12th: Tower

Summary: She was no princess who was locked up in a tower, waiting for a prince to free her. She was just a mage, trying to figure out her place in the world … but all she had figured out so far was that she didn't have to be a princess to be locked up. Still, friendship sets her free. [Loosely connected to 1st: Thunder, Laxana]

AN: I loved the idea that Cana and Juvia might be friends after Fantasia and I am a little bit sad that Mashima-sensei didn't use this idea for the manga. This one-shot takes place during and shortly after Laxus' failed attempt to take over the guild and uses the idea of a Cana-Juvia-friendship because I just reread the Laxus/Fantasia-arc and nearly cried when Laxus was thrown out of the guild because now, everyone knows how awesome he actually is….

When Juvia had been a little girl, she had dreamed of being a princess, locked up in a tower, waiting for a prince to come and save her. A dragon wasn't necessary because the rain that was always with her would guard her just as good. But the older she had gotten the more she had realised that she was no princess and that it was good like this because she didn't have to wait for a prince. She could go out and search the prince by herself because she was strong enough to fight any dragons or other opponents that might hinder her quest to find true love and acceptance – and Juvia didn't want to be hindered by anything anymore.

After Phantom Lord had been beaten by Fairy Tail and been disbanded by the council, she had joined the guild of her former enemies and she had met a woman who was truly a princess up in a tower. This woman was Cana Alberona. Cana-san was a skilled card mage and one of the most popular members of Fairy Tail but Juvia could see when someone was hiding something because she had been hiding her feelings about many things for a long time as well.

Cana seemed to be self-confident and Juvia liked the blunt woman – even if Cana was a close childhood friend of Gray, she didn't qualify as a love rival. But sometimes, when Cana was alone and stared at the glass in her hand, her face was strangely blank and her eyes seemed to be completely empty – as if there was no life in her.

Juvia and Cana became friends and after they were freed from Evergreen's petrifying gaze, they set out together to beat the Thundergod Tribe. They could have been successful if they hadn't been trapped in a rune enchantment written by Fried Justine. The rule in this enchantment was easy: whoever would be standing after a fight would be the 'lucky one' to fight Fried afterwards. Back in Phantom Lord, Juvia would have attacked without a second of hesitation but this wasn't Phantom Lord anymore. This was Fairy Tail. And this wasn't another Phantom Lord Mage. This was Cana, Juvia's friend – and Juvia wouldn't attack a friend.

And when the only option was self-sacrificing, well, Juvia did it because she believed in Cana and because she wanted to prove that she fitted in with Fairy Tail, that she truly belonged. The pain upon reaching the lightening lacrima was worse than anything Juvia had encountered before. Usually, her water body protected her from physical injuries and therefore the pain but water and lightening wasn't a good combination and so she fell down, defeated.

"…I lost…"

Juvia heard the voice upon awaking from her unconsciousness and slowly opened her eyes. "Cana?" she asked hoarsely as she turned her head to see the injured card mage. "What…"

"He said that he would fight me like a man … pah, wrote dumb rune enchantments that caused instant injuries as soon as I used magic…" the brunette said as she punched the mattress and sat up. "Anyway, Mira took care of him … I still can't believe it…"

"You should have won against him, Alberona," a familiar voice said. The last time they had heard this voice, it had been marked with rage and arrogance. This time, Laxus Dreyar sounded calm and serious – nearly unsure what to say or to do as he stood in the doorway. "I was excommunicated but you probably already knew that … Cana. I am … I am sorry."

"What do you mean – I should have won?" she snapped at him as she turned her gaze at him.

"Two things weren't right today," he said. "You shouldn't have been in town and you shouldn't have lost to Fried. I … I apologise for your injuries and once Juvia-san awakes, please, tell her that I am sorry for her injuries as well … and that I will take her wrath once our paths cross in the future. Oh, and tell Natsu that he shouldn't get ahead of himself just because he won. Gajeel is stronger than him … took a blow that would have killed Flamebrain without batting an eye."

"Perhaps it's because I just got defeated but I don't get what you mean, Dreyar," she hissed.

"You are not dumb, Cana," he sighed. "But if I have to spell it out for you … you weren't meant to get hurt, understood? Everyone … I wouldn't have cared … but you? I send Fried to you because I was sure that you would defeat him. You are stronger than him. I guess you just lost because your emotions were in turmoil. Feel free to send the bills for the doctors to me. You know where to find me after all."

"I know," she said. "But what happened to 'I don't need them in my Fairy Tail'?"

"I was drunk … drunk with power … but you know that I don't simply need you, Cana. I depend on you … and I guess that a part of me didn't want to accept that," he said. "Anyway, that's for you and I hope that you make a fast recovery, Cana Alberona. And do me a favour and pass the S-class exam, will you? It's getting ridiculous that you never pass."

She closed her fingers around the card. "And you really think that I will forgive that easily?"

"I don't want you to forgive me, Cana," he said. "What I did was wrong and well, congratulation for taking out three of the lacrimas. That was … to be expected from a guild veteran like you but still an impressive feat."

She sighed deeply. "I took out four – just for the record, Laxus," she corrected. "I used on ice card and maybe that made it seem like it was Gray," she shrugged. "Anyway, Laxus, try to figure out what you really want, will you? That today … that wasn't the Laxus I've known for such a long time … and I don't like this new Laxus at all."

"I will try to find the Laxus I used to be back then again, Cana," he said and left.

"If you want to cry now, Cana, Juvia would swear on her deathbed that you didn't," the water mage said as she got up to sat down next to her. "Juvia will stay silent about this."

"Thanks, Juvia," the card mage said as she wiped away a stray tear. "Yes, I am crying … because you are a really good friend to me today … and I am sorry for disappointing you. If I had won against Fried, your sacrifice wouldn't have been in vain … so I did nothing today…"

"You did something today, Cana. You did a lot for Juvia. Juvia feels really welcome in this guild now – thanks to you, Cana," the blue-haired woman said. "But Laxus … he used to be your friend, I gather … you have to forgive him one day. What did he give you, anyway?"

"You call Gajeel a drama queen but believe me, Laxus is worse than your Gajeel-kun," the card mage said as she held up a card. "That's a Call Laxus Card – if I am in trouble, I could call him to my help … we have been talking about such a card many years ago…"

"It's nice of him that he remembered, Juvia thinks," the water mage said as she patted the shoulder. "And Juvia thinks that you fought well. Fried-san is a strong and therefore hard opponent. You shouldn't beat yourself up about losing to him. Juvia is happy that Cana recovers this fast."

"Thanks, Juvia," the brown-haired woman said with a smile. "Well, if you ask me, we should get ready for the parade. It's always the highlight of a year here in Fairy Tail – along with the S-class exams. Everyone is waiting for those events to happen."

"Laxus said something about you and the S-class earlier…" the water mage said.

"I have been chosen in four years and I never passed," Cana said. "I … I kinda need to pass though and well, he knows why and so it was his way to tell me that he believes in me … fool."

"Juvia thinks that you deserve being in the S-class, Cana," the water mage said. "Juvia saw you leading the other mages of Fairy Tail into the battle against Phantom Lord. You are a good leader and Juvia thinks that you would be an amazing S-class mage – not as good as Gray-sama, of course, but still … you belong there, Cana."

Cana was no princess, Juvia knew this but out of all the women in Fairy Tail, the card mage was the closest to the Princess-in-a-tower-cliché. Cana was a formidable mage and Juvia knew that one day, Cana would be in the S-class and she hoped for her friend that this would send the walls that kept her imprisoned tumbling down.

"Thank you, Juvia," the other mage said as she grabbed her jacket from a chair. "I really, really thank you because you just encouraged me. And should I ever get the chance, I will beat Fried – only for you because we are friends. Mark my words, will you?"

And so they left the medical ward and as Juvia walked next to the brunette mage – just like they had done before Fried had attacked them – she believed that she nearly heard the walls inside of Cana falling down because now, two people believed into her and that made her stronger, happier and finally set her free.

Even if I can't see you … no matter how far away you may be … I will always be watching you.