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Chapter 12: Divine-Unholy Taboo
"What the-" exclaimed Gray, his eyes wide as shock as Juvia walked away, "Where are you going?! Come back and fight me!"
'There must be something wrong with me.' thought Juvia, clutching her chest, 'Why is my heart beating so fast?'
"Hey." called Gray, running after Juvia, "Would you at least tell me how to stop the giant?"
'I have this strong urge to make him mine.' thought Juvia, turning back, 'I can't help myself anymore.'
"Water Lock."
Gray was trapped in a bubble of water as hard as steel. Upon activation, the surprise made Gray lose all his breath and he appeared to be suffocating.
"What have I done!?" exclaimed Juvia, flailing her arms about in a panic, "He can't breath. I guess I should probably release him."
Before her eyes, Gray's hands produced a cold mist and the Water Lock froze and shattered into ice. The pieces flew away in all directions, and his right eye was red for a second.
"He must be an ice wizard." said Juvia, her face blushed red, "He froze my Water Lock and broke free. I've never seen the power of ice magic. It's beautiful."
'He is ice and I am water.' thought Juvia (sinking into the fantasies we all know about), 'We must be bound by fate. I've finally found my handsome prince.'
Gray picked himself up, and frost covered the ground. Now he was serious as Gray took off his top (in the usual fashion that is Gray), and left Juvia staring with a red face at his bare chest. She started to mumble some gibberish that Gray couldn't even understand, and took his Maker stance.
"I don't want to fight you, but I will." growled Gray, his hands producing a blue mist, "You better surrender otherwise I'm gonna have to hurt ya. Ice Make: Lance."
Gray launched a rain of ice javelins with tips as sharp as steel after Juvia. She didn't move and the lances went right through her, but there wasn't any ripped flesh or blood. Her body dripped with water and reformed back into a whole body like nothing ever happened.
"This is Water Body," explained Juvia, "Surprise, drip, drip, drop. I must not forget my love is also my enemy. I have no choice but to attack. Farewell, my prince."
Juvia extended out her hand and chanted out loud, "Water Slicer."
Thin slices of pressurized water soared out of her hand and zipped after Gray. He ducked and the slicers sped to an iron spire where they sliced through it with little effort.
"When given enough force, water is stronger than steel." said Juvia, "Don't underestimate its power."
"Ice Make: Battleaxe."
Gray swung a humongous battleaxe through Juvia, but it only passed through her like it would in water and her body reformed instantly.
"Such attacks will have no effect on Water Body." said Juvia, "No matter what, you can't beat me, but there is a way your guild may be spared. All we ask is that you hand over Lucy Heartfilia. Do that, and I'll ask our master to call off the attack."
"Don't give that crap." barked Gray, the mist in his hands turning darker and a black growth appeared behind the bandages on his right arm, "You and I both know we're passed the point of no return. Besides, Lucy is one of us. I'd gladly give my life than hand her over to you."
In shock, Juvia dropped her umbrella. Gray could feel a tension in the air. What was strange was that he felt this presence before on Galuna Island.
'He would rather give his life.' thought Juvia, sinking into her delusions, 'Give his life. Give his life. Lucy's my rival. Lucy's my rival. Lucy's my rival. He loves her!'
"AAH!" screamed Juvia, rocking her head about, "Oh the pain. How can fate be so cruel?! No, I defy you. I defy fate."
"What's wr-" Gray stopped himself when he noticed the rain. The rain and the water suddenly turned into a familiar black hue. The sky turned black as night, and his eyes grew wide with shock. "No. Is she..."
Juvia suddenly exploded with rage and black water jetted around her. "Lucy Heartfilia cannot be allowed to live."
"Huh?" responded Gray. His shock grew as he noticed a familiar puffing in Juvia's cheeks.
"Sea God's Bellow."
Gray was too in shock to put up any sort of defense against the breath of raging black water. Even as he was hit square in the stomach by the hydraulic stream, his mind still raced with the though. Juvia was a God Slayer, the same type of slayer magic as Lyon. How in the hell is there another God Slayer, in Phantom Lord of all places?!
When the stream stopped, Gray felt like a train ran into him. "That hurts. What's your problem with Lucy?"
Gray wasn't going to get anything through to Juvia. Her rage was that of a god. She launched a hydraulic stream out of her palms that roared through the air. Only by sheer acrobatics did Gray dodge out of the way of the black water that would've ripped him to shreds.
"Shit." cursed Gray, "I don't think my Maker magic will be able to keep up."
The second his feet touched the ground, it was too slippery to get good footing. Gray's foot slipped to the edge and he almost fell off.
"The rain always follows me." said Juvia, "I bring it like the blessings the gods once did to the farms, but to me it gives me strength unimaginable. I am invincible. For I am the daughter of the sea god Poseidon."
'The sea god Poseidon?' thought Gray, 'Wait, is she like Natsu? Was she raised by a god like he was raised by a dragon?'
There was something in Juvia's eyes that gave off an inhuman presence. A dark water magic sigil flashed to life above her, and the the black waters made a face of a bearded man with pale glowing eyes. It was a water replica of the god himself.
"Prepare to be ripped apart by my jealous rage." bellowed Juvia.
Juvia rained down shots of water that scalded the ground. Gray side-stepped back after each one, but he wasn't making any head way.
"Ice Make: Shield."
The water impacted the shield cracking it and the heat slowly melted it.
"Shit." said Gray, "Not only does this water pack a punch, but it's also melting my ice."
"Like I said." said Juvia, "My father is the god Poseidon. Water is at my utmost command. I doubt even the Dragon Slayers could defeat me."
The ice bursted into steam, and Gray used the cover to exit through the window below him.
"He's not just handsome, he's clever too." said Juvia, her cheeks blushing again, "I must make him mine."
Gray decided that he couldn't deal with the God Slayer and had to focus on how to stop the giant mech. Before he could turn another hall, black water fell through the ceiling and blocked his path. He was engulfed in the flood. It didn't feel like water, more like he was swimming through a wall. The water lifted him out like a geyser back into the open.
"It's all over." cried Juvia, "Water Nebula."
"I have no choice." said Gray, letting his demon instincts takeover. His right arm grew a demon skin that reached to the side of his face, his right eye glowed red, and his hair spiked. He thrusted his right arm toward the black water jet. It was a gamble but it worked as a purple light resonated from his palms and stopped the divine waters.
"Impossible." exclaimed Juvia, "What kind of ice magic can stop my divine waters?!"
"Freeze up." howled Gray like a phantom, freezing the waters in purple ice as he slid down.
The next thing Juvia knew, she was frozen in demon ice. Everything was cold, but one warmth on her chest made it all seem like nothing as her cheeks flushed red even in the ice.
'I should be angry he froze my water but,' thought Juvia, looking at where Gray touched her, 'blush.'
Gray realized where his hand was and accidentally squeezed. His eyes went wide with shock, and was disgusted with himself for letting this happen.
"Oh fuck." exclaimed Gray, "I'm sorry. It's not what you mean, I swear!"
Gray released Juvia from her ice prison and she kneeled to the ground. She looked up and noticed the drastic transformation of the demon skin across his body.
"You're a Demon Slayer!" exclaimed Juvia, "Like Siri."
'Even though he is a Demon Slayer,' thought Juvia, her cheeks becoming cherries, 'he released me. He's such a nice guy.'
"Hey, let's just start over, okay?" said Gray.
"Let's not." said Juvia, getting to her feet, "Honestly, I don't want to hurt you. I'm much stronger than Lucy (that's what you think). If you want I can protect you..."
But Gray wasn't listening to her. The rain was still black, and its divine properties irked at something in Gray. It was the demon-side of him that was absolutely livid with this rain.
"What's with this rain?!" growled Gray, freezing the rain around him but to little effect, "I hate this - gloomy rain."
Something snapped in Juvia at the word of "gloomy". Throughout her life, she was described as much as the rain that followed her.
"That's it." said Juvia, "I won't let my emotions be swayed about. Especially by a demon. Sea God's Bellow."
Gray was engulfed in a flood of black water. He resisted the push by casting a shield of demon ice, but the divine waters were even more powerful than before. The ice cracked before the water and he was soon blasted into the raging current.
"After my father suddenly left me," bellowed Juvia, "I only lived as a gloomy rain woman. But Phantom Lord took me in as one of their own. They were able to look passed that. For that, I am a proud Phantom Lord wizard."
It hit Gray then. Her story was very similar to Natsu. His father had left all alone until Makarov brought him into the guild and gave him a new family. Juvia was no different but she had joined the wrong guild with the wrong principles.
"There's no way you could be proud of Phantom Lord." said Gray, "You and your guild are going down."
Gray's feet made spiked braces of ice that dug into the ground. He held his right arm to stop the jet stream above him and prepared his left hand that brimmed with demon chill winds.
"Ice Demon's Killer Fist."
Gray punched the water with a fist charged with demon ice, and the blow froze all the way through and even froze the surrounding rain droplets in demon ice.
"His demon powers even froze the divine rain." said Juvia as she fell to the ground, "He's amazing. Maybe stronger than Siri and Lucy."
Gray slammed his hands and combined his Maker magic with his Demon Slayer magic.
"Ice Make: Geyser."
As the name implies, a geyser of demon ice shot out of the ground and struck Juvia in its cold embrace. She found herself falling over the edge of the roof to the lake below. There was only an empty sorrow in Juvia's eyes as he accepted her fate.
'I'm sorry, Father.' thought Juvia, 'In the end, I will simply drop like the rain in this world.'
But it was not the end for her. A cold but welcoming hand grasped her arm. Juvia looked above and found Gray holding her by her hand and saving Juvia from her demise. Her eyes were in shock, and her heart started to beat with extra vigor again.
"Hold on to me." cried Gray, his eyes showing concern for her safety, "I promise you I won't let go."
Gray pulled Juvia up and they both rested from their battle sharing their own bruises.
"Why did you save me?" Juvia asked.
"Just cause." said Gray, then turned to Juvia, "You good? Starting to cool down a bit?"
Tears swelled in Juvia's eyes at this dashing prince that she fought as an enemy. He was a demon and she was a god, but he still saved her. This man was indeed not just her cold prince. Gray was Juvia's demon prince which she could not find in the heavens.
Suddenly, her eyes winced at a light. To her awe, the rain clouds departed and revealed the sun. She had not seen it light nor its warmth in so long. It was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen, but yet ironically it paled in comparison to her cold prince.
"Hey look," said Gray smiling, "the sun came out."
"I haven't seen it in so long." said Juvia.
"Really?" said Gray, raising an eyebrow, "Well, there you go. It's pretty, don't you think?"
"Yes." said Juvia softly. "But not as beautiful as..."
"So," said Gray, turning back to Juvia, "you want to go at it?"
Juvia took the context of that sentence wrong. Her pumped with such vigor and her eyes beat like valentine hearts. She instantly passed out with a smile on her face.
"Hey," panicked Gray, checking if Juvia was alright, "what's the matter? Are you sick or something? Talk to me, Juvia!"
"Hey Happy," said Natsu as they ran through the halls, "I just thought of something. If we beat Jose, this whole thing will come to an end."
Happy exclaimed. "Natsu, are you crazy?! That guy is just as strong, if not even stronger, than Master Makarov. There's no way you can beat him."
"Ugh." responded Natsu, "With gramps out of commission, it is gonna have to be someone."
"Natsu you dumby." said Happy, "You just had to go and remind me."
"What?" said Natsu.
"Without Makarov or Erza," said Happy hopelessly, "there's no way we can defeat Jose."
Natsu rested a hand on top of Happy's head and smiled. "Don't forget about Lucy."
"Aye!" cheered Happy, his hopes returned.
They continued on through till they entered a chamber of some sorts. By instinct, Natsu leaped over a gale of hell wind. His nose caught a familiar scent and it left a rotten taste in his mouth.
"You." growled Natsu.
There was a cackle of a young witch, and a gale of hell wind blew before Natsu. When it disappeared, there stood Siri with a demon's smirk on her face and her demon's skin fully grown on the left side of her body. Golden eyes stared back at Natsu of a true sadistic nature.
"Do I detect a hint of vengeance in you, Natsu Dragneel?" said Siri, snickering.
"You're gonna pay for what you did to Master Makarov." said Natsu, dragon flames dancing on his fists.
"What do you want with Natsu?" questioned Happy.
There was no need for it, but Siri flicked her wrist and a whip of air blew Happy to the side. That smile grew wider in Happy's pain. Natsu grabbed Happy into his arms and set him down gently aside.
"Just for one little thing." said Siri, "How is it the terrible Northern Devil is so - pathetic around you? Honestly, Lucy was better without you!"
Upon that outburst, Siri swiped her arms to send a whipping gale of wind that blew Natsu into the wall. Natsu allowed his flames to rage out and freed himself from the wind blast.
"What do you mean?" demanded Natsu.
He lunged forward with an Iron Fist, but Siri read it and swayed away then countered with a swiping kick. Natsu's breath was lost in that blow and he took a moment to get it back.
"What do - oh." said Siri, clutching her forehead, "Ha. Ha-ha-ha-ha. I see it, but you don't?! Well, that makes this so much better. Lucy is so L-O-V- well never mind."
Suddenly, the winds slithered around Natsu's throat and formed into solid pink chains. Happy tried to help, but pressurized wind kept him down. The more Natsu was in agony, the more Siri enjoyed it.
"Ooh." said Siri, her face red with pleasure, "When Lucy sees your body strung up like a puppet, she'll be so angry that she'll be back to her wonderful self."
"As," gagged Natsu, "if - Fire Dragon's Roar."
Siri did not expect Natsu to breath fire at such close-range. The red fires were so intense it broke the air's hold on his throat.
Siri raised an eyebrow. "Now you've got me interested."
"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn."
Natsu lunged a headbutt enhanced with fire, but Siri causally swayed away. He caught Natsu in mid-flight with a well-placed fist to his gut.
"Too slow."
Natsu smiled. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist."
For once, Natsu landed a crucial blow straight to Siri's jaw. She spun in the air from the force, but landed on her feet. Instead of irritation, Siri was kind of glad.
"You're stronger than I thought." said Siri, licking the blood from her mouth, "Maybe it's true that you raised by a dragon. Igneel, I believe his name was."
"Igneel?" said Natsu, lowering his guard, "What do you know about Igneel?"
Siri chuckled. "Look who's such a daddy's boy. But I guess that's what we have in common."
Natsu raised an eyebrow. "I am nothing like you."
"Oh on the contrary." opposed Siri, "We possess a certain quality that no other slayer be them dragon, demon, or god could have. We were both raised by unusual parents. You had Igneel, the Fire Dragon King as I've heard be called by my father. The trickster of ancient times that stole from the gods. The Demon Lord of the Choking Skies, Raigi."
"Raigi?" said Natsu.
"He held somewhat of a respect for this Igneel," said Siri, "besides all the jokes. He disappeared like your and Gajeel's dragons did on the year 777, only on the third day of the third month. Honestly, I don't care. Raigi always did say about leaving and wow he could be annoying. But he sure did have some-" licks her lips - "exciting prospects when it came to humans."
Suddenly, Siri vanished and was behind Natsu. There was no time to react, and Siri had an arm raised for his head.
"All that talk about your father has made you wide open." Siri roared, "Sky Demon's Gashing Horn."
"Fire Demon's Kick."
Lucy smashed through the wall at super high speeds and kicked Siri away from Natsu. He suddenly found himself on the floor and Lucy gave him a hand up.
"What the heck?" said Natsu.
"While you two were chatting," explained Lucy, "Siri was draining your magic with her hell winds and it dulled your senses. Nowhere near as close as Cynthia's magic but still pretty scary."
A light resonated from the rubble Siri was kicked into and she blew it all away with a roar. Once she saw Lucy, her smile came back. Lucy smacked her fists together and the ignited in hellfire. Siri did the same as hellwinds surrounded her fists.
"Was I getting a little touchy on your boyfriend?" said Siri.
"No one." growled Lucy, "And I mean no one lays a finger on Natsu."
Natsu wanted to join the fight, but Lucy shoved him off.
"Natsu, leave this to me." said Lucy, "Go save Cynthia and beat down that iron-eater."
"C'mon Lucy we can take her." said Natsu.
"Please." Lucy pleaded, "I can't bear it. Please go save Cynthia. I am not gonna die here. So you better not too."
Natsu could tell the sorrow in her voice. Their fires burned brighter in close proximity to each other. As Natsu walked off, his flames danced into the air to make a dragon spreading out its wings.
"Alright." agreed Natsu, "I'll come back to you. That's a promise."
Natsu and Happy made his way down the hall where they caught Cynthia's scent. Lucy and Siri stared each other down. The hellfire and hellwinds raged about and clashed about the room. While Siri smiled excited for a fight against a demon, Lucy stared back at her with silent rage.
"I'm going to enjoy this." cried Lucy/Siri as they charged each other down.
Finally, another chapter. I've just been busy doing Red Rose Reaper because it just became my most popular story. Don't worry, I'm still working on more chapters for all my stories.
Stay in touch. Please, please leave a review.
