Hey everyone, sorry this chapter is late. I've been so busy that even though I've been planning on updating nearly all my stories I haven't had the chance to really work on a single one of them.
Ya'know I haven't really realized how good of a character Juvia is until I started this fic. When I started she was like 'okay' but now I'm really starting to like her! I'm going to Sakura-con this year and you know who I'm gonna be? I'm going to be Juvia! My friend who is taking me is going to be Lucy. Any readers going?
As always please Read and Review, and the most important part of this story, Enjoy!
The door opened and was followed by a young man. The blonde haired man's hand jingled as he fingered through the keys. Erza tensed up as he came near and waited for Natsu's attack. This is a hastily made plan, and really faulty, but we have to get out of here quickly if this has to do with Acnologia, there is no time to waste!
Erza raised the weapon as the jail keeper let out a soft "oof" sound and dropped to the ground. Maybe this wouldn't take as long as she thought. She reached out with a hand.
"Here ya go Erza, now hurry and get us out of here!" Natsu said impatiently. He tossed the keys over to her. The light metal keys plopped into her hand softly, and Erza quickly unlocked herself.
Her wrists ached and were coated with blood. They were rubbed raw too. Though Erza could bear through it, she was just thankful no damage was done to her neck. She unlocked the cage and pushed it open warily. Her eyes darted left and right to keep watch on the doors.
"Okay Natsu, wait a second while I unlock them. Then go wreck all the destruction you want." Erza walked to Natsu's cell, he nodded. There was a determined look in his eyes and his expression serious. She unlocked his chains and smiled energetically at him, he grinned back with equal enthusiasm. "Lets go!"
"Yea!" Natsu spun around and fired up. He dashed to the door with lightning speed, knocking it down with a mere punch. Erza could have sworn that she could hear Bartemius grumble a complaint, but it was too quiet for the requip mage to hear.
Erza rolled her eyes in amusement as Natsu rushed ahead to the soldiers that were attracted by the noise of the prison-break. She heard Natsu's shouting and the screams of falling soldiers as she jumped ahead of him and started fighting away as well. This is a mage guild, why are there common soldier's here too… Mercenaries?
Requip: Heaven's wheel armor! Magical energy swirled around her. Her armor changed to become white and angelic, as well as metallic.
She darted forward and slashed wildly, knocking down multiple mages. Her sword and the club moved like lightning. Slowly she was making her way forward.
She felt an odd lurch and her armor disappeared. But Erza had no choice but to keep swinging. With a curse and a thank you to her club she went on the defense. With magic being just as common as weapons it was a good thing that the club defended against both.
Then Erza felt pain burst in the back of her shoulder. Warm liquid fell down her back. She spun and attacked the mercenary. The club bashed his skull and he fell backwards into the crowd. She dropped to the ground in accumulated pain. She realized her weakness instantly.
Requip: Flight Armor. Erza's clothes turned to cheetah patterned armor with a short sword in her hand. She jumped out of the fray and looked at the mercenaries below her. I can't see Natsu in the hall at all. Was he separated into a different hall? Arrows flew at her and she dodged them narrowly. I have to take care of these guys first though.
Erza let out a shrill cry and dived back into the mob, she sliced at their defenses. Wailings and whinings resounded in her head. Within moments they were all down. Natsu however was still nowhere to be seen. Blood was still spattered across her armor and the speed heat the already warm liquid, causing it to steam slightly.
"Looks like I'm done here," Erza said, looking around the mess of unconscious bodies around her. She requipped back into her normal armor to save her magic and continued walking down the path. Where was Natsu? They were supposed to be breaking out together. The red haired mage walked down the hall, the club still grasped in her hand.
It was quiet... Way too quiet for comfort. When the only sound was the falling of your footsteps in an enemy base you would be pretty skeptic of any kind of safety. It was just a long hallway, with the occasional staircase. After coming to the end, tensed step after step, she arrived what must have been the exit. It was the same room they came in... But there was someone important missing, scratch that... Two people.
"Well this is a room, and an exit... But where is everyone, especially Natsu?"
A small voice inside her head told her to duck, now!
A spray of water shot over her head, crashing on the wall in front of her. Erza spun around and gripped her club tightly. She had already expected the man that met her sight. His short, smoothed over black hair, black eyes, and dark iron armor.
"Nathan!" she spat. The man chuckled and just looked at her.
"Well done Titannia, you look like a good fight."
"Where's Natsu, and Happy?"
The man looked at her puzzledly. "Natsu is somewhere else inside here, don't know about Happy... Is he that cat that my men were about to dissect in the other room?"
Anger rushed through her. They were going to cut Happy open! "Dissecting an animal that's clearly alive? Don't you dare!" Please... Don't let Happy be dead.
"Of course, its not everyday the men see a flying, talking cat. Besides, we enjoy playing with our animals."
'Playing' with them? "You sick bastards!" Erza requipped into her black wing armor and flew forward. A purple and silver blade in one hand, the club in the other. She rushed to him. With lightning speed she stabbed him. However the blade bounced off harmlessly. Nathan smiled, he waved a hand, sending balls of water crashing into Erza.
Thats right, only the mace will work on his enchanted armor. It looks like he is a water mage like Juvia, well if he wants to fight with water than so shall I. She requipped into her Sea Empress armor. The dark colors of her current armor shifting into a green and blue one. She summoned up her own water and sent it at him. He wasn't expecting it and was sent flying into a wall.
"I expected you to be better since you were the commander here, but you seem to really underestimate your opponents." Erza smirked. She hoped she could taunt him into loosing his composure, otherwise this fight could last awhile. Erza needed to find Natsu and Happy.
"Titania, you will pay for this." Nathan grinned maniacally. "Selling you will feel so much sweeter after this fight, no, maybe I would be better to just flat out kill you." He lunged for Erza, his entire body becoming covered in water. He was fast, Erza could give him that. Within seconds he was already stabbing outward with a spear of water. Erza changed the flow of the water, and it dropped to the ground. She swung the club at him and watched his eyes light up with recognition. "This weapon... Bartemius! That traitor!" It swung into him and pushed him away from the requip mage.
Erza smiled. Her plans were working. "Yea he was a big help, we got him to do it rather quickly. What incompetent jail master lets his prisoners rise up like this?"
He roared with anger and swung at her wildly with his water magic. Erza weaved around them before tossing them back just as quickly. His magical armor protected him but not the club. He knew his weakness, and now he was afraid. If he relies on the armor so much, he must not really be all that powerful. The poor man fell backwards. Erza saw her chance. She rushed forward, raised the club over her head, and brought it down.
"It's a good thing I've already seen this coming. We got the weapons and armor we needed anyway. The man I've sent to finish him off should do it quite nicely!" Only to be blocked by another sword. Erza's eyes widened as in the blink of an eye the man had brought out a weapon of his own, and pushed her back. Where did that sword come from?
Nathan grinned and retreated several feet, back into his original spot. It puzzled Erza slightly and she found herself drawing closer.
"You know Titania, its been a fun fight. But I would rather get this over with." He took the dagger and sliced through a thin rope. Erza froze as a small black spiked ball rolled out from somewhere, Erza couldn't really see it. The ball glowed with bright energy, before sending waves of magical energy through the air.
Erza gasped with pain as her requip was forcibly removed. She looked upward at him angrily.
"What is this?" she growled. Nathan cocked his head to the side.
He walked forward slowly, though it was more of a limp. "All the magic in the room has been dispelled and blocked Titania. My equality sphere served its purpose perfectly."
The initial flash of pain faded, and she rose back up. She couldn't requip, she would have to fight him without armor.
"If all of the magic in the room is down, then you must be unable to use magic as well."
"Heh, thats why I came prepared." He gave his sword a flourish in the air. His armor still glittered with magic power, and the sword did as well. He charged forward, his sword and dagger drawn. Erza glanced down at her club, it would have to do. Erza shouted with fury as she charged.
Their weapons met in a shower of sparks. Erza felt cold steel graze her neck as Nathan tried to stab her with the dagger. Erza broke away. The two walked in a circle opposing each other, each one waiting for the other to strike. Erza attacked first.
With a grunt she swung the mace at him. He dodged to the left side, only to have Erza punch him with her left hand. He fell backwards onto the ground. Erza stood in front of him panting. She was tired and bleeding. Erza leaned forward and grabbed his armored chest. She pulled him up with her strength and saw the panic and unease in his eyes.
"Okay Nathan, tell me everything about this guild and your plans. Tell me about Gray Fullbuster as well." She saw his eyes widen and he started to tremble.
"I can't do that... I mean I know nothing about our plans, I'm just in charge of the ransoms. Gray Fullbuster apparently works with Apollion in their base at Onibus town. I don't know why or what he's being used for but he just is." The man gulped.
"Bullshit! I know that you know more. You are Apollion's second hand man are you not?"The man nodded. "So you will know more!"
She didn't get an answer though, because the ceiling above them burst with force. Erza had to let go of the man and leapt backwards to escape the falling rubble that was coming down.
"All right!" The dust cleared to reveal a pink haired idiot standing on the rubble pile. A small blue exceed drifted down weakly, appearing beaten up but otherwise fine.
"Natsu! Happy!" Erza moved forward with a smile. "How nice of you to drop in." she chuckled lightly. She was glad to see the two of them safe and well... Mostly unharmed.
"Hey Erza, look who I found!" He flashed a toothy grin and pointed to Happy. "These Hellfire Imp bastards were about to cut him open and stuff before I found them and beat them up." Erza couldn't help but picture it, and silently laughed.
"Aye these mean guys were beating me, and when I tried to fly away and yelled at them they noticed that I was an exceed and tried to kill me... They called it 'science'." Happy said, slightly teary-eyed. Erza walked up to the exceed and hugged him lightly. He grew wings and flew over to Natsu. "Natsu... Are we going home now?"
"Of course we are Happy, we have won... right?" He looked at Erza, who nodded.
"Yeah, I defeated Nathan. I was about to interrogate him but..." she suddenly gained a evil feeling aura. "This idiot had to break in through the ceiling and knock him out." she pointed to Natsu, who cringed slightly at the scolding.
"Sorry..." he muttered. Happy sat on Natsu's shoulder and was sniffling slightly with laughter. Then Natsu stiffened, his head dropped down as he thought of something. "Hey Erza, what about Bartemius?"
Erza stiffened. "What!?"
"We were able to break out of here anyway, we should go get him, and bring him back to the guild!" Erza recalled Nathan's earlier comments. And quickly agreed. As they hurried back Erza felt a growing unease. Something was wrong, she just knew it. Even Natsu and Happy seemed to pick up on the mood and the three were silent the whole time. If they had had Lucy she at least would have complained about the running that they were doing... But it was just quiet.
When they got there Erza was totally unprepared for what met them.
A rotten scent hung in the air, stinging her eyes and nose. Blood was spattered everywhere. "What... What is it?" came Happy's childish, horrified voice. Natsu had covered Happy's eyes with one of his hands. They looked for what happened.
They searched for a few minutes before they finally found something. It was Natsu who had found it.
"Erza... L-Look at this!" he sounded uneasy and the red haired demon walked over to him. There were chunks of burnt flesh and scattered blood, but no full body. "Bartemius... I told you we shouldn't have left him behind!"
"I'm sorry Natsu." Erza apologized. Natsu was too angry to respond.
"Natsu, are you alright? Who was this guy?" Happy asked the dragonslayer.
"He helped us escaped, and told us of these guy's plans too."
"Oh..." Happy said sadly. Erza walked up to Natsu and set a hand on his shoulder. He would have been alive still if she hadn't suggested that they leave him behind... It was all her fault. A tear rolled down her eye and fell to the ground.
"Come on, we need to get back to the guild."
"Well I suppose this place is... Alright," Megan muttered as she pulled on a black jacket over her light pink shirt. A miniskirt, a Lucy-short kind of miniskirt revealed the majority of her pale legs. The black and pink thing made Juvia suppose that it looked cute... But the ring mage better not make a move on her Gray-sama! Gray-sama was Juvia's and Juvia's alone.
"Geeze Juvia, now I remember why I never went on any missions with you..." Gray moaned quietly, loud enough only for Juvia to hear. "Anyway, we got the room so that we can stay out of sight of the main residents and remain hidden easier. After we get to the guild we won't have to hide as much alright?"
After they had reached the room they had realized that there was only two bedrooms and the main room. With only one bed in each room. The three had fought for over an hour about how Juvia wanted to sleep with Gray-sama in his room, but ended up sharing a room with the auburn haired mage. Not that it really mattered as when Gray woke up that morning Juvia was sleeping with him. Has anyone ever heard such a beautiful man-scream but dear Juvia?
"Juvia agrees with Gray-sama! This room is very well hidden, staying out of sight won't be a problem." the blunette defended. Megan rolled her eyes at another mention of the word Gray-sama. She walked over to the door and tapped it impatiently.
"So who all is coming with anyway?"
"Until we get to the guild me and Juvia have to hide, so just you." Gray said. Megan huffed and opened the door.
"Okay whatever, cya." The door made a loud sound, butr the two ex-Fairy Tail mages weren't paying attention to the door.
"So what does Gray-sama want to do? Juvia wants to spend all of her time here with Gray-sama, maybe even a little time in one of our beds!" Juvia could just picture her and Gray having a fling in his bed, then the distant wedding bells, and then the children. Gray facepalmed. He looked like he was about to slam his head against the wall and Juvia rushed over to him.
"Um...Juvia, get away and drop the topic now!"
"But why? Doesn't Gray-sama love Juvia? Juvia has been too distracted to ask about it but now that we have time Juvia wants to spend time with you." By now Gray's cheeks were slightly pink, although he was visibly straining to hide emotion. Juvia giggled a bit. Gray pressed himself against the wall and started wiggling away. But Juvia wouldn't allow that, she took Gray's hand and pulled him back over to her. He was rushed forward and in haste threw his arms around her. When the entire action was finished Juvia found her head pressed against Gray's chest.
"Juvia... Get off me..." Gray said in a short, strained voice. Juvia felt her water body grow warm and she thought that she would loose her solidity. She ignored his voice and pressed against him harder. How secure she felt in her savior, her precious, precious savior. He made no attempt to move away, either that or time just froze for the water mage.
No one else had ever actually attempted to be closer to her than just an acquaintance, or a enemy. There was Jose who had invited her to join Phantom Lord... But that was for her power, she never actually got all that close to the others, they had sorta considered her just as gloomy as the others had. She had felt such gratitude for Jose that she was completely loyal to him, not that her experience being there was all that bad after all... After all, she had met her Gray-sama.
Gray had done more than anyone had actually tried to do before. He both helped her dispel the rain and he even saved her from falling. He was her savior, and she would make sure that he knew it. Her loyalty was to those that actually wanted her, that cared. And Gray was the first one to pull her out of the dark hold of depression, the one that actually made her bright.
"Hey Gray-sama... Why are you doing this?" She could feel him tense up, and almost regretted the question.
"I...I can't tell you that... I did it because I wanted to, even if I didn't I would have had to get it? now drop it." The water mage's heart fell slightly, but she didn't believe it for a second. She ditched the thoughts Gray lying. Juvia would much rather savor the moment.
Her arms were wrapped around his and she inhaled and exhaled softly. He felt cold, but it wasn't a freezing cold, it was a soothing cold. It was a chill that calmed her nerves. She didn't have anyone but Gray and Megan, and Megan definitely was not a Gray-sama. The only true Gray-sama was HER Gray-sama.
A Gray-sama she could never let leave her.
The two were so oblivious to everything but their situation that they didn't notice the two green eyes peeping outside the door. Or the fact that the door was sprung open and that their teammate walked through it.
"Awww, its so cute! Ya'know I think I ship the two of you!" Megan smiled. Gray sprang away from Juvia instantly, pushing her aside while she was in shock.
"It's not what you think it is, she wouldn't let go of me!" Gray shouted indignantly. Her smiled switched to a smirk.
"Yup... I'm sure thats what happened, I must be going blind then. Considering I've been watching since I left the room." Her voice rose as she talked, till it was an annoying giggle.
"Juvia was just cuddling with Gray-sama! You interrupted us!" Juvia said. Her tone was grumpy and a little bit of an apology slipped into Megan's smile.
"Okay okay, I'll be going now. You two have fun." she waved to the two other mages again as she hopefully left for real.
As the door shut the two just stood there in silence. Uncertain what to do.
"Gray-sama... "
Then Gray announced he would be heading off to his room and dashed away, leaving the Blunette all alone. He had dropped his guard, if only for a few moments. However by the time he came out of his room it would certainly be back on. The thought saddened the water mage. Her attempts to brighten him up were growing dimmer with every try. His zodiac blue eyes seemed emotionless and cold.
Juvia sighed and retreated to her own room, she would have to find some way to pass on the time.
In the village, Megan was busy picking up supplies, as well as picking up tidbets of information. She also spotted a few guys checking her out and enjoyed the attention. Some people might call her a whore or a slut but she wasn't encouraging them or dressing skimpily right? Most of these guys were like Taka anyway so there wasn't any point.
And so the day breezed by as she spun and slipped around the town. She did find something interesting though, a merchant was selling minor magic items at a stall outside of the mage's bar. That wasn't there last night... Was it? Megan moved closer to his and gave the guy a wink. He smiled back. I'm sure that I can get some sort of discount out of this guy if I look pretty enough!
Her gaze instantly darted to a few rings, they were labled as cheap magic. It obviously was nothing more than show, an item that would allow even those who could not yield magic to use them. As the only mage of the family; Megan's sister tried to use such items for awhile. They were slightly jealous, that's why Megan left the first time, to practice the craft her family envied her of.
"Excuse me sir, what kind of rings are those?" she inquired. The man glanced down at them lazily.
"Appearance changing rings, they have a hundred uses on them. Thirty-thousand jewels." Thirty-thousand? Wasn't that a little much? Maybe she could use her sex appeal. She spent a good hour haggling for them, and finally managed to get two of them at a ten-thousand jewel discount. It was a decent amount she supposed. Those two had better thank me for this, it's my own money and not the cash that Gray lent me.
She finished with a giant bag that she had to drag back to the hotel. She could have gone without the weird looks that were directed at her, but it couldn't be helped. The ring mage wondered what she would see when she opened the door. If its anything like what happened this morning... Then I'd better hurry back so I can see it!
But when she arrived the main room was empty, they must have retreated to their rooms. Plus there was no sound to suggest anything more. "HEY GUYS GET YOUR ASSES OUT HERE!"
Juvia's mind was ripped out of the book she was reading. Megan was calling. She closed it and got off her bed. She opened her door to see Megan carrying a bag full of goods and Gray standing outside of his room bleary-eyed. As if he had been sleeping.
"I got something special for you two, wanna see?" she rummaged through her bag and pulled out two rings. Juvia tilted her head at the ring mage in confusion. "Their disguise rings, they will disguise you two for an hour with about a hundred charges. It's the same appearance each time and shouldn't be all that uncomfortable."
"Will they allow us to roam around town?" Megan nodded and tossed the ring at her. It landed in Juvia's hand with a soft "plop" and she scrutinized it carefully. It was silver, not a gold ring that real ring mages often used. A small face was on it. It had a line splitting it with half, with the face of one person on one half, and a different face on another.
"Go ahead, try them on!" urged Megan.
Juvia and Gray exchanged glances, then pulled them on. They both tapped the signet carefully, and felt a slight drain on their magic. It disappeared quickly though, and they felt it wash around their bodies. It wrapped them in it's cold and tingling embrace and slinked back into the ring. The first thing Juvia noticed was not her new appearance, but her Gray-sama's visuals.
He no longer had spikey raven black hair with dark, zodiac blue eyes. Instead his short white hair fell flatly to his shoulders, the tips were blue. His iris had brightened and was now a piercing ice color. His teeth were sharper as well. They were almost like Natsu's canine ones.
Juvia heard a gasp and looked up. Megan stared at Juvia with her mouth gaping, then dug out a mirror from the bag. She showed Juvia her appearance. It was just as surprising as Gray's... If not more. Gray seemed rather startled as well. Her skin had turned darker, it was a dark olive skin tone with brown-black hair. It fell down to her shoulders as well, and was just as curly as before.
"Hmmm... I guess these things work better than I thought they would..." said Megan cheerfully.
So how was that? Good? Bad?... Too slow or rushed? Is Gray OOC? I can never tell... I tried to put in a sweet Gruvia moment (all of their moments seem to happen through accidents huh? I promise it there will be intentional ones later!)I feel like I rather failed on ending the chapter too... But the next one will pick up right where this left off and it's just for the sake of more evened out chapters.