"I was thinking that we can maybe call Cheria," Wendy said.
"Cheria? Why?" Gray asked.
"Maybe she can help us help Juvia-San."
"No I don't think so! What could she do?"
"Well, I don't know, I thought… maybe… I'm sorry… I was just trying to help."
"It's ok, Wendy, don't cry," Lucy said.
"Gray," Erza said.
"What? I'm sorry Wendy, I didn't mean to make you cry."
"It's ok, Gray-San, I understand."
Charle glared at him.
"You don't want Cheria to come here because you're afraid that Lyon will come with her and flirt with Juvia?" Erza asked him.
"Juvia needs to rest, you heard Porlyusca, right? Lyon would come and start with his antics!"
Erza laughed.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Oh, when are you gonna admit that you're freaking jealous and that you like her?"
"We're just friends!"
"If you say so."
…
Makarov had obtained permission to visit José in jail and speak with him.
"What are you doing here?" the former Phantom Lord master asked with contempt.
"I'm not here because I want to, rather because I need your help."
"My help?"
"It's about Juvia."
"Oh, yes, that foolish girl is now a part of Fairy Tail, what a disappointment and she even managed to convince Gajeel to join as well."
"And I'm very happy that they did so, now they have a new life, they're happy."
"But they've gotten weak, they no longer have the same power within them that they once had, they are no longer feared, they're not even S class mages anymore, two of my best mages, reduced to being mere mages in your horrible guild."
"They're both great mages and they have time to regain their previous ranking."
"You must be happy! You destroyed me and you have what's mine at your side!"
"You used those kids, you took advantage of their solitude, their pain, even the fact that they were completely alone and defenseless in this world and you used them like weapons for your dirty deeds."
"But I made them strong and powerful mages!"
"No! You made them puppets!"
"That's what you say! With me they had everything!'
"Forget it, if we keep this up we'll never finish, I'm here for another reason."
"I don't care why you're here."
"I need information about Juvia and her rain."
"Mh?"
Makarov explained the situation to José and he shrugged his shoulders.
"It always rained, I don't know the reason, it never interested me to know, it was enough that it made her powerful."
"I figured as much, but I was wondering if you had any other personal information about her."
"I heard by chance that there was a village infested by rain, I was looking or a water mage at that moment, to complete the Element Four, but I still hadn't found a single one, so I decided to follow the rain thinking that behind this there could be a great water mage, imagine my surprise upon realizing the source of all this power was just a young girl who couldn't even control her magic."
"And then what happened?"
"She was powerful and alone, so I proposed she join Phantom Lord, she accepted and after some time I completed the Element Four."
"I need more details."
"She was in an orphanage, but she escaped because she was treated badly, I don't know anything else about her life before Phantom."
"Where do her powers come from?"
"They're hereditary, her mother was a water mage but she died when she was a child, then she went to live with an uncle until she ended up in the orphanage, I don't know any more."
"And her father?"
"I have no idea!"
"But could there be more than what you know?"
"That's all I know, I heard that the rain had disappeared and I was surprised, but that's all I know, that is all."
"José, listen, a few days ago there was an overly sunny and hot day, she fainted due to the heat, the doctor said that it's because she's not used to these high temperatures."
"And what do you expect me to do? I have nothing to do with that!"
"I would like you to help me understand the reason why."
"That girl has always been a mystery, not even I know much and I told you what I know, I never cared to know more, the only thing that interested me was that she was powerful and completed missions in the best way possible."
"I imagined as much."
"And even if I knew more, I wouldn't tell you."
"You're always the same, after so many years you haven't changed, prison hasn't changed you at all."
"You know I met your son in one of these cells, what a surprise!"
"I'm not here for that."
"You failed as a father!"
"And you failed at everything!"
Makarov left, by now he understood that it was useless, José would be of no use.
"Oh, Makarov?"
"What?"
"Tell those two that they're traitors and that phantoms don't forgive!"
"José, are you perchance threatening my children?"
"No! I'm simply asking you to deliver a message, that I won't forgive their treachery! That they're a pair of ingrates! I gave them everything and they turned their backs on me by joining you!"
"You used them! Luckily they realized that the path you put them on was wrong! They made mistakes, it's true, but it makes me proud that despite everything they succeeded in putting the past aside and opening themselves to a new life."
"You ruined them, Makarov!"
"You're the one who ruined them, José! And I advise you, it'd be better for you if you attempt to do anything against them, otherwise I won't hold back and you will receive the full wrath of Fairy Tail!"
…
Gajeel was still worried about Juvia, he knew that the news had made her sad.
It seemed that after living so much time under the rain, her body wasn't accustomed to so much sun.
The Dragon Slayer made a decision and decided to turn to someone who he believed might be able help his best friend a bit.
…
"Gajeel? What are you doing here?"
"Hey Rainbow Flame, we need to talk."
"Were you waiting for me? I just finished a lesson and you show up."
"Yeah, more or less, it's a serious matter."
"What's happening?"
Gajeel explained the situation to Totomaru.
"Shit! Knowing her and how much she wanted to enjoy a sunny day, she's probably taking it very badly."
"Yeah, thankfully in Fairy Tail there's no way to get depressed, still…"
"You're still worried?"
"Mh, she's still depressed and no one can find a solution."
"And she's locked up in her room?"
"The old lady said that it's better if she stays somewhere with a normal temperature, not to go outside for too long because the sun has been too strong for her these days."
"Good way to make her hit the bottom."
"Yeah."
"I'm very sorry, but I don't know how to help you, how to help her, why did you come to me?"
"Idiot! I know that you can't do anything!"
"Then?"
"I was wondering if you knew where the Drama King is."
"Aria? Why?"
"Maybe he can help her, I'm the one who taught her hand-to-hand combat, but he was the one who taught her to control and use water magic."
"Mh, do you… really think that Aria can do something? Because he would often try, but even he never managed to find a solution for the rain."
"I know, but I don't know, maybe he can give us an idea, something, in the end he's the one who's more familiar with the world of magic and he's the one who trained her and took care of everything else…"
"Yes, it's possible, Aria always seemed to have a solution to everything, he wasn't our leader for nothing but… but I don't know, I know that he now works as an independent mage here in Fiore, but I don't know where, I don't even know how to find him."
"Could you at least try? I'll do it on my own, but another hand wouldn't hurt."
"Of course! I'll try! You know, despite everything we've always been a real team and even though we couldn't really call ourselves friends, we always cared for each other."
"You think he'd help us? I mean, we joined Fairy Tail."
"I think he'd probably have a few things to say and complain about, but if she needs help and he can help her, you can count on him, I'm sure."
"We just need to find him as soon as possible."
"Leave it to me! I'll get in contact with old acquaintances and I'll see if I can find him."
"I'll do the same, maybe he's the only one who could really do something."
"Mhhh."
"What are you thinking?"
"About José."
"That bastard won't help us, on the contrary, he'd enjoy our misfortune."
"Yes, I know, but I was thinking that he might know something else."
"Maybe, but it would be useless, I'd prefer to talk with the Drama King."
"Yes, Aria is better, without a doubt."
"Let's hope so."
"You'll see, everything will be fine, tell her not to get herself down, I don't want to lose her lovely smile."
"Gihi! If you want you can come visit her."
"I'd love to, but I'd prefer to go knowing that I can really help."
"Sure!"
"Anyways, don't worry, I'm sure we'll find Aria and he will help us find a solution, you know, despite everything, despite how things went down, Aria, Sol, and I would be very happy to see her, we spent many years together and we bonded a bit."
"I know."
"Anything for our Queen."
"Gihi!"
…
Author's Corner!
And here's a new chapter!
Jealous Gray should stay, I like him.
Makarov talking with José.
Honestly, I would have liked to have at least seen an arc about José and Phantom Lord returning, or at least a mention, a flashback, whatever, instead they seem to have forgotten about them.
Gajeel talking with Totomaru.
You know that I have a weakness for the Element Four and I'd like for them to return, I don't find them bad, the complete opposite.
I can confirm Aria's participation in the next chapter which will be the last chapter of the fic.
Oh yeah, back then, when I wrote it, I decided to finish it like this, with five chapters, a little few, because I remember that at the beginning I wanted there to be at least six, but that's how it went and I'm satisfied because the next and last chapter is one of my favorites of all the ones I've written.
Thank you very much to those who read and comment and I'll see you next time.
Thank you to those who follow, read, and comment and those who also found this as an interesting idea.
Many thanks to Botan G as always for translating my fics into English, for taking this precious time and dedicating it to you and me.
Until next time.
GruviaSilver.