It's a brand new week, and we've got more challenges for our heroes. We're going to start with Juvia, because she's peeved. And I think you'd be too, if your diabolical schemes kept coming undone. XD

As a side note, I've been meaning to comment on Gray, and I don't remember if I have or not. I love him as a character (he's one of my top 3), but this universe has warped him along with everyone else. Some of the stuff he's doing comes across as very basement bomb-shelter type of behavior. It's valid in some senses, but doesn't really help the bigger picture, and makes people around him think he's wearing a tin-foil hat. Arguably, canon-Gray is too levelheaded to be doing that. I'm always very impressed by how well-adjusted some of our heroes are in canon, all things considered.

- K. Chandler


"Impossible!" Juvia screeched, her fists clenched tight.

How could this be? Why was Lucy still at Isvan Palace?

There they were. In Isvan Palace, like they were having some sort of honeymoon!

Not only was Lucy still with Gray, but he was comforting her!

Her plan hadn't worked at all. How worried Gray had been when he found Lucy. How tenderly he held her, scooping her up in his strong arms and cradling her against his broad chest. His chin pressed against the top of her head, Gray rocked Lucy her back and forth, like something so very precious to him.

Nobody ever did that for Juvia.

That horrible, spoiled Lucy got everything. Just like always.

Juvia hobbled around the room, running her hands through her hair, and digging her nails into her scalp.

How could this be? Juvia had planned so well. The poison was perfect. Her plan was perfect. There was no way it could have failed.

Unless…

"Bora! Bora, where are you!" Juvia screamed. "Come here, at once!" The stridor of her voice tightened her throat and made her double over, hacking into her elbow. It had been a few days since her mistake with the fumes, and her cough still hadn't completely cleared up.

"You called, Majesty?" A thick accented voice, that was distinctly not Bora's, called from the window.

Clearing her throat, Juvia clopped over to the window, glancing down into the courtyard.

Sol, the gardener, waved up at her.

"Where is Bora?" Juvia demanded.

"Monsieur Bora is not yet back," Sol said. "He and Monsieur Gajeel are still away on some sort of business."

Right. Bora was away. And so was Gajeel. Because she had sent them. But they should have been back already. Why weren't they back already? This was unacceptable.

"Is something the matter, Majesty?" Sol asked.

"No," Juvia said, letting out a slow breath through her mouth. "Everything's fine."

She'd take it up with Bora herself once he got back. He'd take care not to disappoint her next time.


The hours dragged on. One. Two. Three.

As the night wore on, Lucy's lungs had started to regain their function. It was only a slight jerk, at first. A sporadic spasm. Gray let Lucy's body take over, only intervening when her lungs faltered. By the time dawn broke, she was breathing on her own. She was still weak and exhausted, but it looked like she'd be all right.

"Any change?" Erza asked anxiously as she stuck her head into the room.

Gray gave a wan smile. "She's sleeping now."

"You should get some sleep, too, Gray," Erza said.

"I can't leave her by herself," Gray insisted.

"The princess's condition has improved significantly. She will probably be fine."

"'Probably' isn't good enough. What if she's not fine?" Gray asked. "What if I leave, and she takes a turn for the worse, and there's nobody here to help? What if she dies? What then?"

"I'll stay with her," Erza offered. "You need rest, Gray. You're exhausted."

Gray sighed, dropping his face into his hands. Erza was right, as always. But he couldn't think of himself right now. He had a responsibility.

"Have you slept at all? You need rest too," Gray said.

"Lyon and I have been trading off. I'm fine. We both are," Erza said.

"What about Cana?"

"Also fine. She went to bed a couple of hours ago. Now, stop worrying about everybody else. We have it taken care of, Gray. Leave it to us."

"… Okay."

"Let's get you to bed. I'll get Chelia up here to look after Lucy temporarily, and I'll be back to trade with her once you're settled in," Erza said.

"Chelia? She's so young," Gray complained.

"No younger than Wendy. Chelia might not be as well-trained as any of Draghi's healers, but she's capable."

With Lucy in Chelia's care, Gray headed toward his own room. Back in the public eye, Erza kept a practiced two paces behind him, her eyes lowered. But once in the privacy of Gray's quarters, they relaxed again, letting formality drop.

"Here," Erza said. She handed him a change of clothes.

Gray looked down, realizing that he was still dressed to go out. It had only been a few hours ago, but it felt like a lifetime.

He started to reach for the pajamas that Erza had selected, surprising himself when he pulled her to his chest, crushing her against him. He held onto her tightly. He needed to feel that she was here.

If Erza was startled, she didn't show it. Instead, she hugged him back, wrapping her arms around him and letting her cheek fall against his shoulder. He stiffened at the contact, releasing her as he came to his senses.

"Sorry. Moment of weakness," he muttered, pulling away.

"No, don't be. Gray…"

Gray grabbed the clothing from her and ducked behind the screen to change. When he was finished, Gray sank onto the edge of his bed. He curled forward on himself, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

"I had some tea made for you," Erza said, the concerned frown still on her face. She passed him a steaming cup of hot liquid.

Gray uncurled from his hunch, accepting it wordlessly. He gave the steam an apprehensive sniff, trying to identify the flavors.

"It's just chamomile," Erza said. "In a weak tea."

"Nothing else?" Gray asked, eying the cup suspiciously.

"Do you really think I would do that?" Erza asked.

"Not usually, but you've been so adamant about me sleeping that I thought it prudent to ask," Gray said.

"You and I both know that nothing works on you," Erza said.

Gray hummed absently, turning the cup in his hands.

"Even in the rare circumstance when we wish it might."

"The very rare circumstance," Gray agreed mechanically.

Erza was right. Gray's poison immunity extended to most common sleeping medications, tranquilizers, and pain killers, which made injury particularly unpleasant.

"Even if it were possible, I wouldn't do that to you," Erza said.

"I know. I'm sorry." Gray felt badly for questioning her, but Erza seemed understanding. She always seemed to know what he needed.

"You're not yourself right now," Erza said.

Gray gave a bitter laugh. "What do you expect? Lucy almost died. Someone tried to kill her."

"We'll increase security," Erza said.

"Is that even possible?" Gray asked. "More than two-thirds of the staff is combat trained. And we have dedicated lookouts in every hallway."

"Then we'll train all the staff. We'll increase the frequency of patrols and change the routes for better coverage. We'll update policy at the front gates to prevent unauthorized people on the grounds."

"We need more first responders, too," Gray said. "We should send a few people to Draghi to have them apprentice under Wendy's grandmother. Chelia would enjoy that."

"Of course. Would you like me to have Lyon block the pass to the palace with an avalanche too?"

"I don't want him trying a stunt like that. He won't be able to move that much snow on his own, so don't you plant the idea in his head," Gray said. "No, I'll ask him to help me with it tomorrow. It shouldn't be a problem if we do it together."

"Understood."

"I hate this," Gray sighed. "Feels like this is my fault."

"It's not," Erza said. She laid a cool hand against his cheek, her fingers calloused and worn from sword practice. Gray leaned into her touch, even though he knew he shouldn't.

"Even so, I can't help but think this only happened because she's connected to me," Gray said.

"You can't think that way," Erza said. "You can't keep blaming yourself for everything that happens around you."

"That's the thing, though," Gray said. "These things do happen around me. Lucy is just a friend, and this is still happening. I'd hate to think about what would happen to someone who was even more important to me." He covered her hand with his, his fingers folding around hers.

After a long silence, Erza spoke up.

"…What if that someone knew the consequences and she wasn't afraid?" Erza asked.

"She'd be an idiot," Gray said, scowling. "Erza, I can't risk that."

"Even if she were, say, a combat-trained warrior?"

"As if that would have helped tonight. You can't fight poison."

There was a long pause before Erza spoke again. "…What if this person also had a poison immunity?"

"No!" Gray said sharply. "What are you saying?"

Her eyes were serious as they met his. "Merely suggesting that it might set your mind at ease knowing that this… important person… is well protected."

Gray shook his head. "Erza, no. Don't."

"And that these extra trainings are things I'm considering adding to my regimen as well," she told him in a no-nonsense tone.

"Stop it. That isn't funny."

"There's something else you should know," Erza said, seeming to let the matter drop. "I was going to wait until tomorrow to involve you, since we have everything under control, but I may as well tell you now, since it may put your mind at ease."

"What is it?"

Erza raised a warning finger. "I need you to promise that you won't use this as an excuse to involve yourself any further. The investigation is under control and your involvement isn't necessary at this stage," she said, her voice steely and firm.

"That all depends on what you're going to tell me," Gray countered, not put off by her tone in the slightest.

Erza frowned, her lips pursed.

"All right, all right. I promise. What is it?"

"When Lyon and I searched Lucy's room, we found something interesting."

Erza pulled out a bag that Gray hadn't noticed earlier, setting it in his lap. Had she been carrying it this entire time? Or had she left it in his room so she could show him? Why hadn't he noticed? He must have been more tired than he thought.

Gray spilled the contents into his lap, frowning. There were cufflinks from Sal, a jar of Dame Anders' spiced apple butter, and a scarf that was woven by Noah Simpson. "These are from the festival," Gray said. "How is that possible? I was just coming to get Lucy so that we could go together…"

Erza didn't speak, waiting for him to put the pieces together.

"… she went out on her own?" Gray asked. "Even after I told her not to!"

Why would she do something like that? How could she have been so reckless and so selfish?

Gray swore under his breath.

"How did she even manage to get out?" he asked.

"The window. How else?"

"I should have barred the windows," he muttered. "Make a note. When this is over, we'll bar all the windows and keep this from happening again."

"That wouldn't have helped," Erza said. "She would have found another way out.

"You don't know that."

"There was nothing you could have done," Erza said. "She would have been safe if she had stayed in the castle."

Gray's jaw tightened. How could Lucy have broken his trust like that?

"We also found the poison that is presumably the cause of the princess' affliction," Erza continued. "Don't worry. It's been contained. We were very careful. We believe that she bought it down at the festival, as well."

"From whom?" Gray asked. "Do we have any clues as to where they are now? How many other—"

Erza raised her hand before Gray could question her further. "The townspeople are safe. Cana investigated and nobody else had been seen buying a similar bottle. There were reports of a man selling perfume, but he packed up his stall and left earlier today. Lucy appears to have been the only target."

"Next steps?" Gray prompted.

"We're putting together sketches of the merchant based on witness reports."

"I can help coordin—" Gray broke off when Erza jabbed a finger in his chest.

"You promised," she reminded him. "Sit."

Gray sighed. "I did, didn't I?"

He had to admit that he wasn't at his best. Fatigue was setting in, and his responses had dulled. Maybe a nap would be a good idea… Just a short one.

"You're sure everything's under control?" he asked.

"Yes."

Gray nodded. "Wake me in a few hours. Sooner if anything happens."

Gray felt like he had just fallen asleep when Erza shook him awake. He dragged a hand over his weary face before jackknifing to a seated position. "Did something happen? How's Lucy?"

"She's fine. I thought you'd like to know that you have a visitor. Also, Lyon and Cana just made a breakthrough with the case. Which would you like to hear about first?"

Gray sagged with relief. "Visitors can wait. What did we find?"

"The visitors are the Prince of Draghi and Miss Wendy," Erza said. "I let them in to see Princess Lucy."

"Natsu's here? And Wendy?" Gray asked, nearly tripping over his feet to get out of bed.

Erza smiled. "I thought you'd like that better."

"I'll talk with them first. Then I'll be over to hear about the case."


LOL Juvia... I have no words for what we've just witnessed. This incarnation of Juvia is just so out-there that I wonder if she's living in the same reality as the rest of us. (Really sorry for any Juvia fans who are sitting through this. I'll make it up to you at some point, I promise.)

As for Gray and Erza, it's been a while since they've had a scene so this little glimpse into their relationship.

But where the heck's Natsu?! He's coming, he's coming. :) Nalu reunion next week, but of course, something else falls apart.

Next time, in Toxic, Natsu returns... and he's not happy: "You idiot!" Natsu roared, his eyes blazing. "You said you'd protect her!"

Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.