A Lost Hero's Fairytale

Chapter 5: There is Beauty in the Rain

Ben let out a deep yawn, stretching out his arms and legs to loosen the kinks from his body. He blinked awake, glancing around to realize he was still lying across several sacks of Cait Shelter's clothing and textiles inside the merchant's wagon. The sunlight filtering through the curtain at the front told him it was still daytime.

With a sigh Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Only a day in and I'm already bored out of my mind... and still no new memories." he thought, wiping the sweat off his brow. "Doesn't help that it's so hot…" he murmured.

Deciding he had enough of resting, Ben carefully climbed over the bags of merchandise and took a seat on the front chaise beside Mr. Kale.

"Morning kid." the merchant greeted him with a nod. "Sleep well?"

Ben shrugged, giving a lopsided grin. "As well as you can on bags of clothes I guess. Still, I really appreciate the ride."

"Not a problem." Mr. Kale replied before glancing at the strange device on Ben's arm. "That's quite the unique watch you've got there. Haven't seen anything like it."

Ben glanced down at the Ultimatrix, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah… it's foreign." he replied vaguely, still piecing things together himself. "So, how much farther to the next town?"

"We're about an hour out from Gardenia." Mr. Kale informed him. "I'll need to stop there for a couple of hours to feed the boar and let her rest up."

Ben nodded, processing the information. The journey had been quiet so far and now curiosity got the better of him. "Hey, you're a traveling merchant right? You probably know a lot about this country's towns and geography don't you?"

Mr. Kale raised an eyebrow. "I'd say I know a fair bit. Why? What's on your mind kid?"

Ben hesitated for a moment then decided to ask without revealing too much. "I'm uh, still learning my way around this country. Do you think you could tell me about some of the major towns and landmarks? You know, just to help me get my bearings."

The merchant nodded thoughtfully. "Sure, I can give you the basics. Fiore's a fair-sized country, so it helps to know some of the major towns if you're traveling." He began recounting his knowledge of the land, pointing out various key locations and landmarks that were important across Fiore.

As they continued their journey the forest began to thin, giving way to open grasslands covered with a wide array of flowers. The view was peaceful, a vivid contrast to the thick woods they'd been passing through. Ben took in the beauty of the land as they rode along, the fresh air a welcome change after his time inside the merchant's wagon.

But as the village of Gardenia came into view down the road, Ben noticed something odd—dark, heavy clouds were looming above the town. Strangely, the rainclouds gathered only over Gardenia, while the rest of the sky remained clear and sunny.

Ben cocked an eyebrow at the sight and turned to the merchant. "Uh… Is that normal?"

Mr. Kale frowned, stroking his grayish-black beard in confusion. "No, can't say it is. I've never seen any weather like that before." He glanced up at the stormy sky again. "We'll need ponchos for this. Reach back there and grab a couple will you?"

Ben complied, pulling out a yellow poncho for Mr. Kale and a green one for himself. The atmosphere grew more ominous as they neared the village. The once bright blue sky gradually turned to gray as they entered the shadow of the storm clouds. What started as a light drizzle quickly became a steady downpour by the time they pulled into Gardenia's village square.

Ben pulled the poncho over his head, water dripping from the fabric. "At least the heat's gone down with the rain." he thought, trying to find some silver lining in the gloomy weather. But he couldn't shake the strange feeling that something was off about the sudden storm.

Gardenia was slightly larger than Cait Shelter, with a distinct European-style architecture. The buildings were no taller than two stories and featured charming thatched roofs. The streets were paved with red and brown bricks, and intricate canals wove through the town, connected by arched stone bridges. In front of nearly every home and establishment as well as on each corner stone gardening beds housed a variety of flowers, their buds yet to bloom.

Ben took note of the town's dedication to its greenery, smirking inwardly. "Seems like they really love their gardens around here." he mused.

He adjusted the hood of his poncho, feeling relieved by the cooling rain in the otherwise hot summer. As the townspeople walked by holding umbrellas Ben kept a casual eye on them wondering if they might know anything about Bellwood. However, his thoughts were abruptly cut off by a rumbling underfoot.

The wagon jerked to a halt as the ground shook, prompting confused glances from the locals.

"Earthquake?" Ben asked, looking to Mr. Kale.

"Not around here." the merchant replied, his voice tinged with anxiety.

Everyone's attention shifted down the street, where a towering wave of water came barrelling toward them at frightening speed.

"Flash flood!" someone yelled.

Villagers scattered in panic umbrellas forgotten as they ran for safety. Ben acting on instinct leapt from the wagon and reached for the Ultimatrix. Without hesitation he slammed down the core, an emerald light erupting from the device and bathing the area in a brilliant glow.

When the light dimmed, standing in Ben's place was a towering one-eyed humanoid plant with vibrant green skin. It had flytrap-like flaps adorned with sharp teeth on its shoulders, black pod-like seeds lining its back and long vine-like tendrils extending from its fingers. Its legs were composed of thick intertwining vines giving it an agile yet sturdy appearance. The signature Ultimatrix dial gleamed on its chest.

"Wildvine!" he called out in a raspy echoing voice.

Mr. Kale, still gripping the reins of his wagon, could only manage a wide-eyed stare before yelping in surprise. "W-what the?! AHHH!"

In a flash, Wildvine wrapped his vine-like fingers around the startled merchant and his boar, swiftly leaping onto the roof of a nearby building with them in tow and safely setting them down.

"Stay put!" he ordered, watching as the merchant's wagon was swallowed by the wave along with a few of the villagers.

Without wasting a second Wildvine stretched his tendrils toward the opposite side of the street and launched himself across. While swinging he extended his vine-like fingers, snagging more than half a dozen people from the rushing water and gently placing them on rooftops.

For several minutes Wildvine repeated this process, saving villagers one after another. He moved quickly, his body adapting to the terrain. He thought he had rescued everyone—until a cry echoed through the street.

"HELP! Someone help me!"

His single eye darted toward the desperate voice. Down the street, a young girl was being swept along by the fierce current, barely managing to keep her head above the water.

"HELP!" she cried again, panicking as she neared a stone wall.

"Hang on! I'm coming!" Wildvine shouted. He sprang from the rooftop and swung down in one fluid motion, stretching his fingers to their maximum length. His tendrils wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her from the water just in time, before she would have slammed into a stone wall.

Swinging onto another thatched roof, Wildvine gently sat the girl down as she coughed and sputtered, spitting out water. He took a moment to assess her—she appeared close to Wendy's age, with shoulder-length green hair tied into a side ponytail. Her emerald eyes, now wide with fear, contrasted against her creamy white skin. She was wearing a green poncho over a pink-and-white dress, which suggested she came from a well-off family.

"T-Thank you. Thank you so much—uh!" Her gratitude was interrupted by her wide-eyed shock as she finally got a good look at her rescuer.

"Don't mention it." Wildvine said, concerned as he kneeled beside her. "Are you alright?"

The girl stared at him with her mouth slightly agape. "Y-yes..." she stammered before gathering herself. "Forgive me if I sound rude, but… W-what are you?"

"Wildvine." he answered simply.

"Wild Vine?" She tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "Are… you some sort of monster? Or a demon?"

"Uh, not exactly sure what this guy is." Wildvine replied sheepishly scratching his head. "But I'm actually a Take-Over wizard."

Her face lit up with excitement. "Really?!" she exclaimed with her previous wariness melting away. "I've never seen Take-Over magic in person before! Oh wow!"

Wildvine chuckled softly. "Glad I could be your first." he joked trying to ease the moment.

Suddenly, his singular eye widened as fragmented memories flooded his mind.

A surge of water running through an adobe village.

Jumping onto a floating barrel in the flood.

Rescuing a dark-haired girl from the floodwaters in the nick of time.

The warm feeling he felt when he touched her hand.

Wildvine blinked twice, processing the familiar feelings that surged through him. "It's the same girl…I saved her." He looked down at the green-haired girl. "Just like I saved this one." His gaze shifted to the young green-haired girl beside him, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. "But… who was she?"

The girl's voice broke through his thoughts. "Um… Sir Wild Vine? Are you alright?" she asked hesitantly, her eyes wide with concern at how he seemed to be lost in thought or something.

"Sir?" The title made him blink again.

"Oh, uh yeah. Sorry about that." Wildvine stammered, shaking off the unsettling déjà vu. "Just… got reminded of something that's all."

Eager to move past the awkwardness, he gestured toward the water still flooding the street below. "So, does this place get flooded a lot or something?"

"I-I don't think so." the girl responded as her brow furrowed. "I don't live here. I was just passing through with my esc—" She caught herself, quickly amending her words. "I mean my family after an important trip."

Wildvine noticed the slip but shrugged it off.

Her green eyes turned down toward the town, watching the floodwaters with a sad expression. "This is awful… these poor citizens and their homes." she murmured with her voice thick with sympathy.

Wildvine gave her a sideways glance, recognizing the genuine concern in her tone. Though he didn't know who she was, it was clear she had a compassionate heart. "Just like Wendy," he thought of how this girl reminded him of her. He wondered if this was how kind children generally are due to their innocence. For some reason he felt like this wasn't the common behavior of youths.

Wildvine hummed contemplatively, scanning his options. "Let's see… What do I have that can stop this flood?" He quickly ran through the forms in his head. "Water Hazard? Maybe but this seems like too much for him to control. Big Chill could freeze it but… nah that might cause more damage."

Before he could settle on a solution the floodwaters suddenly began to recede on their own, rushing back down the streets.

Wildvine blinked in surprise. "What the…?"

The green-haired girl gasped, her eyes wide in astonishment. "M-my word! What's happening?" Her gaze flicked back to him, curious. "Are you doing this?"

Wildvine shook his head, still perplexed. "Nope. Can't take credit for this as much as I'd like to." As the floodwater continued to vanish, he carefully lowered both himself and the girl back onto the street. "I'm gonna go check it out. You should find your parents."

"W-wait! Sir Wild Vine!" she called but he was already swinging off stretching his arm to the nearest building and pulling himself forward. "I… wanted to thank you again."

Before she could dwell on her thoughts, a voice interrupted. "Princess!"

She turned to see three men rushing toward her. The tallest being a muscular man clad in a suit of armor, led the group. His dark hair and pointed beard gave him an imposing presence and his thick eyebrows framed sharp concerned eyes. Behind him two Royal Knights followed in yellow-and-blue gear while armed with lances.

"Arcadios!" the girl revealed as Princess Hisui exclaimed.

The knight Arcadios immediately knelt before her. "Why did you run off Princess Hisui?!"

Hisui avoided his gaze, shame coloring her features. "I… I'm sorry Sir Arcadios. I just wanted to see things from our citizens' perspective." Her sheltered upbringing in the palace had made the outside world seem like a forbidden adventure and the chance to explore even briefly was too tempting to resist.

Arcadios sighed, his tone firm. "That was reckless Princess. I warned you about the potential for flash floods on our journey here." His stern gaze bore into her, a mix of disappointment and concern.

She lowered her head further, regret clear in her voice. "I know… I almost drowned. But a kind wizard saved me."

His expression softened slightly. "A wizard?"

Hisui nodded, brightening a little. "Yes! A Take-Over wizard named Sir Wild Vine."

Arcadios exchanged a puzzled glance with the knights at his side, none of whom recognized the name. "Wild Vine?" he repeated.

Hisui smiled. "He was really strong and nice too."

"Well," Arcadios said while standing and offering her his hand, "we'll discuss it more once we're back to the capital. Let's get you into some dry clothes first or you'll catch a cold."

Hisui took his hand and nodded but as they walked away, she glanced back down the street where Wildvine had gone. A soft smile spread across her face. "Thank you, Sir Wild Vine. I hope I can repay your kindness someday."

Wildvine swung through the village, using his tendrils to pull himself from building to building, much like a certain web-slinger might in another universe. He followed the direction of the retreating floodwaters, his mind racing. "There's no way water could drain this fast naturally." he thought, narrowing his single eye. "Something must be pulling it back."

As he approached the village's main canal, his suspicion was confirmed. Up ahead, the floodwaters were swirling together, forming a massive sphere of water that floated above the canal.

"Whoa…" Wildvine muttered, his single eye widening in awe at the surreal sight.

"Drip, drip, drop," a calm, feminine voice intoned below him.

Wildvine glanced down, his gaze landing on the figure standing by the canal's edge. A young woman with pale skin and a curvy figure stood beneath a pink umbrella. Her blue hair which was curled at the ends framed her face and she was dressed in a navy-blue coat with a fur shawl. Her calm and detached expression contrasted with the power she wielded.

"Is she behind all this?" Wildvine wondered, watching her closely from his rooftop vantage point.

"Now… Ascend!" she commanded, raising her hand slowly. In response, the giant sphere of water floated higher into the dark sky.

"Scatter!" She swept her arm in a wide arc and the water sphere suddenly burst apart, the droplets flinging far beyond Gardenia's boundaries before descending as rain.

In a matter of moments, the floodwaters had been completely dispersed.

Wildvine stood still, momentarily dumbstruck by the display of power. "Whoa… she's awesome."

"Hmm?" The blue-haired woman turned, her sharp eyes locking onto Wildvine standing on the rooftop.

"Whoops, should've kept my mouth shut." Wildvine thought, internally cringing.

With swift reflexes the woman spun around summoning multiple watery spears from the canal behind her. They pointed directly at him.

"HALT!" she commanded with a firm shout.

Wildvine raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Uh… I come in peace?"

Her eyes remained stern. "The request didn't mention any monsters in this village… Well, no matter."

"Wait, wait! I'm not a monster!" Wildvine quickly descended from the rooftop to the street below, ensuring to keep several meters of distance between them. He could sense how on edge she was and didn't want to make any sudden moves. "Seriously, it's okay! I'm friendly. I'm a wizard too!"

The woman cocked an eyebrow. "A wizard are you? What guild do you belong to?"

"Uh…" Wildvine rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Not with any guild… at the moment."

Her gaze narrowed. "Who are you then?"

"Well, that depends." He gestured to himself. "This is Wildvine." Then he tapped the Ultimatrix dial on his chest. A brilliant green flash lit up the street, forcing her to shield her eyes.

When the light faded, she blinked in surprise. Standing before her was a young man wearing a green poncho, tan knee-length pants and brown sandals.

"My name is Ben. Ben Tennyson." He smiled, trying to ease the tension.

The woman's eyes widened in brief surprise before settling back into her usual composure. "Juvia sees…" She dispelled the watery spears, letting them splash harmlessly to the ground. "So, you're a Take-Over wizard."

"Something like that." Ben replied while nodding.

"Juvia apologizes for the misunderstanding," she continued in a monotone. "But you must understand, towns like this are often plagued by monsters. When Juvia saw your form, she assumed you were one of them."

"Is she speaking in third person? That's a bit… different." Ben thought at the unusual quirk though he shrugged it off. "No offense taken. Some of my forms do look pretty terrifying. Let's just start over."

Ben approached and extended his hand, smiling warmly. "You know my name now. I'm guessing your name is Juvia?"

The blue-haired woman hesitated, her expression softening as she glanced at his hand clearly surprised by his polite gesture. For a moment Ben worried he'd offended her. But then her lips twitched into a small and almost shy smile as she extended her hand to meet his.

"Yes my name is Juvia Lockser, the Rain Woman of Phantom Lord's Element Four." she introduced herself formally. "Drip, drip, drop."

"Okay, so she not only talks in the third person but also makes rain noises." Ben noted before her words registered to him. "Uh… Phantom Lord? Element Four?" he repeated, sounding confused by the titles.

Juvia tilted her head slightly in surprise. "You've never heard of Phantom Lord?"

"I'm… new to this country." Ben admitted truthfully.

"Ah, a foreigner." Juvia remarked before continuing. "Phantom Lord is the most powerful wizard guild in the kingdom. And the Element Four are the strongest members of our guild, second only to our Master."

"Oh, I get it now." Ben nodded as his gaze drifted to the canal. "That explains how you were able to handle the flood so easily."

Juvia gave a small proud nod. "As the Rain Woman, Juvia is in perfect harmony with water. That is why she accepted this job as it suited her abilities. Drip, drip, drop."

"Job?" Ben echoed curiously.

Juvia explained further, "The mountains that supply water to these canals have been receiving more rain than usual. The mayor of this village requested someone to help protect the town from the risk of flooding."

Ben hummed in understanding. "Got it. But what about that huge surge of water earlier?"

Juvia's expression shifted to one of embarrassment. "Well… Juvia…" She hesitated before nervously continuing, "Juvia wasn't paying close attention."

Her blue eyes suddenly widened as she gasped. "Oh! Juvia must check if anyone was harmed in the flood!"

Before she could rush off Ben gently grabbed her hand causing her to gasp lightly. "You don't have to worry about that. I've already rescued everyone who got caught up in the flood."

"You did?" she asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Yeah." Ben answered though he grew a bit sheepish as another thought struck him. "Actually… I should probably help them get down from the rooftops now that I think about it. If you're free, want to come with me?"

Juvia looked at him in surprise. "You… wish for Juvia's company?"

"Sure." Ben replied with a casual smile. "You seem nice plus I'd like to talk with you a bit more if you don't mind."

Ben was also considering using the opportunity to ask her more about the country's wizard guilds—and perhaps if she'd ever heard of a place called Bellwood.

For a brief moment Juvia seemed stunned by his request. Then a sad frown appeared on her face. "But the rain… Is it not… gloomy to be around Juvia?"

Ben got confused by her concern and glanced up at the dark rain-filled clouds above them before looking back at her. "No, I don't mind the rain at all."

He meant it. With his poncho on, the rain didn't bother him in the slightest.

Juvia let out a small gasp, her eyes widening as her heart seemed to skip a beat. No one had ever said that to her before—not even her guildmates.

Ben tilted his head, sensing her shock. "Uh, Juvia? You okay?"

It took her a moment to snap out of her thoughts and she blinked rapidly. "Oh… uh y-yes." Her cheeks turned a soft pink as she averted his gaze. "If you don't mind Juvia's company, then she will gladly accompany you."

Ben smiled kindly. "Great. The townspeople are back this way," he said, motioning with his thumb over his shoulder.

"Very well." Juvia responded while following him. "Drip, drip, drop."

"Is that her catchphrase or something?" Ben mused silently as they walked down the rain-soaked streets together.

Juvia and Ben helped the citizens Wildvine had rescued down from the rooftops, much to the townspeople's gratitude as the rain continued to pour steadily. Afterward, Mr. Kale informed Ben that he would need about an hour to restock supplies before they could resume their journey.

With time to spare Ben and Juvia wandered the brick-laid streets of Gardenia together, making casual conversation. Ben was curious to know more about Phantom Lord, so he asked Juvia for details about the guild—what their members were like, where they were based and some basic background. Juvia answered his questions, even telling him about some of her past missions. Her stories seemed to genuinely interest Ben and for the first time in a while Juvia found herself enjoying a friendly conversation with someone outside of Phantom Lord.

As she walked beside him, Juvia realized something: she couldn't remember the last time she had such a lengthy and pleasant chat with anyone. Even her guildmates were strictly professional and rarely engaged in this kind of casual conversation. A small smile formed on her face. This was… nice.

Eventually the pair came upon a small park where a path led to a gazebo nestled among raised flower beds. Ben noticed it and suggested they take a break there given the steady rain. Though the rain didn't bother him, he figured it would be a good spot to sit for a while. Juvia nodded in agreement, willing to accommodate her new companion.

Once they stepped inside the gazebo Ben pulled back the hood of his green poncho, revealing his damp brown hair sticking to his forehead. Juvia couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked with his hair wet—though she quickly shook the thought from her mind, feeling embarrassed. Folding her umbrella neatly, she joined him on the bench.

"Man… It was quite hot before we got to this town. Honestly I'm grateful for the rain cooling things down." Ben said absentmindedly, leaning back on the bench.

Juvia blinked in surprise. "He's… not vexed by Juvia's rain?" she thought, her mind racing. This was new to her—people usually complained about the downpour yet Ben seemed totally unfazed.

He turned toward her with a curious expression. "So, Juvia I have a question."

"Yes?" she responded curious about what he would ask.

"You said you're a Rain Woman. Does that mean you can fully control the rain, like turn it on or off at will?"

Juvia lowered her gaze, embarrassed. "…No, not fully."

Ben tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Letting out a deep sigh, Juvia rested her hands on her lap. "The rain follows Juvia wherever she goes. She cannot stop it. Drip, drip, drop."

Ben took a moment to process that. "Wait, so all this rain… is because of you?"

Juvia hesitated before nodding. "Will he reject Juvia like everyone else?"

But instead of rejection, Ben's response caught her off guard. "Huh. I've heard of people having a sunny disposition but never a rainy one before. Well I guess that means you must be pretty busy in the summertime then."

"Pardon…?" Juvia blinked, surprised.

"I mean, if there's a drought or a farmer needs water for his crops, all they have to do is submit a request for you, and bam! You solve the problem with your rain."

Juvia wasn't sure how to react. He wasn't entirely wrong but… could he really only see the positives of her magic? Most people only ever focused on the negatives.

"Well yes but…" she trailed off, her gaze falling to the concrete floor of the gazebo.

Ben, noticing her hesitation, gently pressed. "But?"

Her mind drifted to unpleasant memories—the judgmental stares, the whispers and the rejections she had faced all her life because of the rain that constantly followed her.

"Can't you do something about the rain? We can't ever do anything outdoors!" The words of her ex-boyfriend Bora echoed through her mind.

"I'm sorry. But I have no control over it." She teared up.

"Well, I can't handle all this gloom. I think we should see other people…" He said callously while walking away.

Juvia frowned deeply with her expression full of sadness. "Juvia's rain…Juvia herself… makes everyone around her gloomy." Her voice cracked as she covered her face with trembling hands and then the sobbing began. As her tears fell the rain outside responded in kind, pouring down harder with low rumbles of thunder reverberating across the sky—something Ben couldn't help but notice.

"Juvia…?" Ben asked softly, concerned for her well-being.

He instinctively raised his hand to comfort her but stopped just before touching her shoulder. He stayed close though, maintaining a respectful distance knowing sometimes it was better to let someone release their emotions first before stepping in. As she cried Ben thought carefully about her words. "Gloomy huh? But…" He couldn't quite see it the way she did. He'd spent a good while talking to her now and gloomy wasn't the word that came to mind when he thought of her. Monotone, reserved, maybe a little strange (not in a bad way mind you)—but not gloomy.

As he reflected, it didn't take long for him to put the pieces together. "If it's always raining wherever she goes, I guess I can understand why she'd feel that way. I'd get tired of the rain too if it never stopped following me around."

Juvia's voice broke through his thoughts as she continued to sob. "Juvia…SOB…is so sorry. It's just that…SOB…Juvia had a breakup with her boyfriend not long ago…SOB…and she still hasn't gotten over it yet…"

Ben's eyes widened slightly as a memory returned.

"The thing is Ben, you seem like a nice guy but you're just not my type." A black-haired, copper-skinned girl said straightforwardly.

"Huh? I-I thought you really liked me." Young Ben said with a disappointed tone.

"Well, that was before you turned back into... well you." She said matter-of-factly.

"What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing and the alien stuff's cool, just not as cool as when you were a Yenaldooshi. I figured I could train you, tame you, you know?"

Then another girl with bright red hair and green eyes just like his own stepped forward looking incredulous. "Train him? Tame him? He's a person, not a pet. You can't talk to my cousin like that! Only I can talk to my cousin like that. You just blew it big time."

"Oh well, whatever." The other girl shrugged off as she strolled away uncaringly.

Ben stared at his crush's retreating form with a disheartened frown.

His redheaded cousin walked up to him, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Ben frowned as a fleeting memory surfaced, leaving him feeling somewhat disheartened. Perhaps the current mood of the conversation had triggered this recollection.

"The thing about a crush is… sometimes you get crushed." Ben muttered to himself.

Juvia, through her soft sobs, heard him and tilted her head, curiosity momentarily overriding her sadness. "W-what was that?"

Startled, Ben blinked and quickly snapped back to reality. "Oh, uh… sorry. Just repeating something my cousin told me a long time ago. She once said and I'm paraphrasing here, that sometimes we get our hearts broken. But it's part of life. There are plenty of fish in the sea."

Juvia's gaze drifted toward the floor, her voice softening. "I see… but Juvia is not ready to go searching for another. She… may never be ready." Her tone carried a sense of deep despondency.

The rain continued to pour harder than before with thunder rumbling in the background. Ben sighed, sensing the weight of Juvia's sorrow and trying to find the right words to reach her.

He hesitated for a moment before softly asking, "Did you love him?"

Juvia sniffled, hesitating to answer. "I… wouldn't say love. But he was the first man to show interest in Juvia." Her hands clenched as she added with a hint of bitterness. "But… Bora of Prominence thought Juvia was too gloomy, like everyone else."

"Pfft!" Ben couldn't hold back a chortle, earning a confused and slightly hurt glance from Juvia.

"Are… you mocking Juvia?" she asked with a flicker of hurt crossing her features.

Ben quickly waved his hand reassuring her. "No, no! It's just… Bora of Prominence? That's… a bit of a try-hard name, don't you think?"

Juvia blinked, unsure of how to respond. "I… Are you mocking Juvia's ex?"

Ben shook his head, trying to keep a straight face. "It's just hard to believe that a guy with a name like that dumped a beautiful woman like you. He sounds like a lame dude honestly."

Juvia's eyes widened and her cheeks turned bright red as she processed his words. "W-what did you say?!"

Ben, realizing what he had blurted out felt a rush of embarrassment but chose not to backtrack. Instead, he held his ground while his lips curled into a confident smirk. "Yeah. I think you're beautiful Juvia."

"Eep!" Juvia squeaked, her heart hammering in her chest. "Y-you're not lying to Juvia, are you?"

Ben rubbed the back of his neck feeling awkward. "No, I meant it."

Flustered beyond belief Juvia turned away, her face glowing red as she tried to hide her expression. "Why… is my heart beating so fast?" she wondered, a warm sensation filling her chest.

"Hey, Juvia." Ben called softly, noticing her distant look.

Juvia, lost in her thoughts, didn't immediately respond. Her mind reeling with the realization of how she felt. "Could this be…?"

"Juvia!" Ben called again, his voice a bit louder this time.

Startled, Juvia snapped out of her thoughts. "Y-yes?!"

Ben oblivious to her internal struggles asked casually. "Do you know if there's a café around here? I'm getting kind of hungry."

Juvia, who was still flustered, blinked at the sudden change in topic. "A café? Are you… are you thirsty?"

The question, innocent as it was, had caused her to blush even more as she realized how it might have sounded.

Luckily Ben seemed completely unaware of the possible innuendo. "Yeah, thirsty and hungry. You saved the town, so let me treat you to something."

"You want to… spend more time with Juvia?" she asked, her tone laced with surprise.

Ben frowned, looking at her seriously. "Of course I do. And you're not gloomy no matter what that guy Bora or anyone else says." He smiled encouragingly. "Your kind, you helped save this village and you've been good company. That's what matters to me."

Juvia stared at him with wide eyes, her heart swelling at his words. The rain around them lightened to a gentle drizzle, as if responding to the warmth she felt inside.

Ben grinned and offered his hand to her. "So… how about it? Wanna grab some lunch with me?"

For a moment, Juvia was too stunned to respond. But then a small genuine smile crossed her face as she reached out to take his hand. "Okay." she whispered softly, suppressing a little 'eep' when their hands touched.

Ben helped her to her feet, releasing her hand afterward—much to Juvia's quiet disappointment. He pulled up his hood, looking ready to go. "Alright, let's see what they've got to eat around here. I'm starving."

A still blushing Juvia glanced at him as pink bubbles floated around her in her mind. "He's so kind… No one's ever been this kind to me before…"

She was so entranced by him that she didn't even notice the rain had nearly stopped.

Later that afternoon, the two of them managed to find a small and quaint café tucked away in a corner of Gardenia. The establishment had a cozy, welcoming atmosphere and the food was delicious. The two even had a small debate over who should pay for the meal which Ben won out in the end, reminding Juvia that he was the one who had suggested they go. He was silently grateful for the money Roubaul had given him, which made it possible for him to treat them to lunch.

Afterward the pair strolled leisurely down the brick-laid streets with Juvia holding her frilly pink umbrella above them to shield them from the light drizzle. It was a peaceful walk but Juvia couldn't shake the question that had been on her mind since they met.

"Ben…" Juvia hesitated before continuing, "Juvia knows you are a Take-Over wizard and not in a guild, but she still doesn't know much about you. Can you tell Juvia more?"

Ben rubbed the back of his neck, a small awkward smile forming. "Well to be honest, I'm still figuring a lot of that out myself."

Juvia blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

He paused before responding, his gaze drifting down the road. "I lost my memory," he revealed, his tone quieter than before.

Juvia's eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting that. "You… lost your memory?"

Ben gave a nod, then took a deep breath and began explaining everything that had happened to him over the past few weeks. From waking up in the mysterious Worth Woodsea to his fight with the Vulcan and his time in Cait Shelter, he shared it all. Juvia listened intently, not interrupting him once.

By the time he finished telling her his story (minus a few things like his Vulcan form's urges and Pepel kissing him since that was personal), Juvia's expression had softened. "That must have been frightening… waking up in an unfamiliar place without any memory of who you are."

Ben nodded slightly, hands stuffed into his poncho's pockets. He didn't seem to notice that Juvia had slipped into first-person speech for the first time during their conversation.

Juvia's brow furrowed slightly as she considered his situation. "So, this merchant you're traveling with… do you have a destination in mind?"

"Yeah." Ben pulled out his wallet and flipped it open, showing Juvia a small plastic card inside. "This was in my jacket when I woke up. It's my driver's license and it's how I remembered where I'm from—Bellwood."

"Bellwood?" Juvia repeated, the unfamiliarity evident in her voice.

Ben nodded. "It's a town in a country called the United States of America."

Juvia blinked, shaking her head slightly. "Juvia has never heard of such a place before."

"You haven't?" Ben looked down thoughtfully, his brow furrowing. "No one at Cait Shelter knew about it either…"

"Perhaps it is a small nation? Or it could be on another continent?" Juvia suggested thoughtfully, though a lingering question remained in her mind. "Although…that still doesn't explain how he ended up in Fiore."

"Maybe…" Ben replied, though no other options came to mind. He looked back at her, his brow furrowed slightly. "Well, our final stop is in the port town of Hargeon. Maybe some of the sailors there will know something."

Juvia nodded in agreement. "You could also check the library for answers. They usually have the most recent maps."

Ben's eyes widened in realization. "Yeah! I didn't even think of that!" His expression brightened as he smiled warmly at her. "Thanks Juvia. You're a genius!"

"O-oh!" Juvia turned her head away quickly, her cheeks flushed pink. "Y-you're welcome!"

"He praised me!" Juvia thought as her heart was racing in excitement. "He thinks Juvia was helpful to him! Eeee!" She inwardly squealed, feeling the warmth of his compliment spread through her like a ray of sunshine despite the constant drizzle of rain around them.

Ben blinked, bemused by her sudden shift before shaking it off as another one of Juvia's quirks.

As they walked further down the street in silence, the familiar sight of Mr. Kale's wagon came into view. Ben's thoughts shifted as he remembered that his journey would soon resume, the realization weighing lightly on his mind.

"Ben." Juvia's soft monotone voice broke the silence, drawing his attention.

"Yeah?" He glanced at her, curiosity in his eyes.

She didn't respond immediately, her gaze dropping to the ground as if she were working up the courage to speak. Finally, after a brief pause, she said, "Juvia wonders… if you'd be interested in coming back with her. To… join Phantom Lord?"

Her question caught Ben off guard. He blinked, momentarily processing the offer.

"Phantom Lord is the strongest guild in the kingdom," Juvia continued, her tone growing more determined even as a faint blush painted her cheeks. "You could find work, earn a good wage… maybe even build a home." As she spoke, her imagination ran wild with fantasies of the two of them as a powerful wizard couple living together in Oak Town, getting married and raising a family. Three babies, maybe more…

Her blush deepened as her thoughts spiraled.

It took Ben a moment to consider her offer seriously. "I really appreciate the offer Juvia but… I have to decline." He said it gently but firmly. "I need to find my family and friends. I need to figure out who I am first."

Juvia's shoulders slumped slightly in disappointment, the reality of his response sinking in. "Juvia understands."

"Hey." Ben said warmly, resting a hand on her shoulder which caused her blush to deepen even more. "Don't feel bad. I promised Wendy at Cait Shelter that I'd return to Fiore one day, so when I do I'll stop by Phantom Lord to see you too. Sound good?"

Her eyes lit up in surprise and hope. "You… you really would do that?" she asked softly with her heart racing.

Ben nodded with a reassuring smile. "Yeah of course."

"EEEEEEEHHHHHHH!" Juvia's heart practically soared with joy as stars filled her eyes. "He's so kind… and he's coming back for me!"

"Hey Ben!" Their conversation was interrupted by the familiar voice of Mr. Kale, the merchant, waving at them from his wagon. "We're all stocked up. It's time to go!"

Ben turned to acknowledge him with a nod. "Got it! Give me a minute!" Mr. Kale glanced at Juvia then Ben and a knowing grin spread across his face before he stepped back into his wagon.

Ben turned back to Juvia. "Looks like this is where we part ways."

"Yes…" Juvia murmured, her head lowering slightly in disappointment. The rain immediately grew heavier, which didn't escape Ben's notice. "The rain really is tied to her emotions." he thought from seeing the connection.

Thinking quickly, Ben realized this moment was about more than just cheering her up. He wanted to do something that might help her in the long run. That's when his eyes fell to her hair curls, which was the first thing he noticed besides her blue hair. He didn't know why but at that moment he imagined what she'd look like if her hairstyle was different and he kind of liked the image. "Hey Juvia." he began gently, trying to catch her attention again. "Quick question. How long have you had those curls in your hair?"

Juvia blinked at the unexpected question. "Since she was a little girl…" she answered unsure where this was going.

"Do you like them?" Ben pressed on.

The question gave Juvia pause. "Juvia… has never really thought about it. She's never done her hair in another style." Her gaze dropped, as if she was considering something she hadn't before.

Ben smiled warmly. "Here's a suggestion—lose the curls. Grow your hair out some more."

Juvia's eyes widened at the suggestion, clearly caught off guard. "L-lose the curls?" she stammered, not sure if she heard him correctly.

"Yep." Ben nodded confidently, smirking. "Rain or no rain, trust me, people will have no choice but to acknowledge how beautiful you are."

Juvia's heart fluttered, her eyes lighting up as a warmth spread through her. "You… you really think that?"

"Of course," Ben replied without hesitation. "Not that it should matter what anyone else thinks, but a makeover could help with your own self-confidence. Plus, if your emotions are tied to your magic then boosting your self-esteem might help with that."

His words struck her deeply. "He's so… kind!" she thought, feeling more touched than she ever had before. Her usual rain clouds seemed to ease slightly as she processed his advice.

"And I'm sure finding a new boyfriend will be a breeze after that." Ben added with a playful grin. "Just make sure he's not a loser like that Bora guy, okay?"

Juvia smiled warmly, a soft blush gracing her cheeks. "Juvia… doesn't think that will be an issue anymore."

Ben chuckled and glanced back at the wagon. "I should get going. Don't want to make Mr. Kale late."

Juvia's smile wavered but she nodded. "Then… this is farewell."

Ben offered her one last grin. "It's not goodbye Juvia. It's 'see you later.' Take care of yourself."

She nodded as her heart felt full of something. "Safe travels, Ben…"

With that, Ben turned and walked back to the wagon.

Juvia's gaze lingered on Ben's retreating form, her chest tightening with an unfamiliar yet painful sensation. As the distance grew between them, she clenched her jacket tightly while trying to suppress the overwhelming urge that welled up inside her. "I can't stand to see him go!" The thought echoed in her mind, driving her to raise her hand as she readied a spell. "Water L–"

But then, Ben's words replayed in her mind.

"My family and friends are still out there somewhere. I have to find them. I have to remember who I am."

Her arm slowly fell back to her side as the realization washed over her. "No... I can't hold him back. It would be selfish to keep him with me when he still has a home to find." Watching Ben climb into the wagon beside Mr. Kale, Juvia's heart ached but she swallowed her emotions, forcing herself to let go. "Safe travels, my handsome prince…"

The merchant cracked his whip making the purple boar-like creature begin pulling the wagon down the cobblestone street. Juvia bit her lower lip, trying to keep the tears at bay as the distance between her and Ben grew. "Please... keep your promise and return to me one day. I... I will wait for you, Ben Tennyson."

Meanwhile as the wagon rattled forward, Mr. Kale shot a sly glance at Ben. "So, did you enjoy your little date with that young lady?"

Ben shook his head, trying to keep his expression neutral. "It wasn't a date. I was just thanking Juvia for saving the town and learning about wizard guilds."

The merchant raised an eyebrow. "Is that really the only reason?"

Ben paused, then sighed. "Well… no." His tone softened. "Juvia seemed down about something, so I thought maybe spending time with her would help. I don't know if I made a difference though."

Mr. Kale chuckled and stroked his beard. "You might not see results right away lad. It's like planting a seed—sometimes it takes time for your kindness to bloom."

Ben blinked in surprise, impressed by the unexpected wisdom. "That… actually sounded pretty profound."

The merchant smirked. "Got it off a fortune cookie."

Ben deflated instantly, rolling his eyes. "Never mind."

As the wagon rumbled onward, Ben's thoughts drifted back to Juvia. He looked up at the cloudy sky, the rain still gently falling. "Maybe one day, Juvia… you'll see the sun. And if I can, I'll be the one to show it to you."

A/N: Ah, another installment!

I understand the action was lacking in this chapter, and I apologize if you disliked that. But I had planned on the bulk of this chapter being between Ben and Juvia talking with each other to give realistic (for Juvia, at least) reasons for Phantom Lord's Rain Woman falling for our Lost Hero.

Princess Hisui makes her debut (as short as it may have been) with Ben saving her. Keep in mind, Hisui is eleven years old at this time since I remember her canonically being 19 in X792. I don't know if that's canon or not, but for the purpose of this story…she's 11 in X784.

So our next alien who makes his on-screen debut is Wildvine! FYI, I am using the original series design and voice for this story. To me, that is the best version of Wildvine.

Thank you for the support and feedback I've received so far!

Please leave any comments, critique, and suggestions in the review box. Until next time!