. And as I watched them leave, one of them whispered something to me. He said that the darkness was coming and he told me to just accept it. And then he left. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to ruin your innocent mind. I wanted you to believe that there was still good in people. I didn't want you to end up like me. But in the end, I hurt you more than any mage could. I let the darkness take over me and I caused you so much pain. Pain that a nine year old little girl shoudn't have to experience. I caused you enough pain to last a lifetime. I took out all my anger and hate on you, someone that I loved. And I didn't realize it until now.'' Zander's voice cracked and he gasped as more tears fell from his eyes. He opened them and stared at Juvia.

''You still love me, after everything that I did to you. You could have killed me, but you didn't.'' Zander raised his hand and gently touched Juvia's cheek.

''You should have killed me. I don't deserve your mercy. I don't deserve your kindness. After everything I did. I don't deserve it, and yet, you still give it to me. And I don't understand why. How can you be so good to me, after everything?''

''Because, Juvia can never kill someone. No matter how bad they hurt her, Juvia just can't find it in herself to kill someone. And you are no different. You are a person and for that reason, Juvia won't kill you. And, Juvia isn't ready to let go of all the good memories she had with you. If Juvia were to kill you, than that means that she is ready to let go of her past. It means that she is ready to let go of you. And Juvia just isn't ready for that.''

Zander opened his mouth to respond, but found that he couldn't speak. So he sobbed. Loud, heartbreaking sobs. He lifted his hands and covered his face. The barrier that he created disappeared. Laxus and everyone else were free. Laxus was about to approach Juvia, but she held up her hand, telling him to stop. She was sobbing too, along with Zander. The skies began to turn grey and rain started to fall down. In mere minutes, everyone was soaked. Juvia looked up at the sky and smiled.

Rain. You will always be here, even when Juvia doesn't want you to be. You have been Juvia's constant companion. When everyone else left her, you were there. And you always will be. Until the very end. Thank you.

Juvia closed her eyes and her world faded to black.

OoOooOoOoOooOOOooOooOoooOO

Done!

The next chapter will be the final one and then there is going to be an epilogue.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I apologize if the fight was bad.

See you all next chapter!