Water Hydra

After setting Erza aside, Wendy clasped against the wall, panting.

"That was awesome, Wendy!" Happy said, as he floated up to her. Wendy smiled at him.

"It was mostly thanks to Erza," she said.

"Don't sell yourself short," Carla said, "You were the one who did the fighting." Erza's eyes flashed in agreement.

"What do we do now?" Happy asked.

"Wendy and I aren't doing anything," Carla said, "We're going to find our way to the others, and rest. Wendy is in no condition to keep fighting."

"But I've got to help with Lucy," Wendy said, "She might be hurt."

"Again, you re not in any condition to fight," Carla repeated, "And if Frieze truly is as powerful as some say he is, then he will have no trouble defeating you. We'll bring Lucy to you, if she needs healing."

"Well, if you're not going to go, I'm going to go look for Lucy!" Happy said as he flew away into the darkness.

"Wait Happy!" Wendy called, "Its dangerous!"

"The tom-cat will be fine," Carla said, "He's small, so he can hide."

(with Juvia)

"Water Slicer!" The blades of water shot at Geier, who easily leapt out of the way. He then held up his arms, as trace of blue magic were drawn into his robe. That had been happening for a long time now, with Juvia launching an attack, Geier dodging, and him absorbing the traces from Juvia's magic. The Rain Woman couldn't figure out how or why, but she figured that it wasn't going to end up well.

"I'm going to ask you again! Where's Lucy?" she demanded. Like all the others, Juvia was determined to save Lucy and her child. After getting into a relationship with Natsu, it eliminated any danger of her competing with Juvia for Gray. As a result, Juvia was now going to fight tooth and nail for her friend.

"I'm not being paid to give you information," the Vulture said, "I'm being paid to eliminate you."

"Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time," Juvia said, holding up her hands, "But you know that Juvia isn't going to let you win."

"That probably won't be up to you," Geier said, as he held out his gnarled hand, and clenched it. The sight made Juvia's teeth clench.

"I don't care! You're still going to lose!"

"I suppose we'll see," Geier asked, arching an eyebrow and gesturing, "Try again?"

"With pleasure!" Juvia declared, "Water Sniper!" She then brought her hands together, before thrusting them out. A thin blast of water was shot at Geier, but he created a pair of wings, and flapped up. More of the traces of blue magic went into his robe.

"What? Are you afraid to actually face Juvia?" Juvia demanded. Geier ignored her, as he landed, and took a breath.

"I think that's enough, I've had my fill," he said, as he then held up his hands, "Water Slicer!" Blades of water then jetted at Juvia.

"That's Juvia's technique!" she cried, as she was knocked back, having expected the attacks to go right through her. Grabbing at her wounds, Juvia briefly mulled over the notion of using that against others, but quickly refocused on her enemy.

"How….," she muttered. Geier paused, apparently thinking.

"I suppose there is nothing stating that telling you will deduct my payment, as long as you still die," he said, "Very well. My magic is Scavenger Magic."

"Scavenger Magic?"

"The fact that you repeated it means that you heard me. I suppose that's a good thing. Yes, Scavenger Magic."

"Juvia's never heard of it," Juvia said.

"I guess you wouldn't, its not commonplace," Geier said, "But don't worry, I'll explain it. You see, whenever a magical technique is utilized, there are traces of magical energy that are left. What Scavenger Magic does, is absorb those traces, and let someone else use them. And that is how I manage to strike you, even with your water body. You can't defend against your own magic power."

"So you're essentially just stealing another person's power?"

"Of course not!" Grier protested, "Far from it. I'm simply cleaning up. " He then held up his arms, as massive tendrils of water shot out from his cloak. Juvia, this time, had to leap out of the way. Honestly, she was not used to that. Normally she could just let an attack go through her, but this was obviously not an example of that.

"Normally this would be the time for me to request your surrender, but I'm being paid to eliminate those who oppose Lord Frieze," Geier said, "I like to earn my payment."

"Then Juvia is afraid you're probably not going to be hired again!"

(with Gray)

"Ice Make: Spear!" Several massive ice spears were formed, blasting at Agora. However, they didn't do anything as Agora held up his hands. A series of needles shot out of palms, as they destroyed the ice.

Unlike the others, Gray found out Agora's magic rather quickly. It was Needle Magic, which was exactly what it sounded like, with Agora being able to create needles out of nothing. Gray knew that those needles weren't normal, and he certainly didn't want to be hit by any of them.

Agora held out his hand, as a particularly long needle formed in it. He spun it through his fingers, as he pointed it at Gray.

"You're not going to win," he said, "You are free to keep fighting, but it will be quite a painful way to die."

"No more painful than what you're putting Lucy and her kid through," Gray answered, putting his hands together.

"Actually, the ritual is quite painless," Agora answered, "Its as if the blonde is peacefully sleeping."

"Ritual?" Gray asked. Agora blinked, as he pinched himself between his eyes.

"Damn my tongue," he said, "Now you certainly have to die." He then threw the needle spear at Gray, who formed an ice shield.

"Ice Make: Arrows!" Gray slammed his palm into the ice wall. Bolts of ice then shot out from wall at Agora, who jumped out of the way.

"Needle Rifle!" A thin needle shot out of Agora's fingertip, jetting towards Gray. He leaned out of the way, but the needle grazed his arm. Gray hissed as he grabbed his wound. He quickly countered by slamming his hand into the ground, sending spikes of ice coursing through the ground in Agora's direction. As the ice approached, he smiled.

"So that's the game? Very well, I can play," he said, before stamping his foot into the ground, "Field of Needles!" From the ground, erupted massive needles into the air, as the ice was shattered by the metal.

"Crap!" Gray snapped, as he formed a ice pillar for him to stand on, avoiding the massive needles.

"That was very nimble of you, boy," Agora noted, as he jumped up, balancing nearly perfectly on a needle, folding his arms behind his back.

"What's your game?" Gray demanded, as he created an ice javelin, and held at the ready.

"Well you know about the ritual," Agora said, "I suppose I can tell you more. Now put down the shaft and we can talk."

"Up yours!"

"Oh well," Agora said, "I'll still tell you." He then opened his mouth to explain.

(with Natsu and Elfman)

Natsu was still thawing, while Elfman kept any eye on him.

"Elfman!" The man turned and saw Levy and Cana coming into the room.

"You're alright!" Elfman said.

"So are you," Cana noted.

"Of course I am, I'm a man!" Elfman declared.

"Natsu's still frozen?" Levy asked, as she went up to the Dragon Slayer, "I'd think he'd be fully thawed out by now."

"Obviously this isn't some kind of regular Ice Magic," Cana said.

"I actually don't think this is Ice Magic," Levy said, "If it were, Natsu would be back to normal by now."

"Then what is it?" Elfman asked. Levy paused as she thought.

"I've read about a magic that can control the very basics of hot and cold," she said, "According to the book, it requires an immense amount of finesse and skill to use. But I guess if Frieze is anything like his reputation says, then he should be able to do it."

"Then that should explain why Natsu's still like this," Cana said, "His body temperature must have gone to the absolute minimum."

"Well his chest is glowing," Levy noted, "I guess that's a good thing." Cana threw a couple of fire cards around his feet.

"Its better than nothing," she said, "There's not much we can do but try and speed up his thawing process."

(with Gray)

Gray's eyes widened as he heard Agora's explanation.

"That's….," he said. There was no word that properly described that. To use a baby as if it were a tool. That was beyond monstrous.

"How can you work for a guy who would do that?" Gray demanded.

"Come now, you can't help but find the notion of a magic item based on the power of a Dragon Slayer and a Celestial Mage interesting," Agora said.

"No!" Gray snapped, "Because I don't think about turning a baby into a tool!"

"What a narrowed minded way of looking at the world," Agora sneered.

"Screw you!" Gray said, as he got ready to fight again.

(with Juvia)

Juvia could only get truly wet if she so willed it. It was one of the perks of being a Water Mage. This was an exception. The girl was now soaked to the bone, having only been able to dodge so many of Geier's attacks. The Vulture barely had a scratch on him. Every attack Juvia threw at him, Geier managed to dodge or block, and absorb the traces.

"Water Spear!" Geier held up his hand, creating a wall of water, which cancelled out the other attack. The magic traces were again absorbed.

"You're losing, clearly," Geier said, "There's nothing you can do. You have nothing left."

That wasn't true, there was one technique Juvia still had up her sleeve. It was a technique she hadn't used since she was a member of Phantom Lord, but it was for good reason. When Juvia last used that spell, it helped level part of a town. But now…. Did she really have a choice?

(Flashback)

"So that's it," Juvia said, as she stared at the floor. Makarov's face scrunched up as he sighed.

"That's quite a story, one I'm all too familiar with," he said.

"I promised I'd never use that spell again," Juvia said solemnly, "It was too dangerous."

"I"m not going to say that you're wrong, because technically you're not," Makarov said, as he looked at her. Juvia clenched her fists, as she nodded.

"But bare this in mind," Makarov said. Juvia looked up at the guild master.

"Running away from it will not solve the issue," Makarov explained, "There might come a day where you need to summon it. When there's enemy you can't defeat otherwise. If that day comes, you must seize it by its frill, and face it head on. Only then will you truly be free from that fear."

(End Flashback)

"Forgive me everyone," Juvia whispered, as she held up her arms. Water swirled around her. Geier didn't see the point, but he remained silent. The water then gathered on Juvia's back, as it took a long, more distinct form. A total of two tendrils were formed, but at the end was what look like some kind of hand. No, not a hand, a mouth; a mouth full of sharp teeth.

"Water Hydra." On Juvia's back, were two lashing, serpentine heads. Each head had glaring, sinister eyes that glowed bright red, with a frill splayed out behind it. But they didn't look like snakes, as one would think a hydra would be. No, they were closer to viperfish than anything else. Geier arched his eyebrow.

"So you've sprouted a couple extra heads, am I supposed to be impressed?" he asked.

"Please," Juvia said softly, "I don't want to have to use this technique. But…."

"There is no 'but' about this situation child," Geier said, "One of us wins, and one of us loses. That's a simple fact." Juvia clenched her fists, as the heads around her bared their teeth.

"Very well," she said, "But you have been warned." The heads then shot at Geier, who leapt out of the way, but when he turned to acquire the traces, the heads shot at him again. There was nothing for Geier to scavenge, since the magic technique was still active.

The four heads then shot at Geier again, who opened a pair of wings, and slashed at the heads, taking one of them off. However the head quickly reformed, but grew another, turning two into three.

"Don't you know? Cut off one head, two more shall takes its place," Juvia explained. This technique, Water Hydra, was one of Juvia's strongest, but it was also one of the most dangerous.

It was relatively simple, with Juvia basically giving a steady stream of magic energy to the spell, but in order to properly perform it, the strain wasn't on her magic, but her mind. The hydra was fueled by, and directly connected to, Juvia's negative emotions. The more heads, the more angry Juvia became. Eventually, it could go so far that Juvia could lose control.

The max amount of heads that Juvia could create was nine, maybe ten. However, the amount that she could maintain while also maintaining her own mental state, was four. Anymore, and Juvia ran the risk of losing control. Unfortunately, that may not have been up to her. Due to the constant magic power being flowed into them, the heads not only reformed about being cut off, but also doubled, which was how Juvia came to name it. She just had to hope that Geier would be smart enough to realize that shopping them wouldn't work.

The now three heads launched at Geier again, who flapped away, and then dove at Juvia. He held up his talons, and got ready to slash her. Juvia managed to avoid the attack, and sent the heads at him again. They snapped at his heels, as Geier flew away. One of the heads than seemed to unhinge its jaw, as a massive jet of water shot at the Vulture, who managed to avoid the attack. And fortunate for him, since the water left a large gash in the stone wall.

Geier then swooped back at Juvia. The heads twisted to intercept him, but the man managed to avoid most of them. Too slow, Juvia was unable to respond when she was slashed across the side, right through her water body. But instead of pain, there this was strange numbness.

"What is this?" Juvia muttered, as she touched the slash marks. Geier held up his talons.

"My nails are laced with a paralytic," he explained, "Never fails to have an ace up your sleeve." Juvia growled, as she looked at her hydra.

"Damn," she muttered, before concentrating. More water built up around her, forming a fourth head. She was now visibly angry, and it showed in the heads. The frill was longer, and the eyes were now glowing brighter; not to mention they were all now noticeably larger. The heads then sprung at Geier, who leapt out of the way.

"Summon all the heads you want," he said, "You will still lose." All four heads then unhinged their jaws, sending out large jets of water at Geier. The Vulture twisted out of the way from the jets, and the snapping maws, heading towards Juvia.

The Rain Woman held up her arms, forming a water shield, but Geier flew right through it, and slashed at Juvia again with his talons on her leg. The girl let out a cry, as she doubled over, unable to feel her leg.

"You die now!" Geier proclaimed, as he dove at Juvia again, his nails pointed at her throat. Juvia clenched her fists, as she closed her eyes.

(Flashback)

Juvia opened her eyes, as she sat up. She looked around. The rain fell over the rubble of the town she had come to. It was supposed to be routine job with the Element Four, but something had gone wrong.

"You're finally up," Aria said. He was sitting on a rock, clearly exhausted. He was rather badly bruised. HIs blindfold was off.

"Aria, what happened?" Juvia asked. That was when she noticed both Sol and Totomaru unconscious.

"Can't say I really know," Aria answered, "All that I do know, is that you did all of this." Juvia looked around her horror, and then at her hands.

"I… I….," she said, "I thought I could beat the monster with my Water Hydra."

"Well you did," Aria answered, "And you beat quite a bit as well." Juvia was now shaking, as the rain fell harder.

"I… I…"

(End Flashback)

"I'm sorry," she muttered. More water built up around her, forming a fifth head.

(with Gray)

A roar echoed through the halls. At first Gray thought it was Natsu, but it was too high, almost like a scream. However, his attention quickly returned to his feet. He formed another ice rampart, as he dodged Agora's attack.

Due to Agora's needle field, he couldn't properly navigate the battle area. To maneuver, he formed his ice ramparts, but even that had its limits. Agora, meanwhile was jumping cleanly from needle to needle.

"Needle Rifle!" A thin needle shot a Gray, grazing his leg. The ice mage let out a hiss, as he put his hands together.

"Ice Make: Battle Axe!" Gray said, as he cleaved down at Agora. The dark mage held up a long thin needle, as he blocked the axe. He then shot out a few needles from his fingers at Gray, who created another shield of ice.

"You're not learning are you?" Agora said, "You're ice can't beat my needles."

"Im part of Fairy Tail, we don't give up," Gray said.

"Then you're guild is…," Agora couldn't finish as they both felt a shaking.

"The hell…," Gray muttered, before looking towards Agora, "What's going on here?"

"Just because this is where I work does not mean I know everything going on everywhere," Agora answered, "Maybe…" He was silenced when the wall exploded with water, washing both men away. The two looked up after landing, as they saw a hand made out of water reach out, as a colossus made out of water emerged out of the dust.

It was a true sight to behold. It almost looked like a giant octopus mermaid, with the waist down consisting of nine writhing tentacles, save for the gnashing mouths at the end of each one. Its entire body was made of water, that was almost transparent, but still an almost beautiful light blue. But what as worse was the face. Its expression was one of almost complete madness, with the glowing red eyes wide, and the head cocked. And it was quite a familiar face.

"Juvia." He didn't know what happened to her, but whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

"What in the hell…," Agora muttered, "What's this monstrosity?!" He then looked closer.

"That's Geier!" Gray also looked closer, and saw a humanoid shape floating in Juvia's abdomen, as if she had swallowed him.

"What did you do, Juvia?" Gray whispered. Juvia remained silent, as she scoured the battlefield. She then opened her mouth, and let out a bloodcurdling scream, that seemed to rattle Gray's bones. The mouths then shot out at both of them. Both Agora and Gray leapt out of the way. But Agora then had the bright idea to try and attacking the giant water woman.

He launched several needles at Juvia, but the needles passed right through her. Juvia then held out her hand, as all nine heads struck out. Agora was too slow as he was grabbed at the ankle, and tossed into the air, only to be snapped up by another one. She traveled down the neck's throat, into Juvia's stomach, joining Geier.

"Juvia!" Gray called. Said mage looked over at him, as she reached in his direction. Gray didn't move.

"Come on!" he said, "Don't tell me you've already lost yourself." Juvia remained silent, as she neared Gray, who remained still.

"I'm not going to fight you," Gray said, as Juvia picked him up, and brought him up to her face. She then opened her mouth.

"I'm not giving up on you." With that, Juvia dropped him in her mouth.

(with Natsu)

(in the mental world)

Natsu remained still, as the world around him remained frozen. Suddenly, there was this new form of warmth. He couldn't look up, as the small, glowing figure approached him.

"Why are you standing here?" the figure asked, "You said you'd play with me." Natsu twitched briefly.

"You said you'd never break a promise, Daddy."

(in the real world)

Suddenly, Natsu's chest lit up bright, as the girls and Elfman glanced over.

"Wha…," Elfman began. There was then an explosion of fire, as a figure appeared in the flames.

"LLLLUUUUCCCCYYYY!"

Note:The Water Hydra I used was based off a Deviantart image I once found. Look it up, its truly good; search "Juvia water hydra".

Sorry to sometimes go in between Juvia's speech patterns, but my experience is that she mixes up sometimes in the manga and anime as well. My observation when it comes to writing dialogue for Juvia, is let your fingers make that decision. It doesn't make that much of a difference.

Trivia, Geier is German for "vulture" for those who don't know (which is to say my fellow Americans).

Be sure to review.