Hello everyone!

Here is chapter 23! All I can say is, we are finally getting some progress in the story! xD

Enjoy!

Twenty-Third Wish:
Stop the Rain

It was unexpected.

Ever since she stepped in this world, the darkness that surrounded her was only mild and they were slowly fading away as the news of the medicine spread among everyone. The fear and anxiety of the people should have lessened. They should have been filled with hope and happiness right now.

. . . So who was this person in grief? The darkness in that person's heart was enough to affect the atmosphere and disturb the flow of spirit in the air.

Gray clouds gathered around that darkness, the rain threatening to fall.

Juvia Lockser desperately tried her best to untie the ropes to no avail. The rope coiled around her whole torso, not even giving her a chance to move. Her hands were tied behind her back and her feet were bound together by a chain connected to an iron ball. And as if those were not enough, there were five seals placed around the ropes of her torso.

Still, even with all these things hindering her, she continued to pound on the door and screamed for help in hopes that some good soul would hear and free her from her bound.

"Someone! Anyone! Please help!"

Tears streaked down from her eyes to her cheeks, dripping down from her chins. Wet drops fell on the small Teru Teru Bozu that hangs on her neck.

Those tears, symbolizing the feelings she thought she lost, continued to fall like pouring rain. Just like on that day. . .

"Hey, are you alright?"

She remembered the first time she met him.

The rain was pouring just like her heart. The wind was blowing coldly and the only solace that brought her warmth was the necklace her mother left her as a memento. She clutched the blue pearl like a warm stone, cupping it in her hands to make sure it is hidden from the world. She could not risk her uncle or anyone else to see it.

But then a boy suddenly showed up and startled her. . . He was a boy with hair as dark as raven and cold droopy eyes as deep and serene as the sea.

He looked at her with curiosity.

She looked at him blankly.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Why don't you go inside? This is your house, right?"

She can't. She accidentally broke a plate so her uncle was very angry at her. If she went in, she would be beaten up to a pulp.

"Oi. . ." the boy looked at her, waiting for her to answer.

She tilted her head to the side. "How did . . . you know?"

He blushed, realizing that he might have looked like a creep for knowing where her house was when they haven't even known each other well. "D-Don't be mistaken! I'm not some stalker or anything! I just saw you going out of that house and curled up there the whole time. . ."

". . ."

"That's all!" he said defensively as he crossed his arms and huffed.

She stared at him, wondering why someone would care enough for a stranger like her. Not understanding why, she just answered him. ". . . Uncle is angry".

"Oh. . ." he said, not expecting her answer. "I see. . ."

Awkward silence stretched between them. Only the pitter patter of the rain could be heard.

"Man. . . This rain sure isn't letting up. . ." the boy tried to break the silence.

". . . Sorry. . ." she mumbled.

He frowned, confused. "Why? It's not your fault".

She shuffled uncomfortably. ". . . It is."

She instinctively clutched tighter at the dark blue pearl hanging on her neck. "It's a curse . . . the rain always pour down . . ."

The boy looked obviously confused at her words but he tried to understand it. Suddenly, an idea came to him and he dug at his pockets. He dished out a white handkerchief and a marker pen. He looked around as he searched for something.

She watched him curiously as she had no idea on what he was searching for. But that was until she saw the spark in his eyes as it landed on her pearl necklace. She flinched.

Oh no! I forgot to hide it!

"Hey, can you give me that?"

She clutched at it protectively, looking at him in fear. It was her mother's memento.

He pouted. "I won't take it. I'm going to return it immediately, I promise!"

He looked at her seriously, his eyes brimming with determination and sincerity.

Weird . . . why does she feel like she could trust him?

Hesitatingly, she let him have it. For some reason, his serene and captivating blue eyes had made her trust him. He took the necklace from her and turned his back as he does something to it. She could only look at him questioningly as he worked. He looked back at her when he was done and grinned.

"Here you go!"

He proudly showed her his work. Her once beautiful pearl had now been wrapped in a white handkerchief with a scrawny face drawn to it.

She tilted her head to the side, ". . . A ghost?"

He huffed indignantly. "No silly! It's a Teru Teru Bozu!"

". . . This will chase out the rain!"

He explained.

She looked up at him, unable to believe it. "Really?" How can a simple doll chase out a rain?

He nodded as he took her hand and placed the doll on her. "Here, if you hold it upright, it will be sunny. Turning it upside down will make it rain" he told her.

She looked at the precious thing on her hand.

Seeing that she won't put it on, he did it for her. He took the necklace from her hand and put it on her. "Here . . ." he smiled at her.

She was surprised. Warmth surged suddenly from her neck into her cheeks. It was sort of ticklish. It was strange for her. She never had felt such things before. She could only stare at his serene blue eyes as he looked at her.

"Ah! See! The rain has stopped!"

He suddenly called out as he looked at the sky.

It was true. To her surprise, the cursed rain did stop.

She could only look up in wonder as for the first time in her life, the blue sky reflected on her once lifeless eyes. She had never seen the sky as beautiful as this before.

"Oh look! There's a rainbow!" the boy pointed and she followed with her gaze. Up in the sky was an arc of wonder made of different colors.

"It's beautiful!" she exclaimed, indescribable feeling in her heart.

The boy glanced at her then smiled softly. "Ah . . . finally, you smiled!"

She looked at him. "What?"

"Oh, nothing. What's your name?" he grinned at her.

She hesitated as she tried to remember. It has been so long since someone called her name. She had forgotten it. But then an image of a beautiful woman with the same curly blue hair as hers flashed through her mind. Her voice was soft and full of warmth.

". . . Juvia" she finally remembered. The word was strange at her tongue but familiar at the same time.

"Juvia? That's a pretty nice name. Mine is Gray. It sounds like a dull color compared to yours but I find it cool" he reached out his hand.

Blushing, she took it and shook his hand. Her pale cheeks flushed red like hot fire. No one had ever complemented her before. She had never thought that a name could be so wonderful. She had never thought that one can have such joy for having a name.

From that day on, colorless days that were spent in numb coldness were gone like clouds clearing up for a wide blue sky. The painful days she had spent with her uncle since her parents died would be washed away by the warmth of sunlight.

But of course, that was until her uncle decided to sell her off as a slave for money.

Listen, my child . . . you have a special blood flowing within you. . . That blood of our ancestor will bring you both happiness and sorrow . . .

She remembered the words left to her by her mother. The memory was faint but remembering that warm voice would sooth the coldness in her heart. Her world was destined to be harsh and cold, this is why the necklace was passed on from child to child.

Take this necklace . . . it will help you on your journey till you meet your "destined one" who will lift the curse. This is a god's stone and it has the power to call the fairies. . . Your life is cursed to be full of rain and sorrow so until the Curse is lifted . . . the fairies will be the one who will help you on your way . . . so you must take this and keep it safe.

The blue pearl was a gift from the Rain Goddess who took pity on them. The stone has the power to make the fairies hear her pleas for help. She had never believed the power of the necklace but now she found that it must be true. Her cry for a ray of sunlight was heard and the boy lifted her curse.

But . . . then The Storm happened.

On the day that she was going to be secretly sold to one of the nobles, the young boy went aboard Fairy Tail to save her. But in the end, it caused him to be washed by the raging waves. Never to be seen again.

She could never forgive herself for that day.

It was never meant to rain. She could only think that it was her that caused such storm on a clear and sunny day. It must be her wretched curse activating again after thinking that she would be separated from the boy. It was her fault that the boy would meet such fate.

With those in mind, her life turned colorless again. She woke up on the shore and was found by her uncle again who decided to sell her off to Bora. Knowing what she was, he took her in. She could care less about her gruesome self so she only followed along his wishes without a care for her life. Aside from her necklace, everything else had no meaning for her.

Juvia could only cry at her mistake. "Gray-sama. . ."

She had never thought that he actually survived The Storm and was actually taken in by the Royal family to become one of the country's soldiers. They moved to a different country right after that incident. She only found out now as they returned to this place because the wretched man's target was the royal family.

"I didn't know . . . if only I . . . if only I didn't give up and searched for you. Then . . . maybe things wouldn't have turned this way. . ."

He was the one who gave her everything. Yet . . . the only thing she gave him in return was trouble. She had lost hope when thought he died in the shipwreck years ago. Her heart died along with him back then. But now, she found out that he was alive and life came back to her. He was a royal guard now.

If she doesn't do something, his life would be in danger again. She couldn't let that happen!

With all her strength, she called out at the top of her lungs. She screamed for help, hoping someone would hear her.

Lucy stepped inside the basement of a closed-off inn. It was the center of the heavy atmosphere in the air. Ahead was a reinforced wooden door where a woman's cries could be heard.

Bracing herself, she put her hand on the doorknob. . .

. . . Only to be repelled by a strong force.

"A barrier!?" she looked in shocked. Who would put one here!?

Juvia felt a strange disturbance beyond the door. "I-Is someone there!?"

. . . No one answered.

She was only greeted with silence. That's odd . . . she was sure she felt that someone was at the door just now. Could she have spooked him?

"P-Please! Don't leave!" she begged. "The Royal Family is in danger!"

Leaving it up to Fate whether the person outside was to be trusted or not, she told everything. It was like talking to air, she wasn't even sure if there was really a person outside or not. She could only pray and hope.

And it was answered.

BOOOM!

Loki's eyes widened as he felt Lucy's aura spiked. He immediately looked towards the direction it was from.

Natsu immediately noticed and perked up. His heart plummeted downwards as he knew what it meant.

Lucy used her powers . . . which only meant one thing.

She's in danger!

Without exchanging words, the two of them took off.

. . . * . . .

End of Chapter

Lucy is in danger!? What on earth has happened? And Juvia's story! What is she and her connection with the fairies? What is Bora planning that she is involved on?

Thank you for everyone who favorite and followed this story!

For those who reviewed, thank you! I'll try my best!