I don't own anything.
Juvia unleashed another torrent of water but this time she made sure that the water would be hot enough to prevent freezing. When Gray went to freeze said water, he quickly found out that it wasn't possible. Gray would become enveloped in boiling water. He experienced the full force of the water that passed into him. He struggled to stay on his feet.
'Damn! She can increase the temperature of the water!?' Gray thought.
"Water Lock." Juvia said.
Gray would be surrounded in a sphere of water as he began to be choked out from Juvia's attack. Gray channeled his magic, if he can summon ice. He might have a chance to cool the water off from the inside. He summoned ice in the water and it didn't last long as it would melt. However, that's all Gray needed as he rapidly summon ice as the ice eventually cooled the water down.
'Is he!?' Juvia thought.
Juvia tried increasing the temperature of the water. Yet, it was harder for her to increase now that Gray was rapidly producing ice. Eventually, he was able to freeze the water lock and brute force his way out of the frozen orb. The blocks of ice crash down to the floor along with him. Gray took in much needed air as he looked up at Juvia. He got to his feet as he prepared his attack.
"Ice Make: Lance!" Gray shouted.
Juvia didn't bother dodging as the lance's of ice harmlessly passed through Juvia's water body.
'Even with multiple projectiles she can still turn her body into water to avoid the attacks.' Gray thought.
Gray knew he could make it a consequence to freeze her body up close. However, both fighter's knew that is the case. Juvia wouldn't just let him get to her.
"Water Vines."
Juvia sent out several vine like shapes in the form of water right at Gray. He dodge each attack after the other while trying to come up with a plan.
'I could use Ice Make: Geyser.'
"Water Wave!" Juvia yelled.
Gray duck to avoid a sharp wave of highly pressurized water that took a few strands of his hair away from him. Juvia wouldn't let up as she continued to send attack after attack at Gray. The male being forced on the defensive.
'Shit she isn't losing steam either.' Gray thought.
However, he saw an opening with her arm going too far too the left. She couldn't launch a spell immediately because she had to repositioned her arm. The palm facing him.
"Water Bullet!"
A orb of water came flying right at Gray. It was too fast for him to dodge it much like, Ur's Ice Make: Javelin.
"Ice Make: Shield!" Gray shouted.
He conjured up a shield of ice. The shield of ice did block the bullet but it shattered after blocking said attack. Basically, both spells negated the other. Gray and Juvia were standing away from one another with neither taking any damage. Juvia's face was contorted into rage as she couldn't injury Gray nor kill him.
"How dare you stand in the way of justice!" Juvia shouted.
Gray became confused as he didn't understand the female.
"Lady what are you on about?" Gray asked.
"Your guildmate murderer my friend! He deserves to die and anyone that defends him will share his fate!"
Gray would have cared if Phantom Lord hadn't destroyed their home which was the Guild Hall. Gray would have cared if Phantom Lord hadn't nearly killed three of their members. Phantom Lord had made many transgressions even to the ones that had surrendered and begged for mercy. Yet, her worrs also had some weight because Juvia had the capacity to care about people. Gray felt the meaning of the fight start to have newfound weight. He failed to save Lyon, he would not fail to save Juvia. Somewhere underneath all of that, Gray knew she truly cared and cherished her friends. Gray knew she is a good person but this guild. It could send her on the wrong path.The female lunging at Gray as her anger clouded her judgement. She formed a claw out of water on her hand.
'However, to help her she needs to learn a lesson.'
"Ice Make: Excalibur."
Gray block the claw with his Ice Make Magic. The sword withstanding Juvia's attack. Gray looked into her eyes while he spoke his mind.
"Yet, you nearly killed three of our members! You tried kidnapping Lucy! You destroyed the place we all could gather and call home! You have our Master on his death bad. You can't become angry when we defend ourselves and this is the reality of war! We will die!" Gray yelled.
Juvia's eyes widen at Gray's statement. This entire time she had only considered her side of things. Her resolve to fight wavered at hearing the very true acts they committed without batting an eye. Now, here she was trying to argue that they should pay for killing her guild member. Gray pressed forward at seeing Juvia's hesitation. Juvia took a step back as she was overpowered by the man. Gray leaning in closer.
"Phantom Lord started this war! You knew what you were getting into after having Gajeel beat our members into the ground and crucified them for all to see!" Gray yelled.
Gray retreated his sword to kick a stunned Juvia in the gut. The attack sent her flying as she hit the ground. Gray realized something after kicking Juvia.
'She didn't have my foot go through her body. It wasn't made out of water.' Gray thought.
Juvia did have a physical body but if he wanted to hit her. He would either have to move faster than the speed at which she can make her body into water. Either that, or stun her in some type of way to where she couldn't make her body water. Juvia got up as she clenched her stomach.
'I can't...I can't fail here even if he's right. Gajeel is counting on me. I can't let my last friend down.' Juvia thought.
"Juvia, we don't have to fight. Just stand down and help us win against Phantom Lord. I know you deeply care about your friends here, if you were to make a plea. I'm sure they'll listen to you." Gray said.
Friends? Juvia grew a smile that creeped Gray out.
"Betray Gajeel? No, I'd rather die than betray my last and only friend. Even if you have a valid point, even if my anger clouded my judgement. I won't stop fighting so long as Gajeel is here." Juvia stated.
Gray saw Juvia rally as the rain outside stopped. This confused Gray looked outside the window to see the water droplets enlarged to the size of tennis balls. The droplets would aim right on his position. Finally, the droplets of water would move just like a blitzkrieg. Gray would be hammered with the droplets of water after they crashed right through the windows. Gray slam into the wall like a pin ball before sliding down said object. Juvia relented as it began to heavily rain outside once again.
'Damn it's like she has a endless amount of water.' Gray thought.
Gray rolled forward to avoid a hand made out of water that tried grabbing him. He got up to his feet as it became easier to dodge Juvia's next attack. Juvia saw Gray advancing on her position as she jumped back to get distance away from him. Juvia knew if this became a up and close battle, Gray would win. Gray seeing Juvia just retreat knew he needed to cut off her escape routes. How? Gray noticed the walls and the windows.
'Walls...walls!' Gray thought.
Gray put his hands together.
"Ice Make: Wall!"
Juvia jumped back seeing a magic circle appear below her feet. She got away from the attack. Gray rush forward as he broke down the wall that he created by punching through it. He now had Juvia right where he wanted her. Gray advance forward with his attack. Juvia stuck out her hand as she fired an attack at him. The stream of water rushing towards him. He felt the heat radiating off of it but ignored the temperature. Gray remained fearless as he maneuvered around the beam of water. Juvia had to cancel the spell as she retreated once again.
'She's almost there.' Gray thought.
Gray made a ice shield with his creation magic and opted to just run straight at her. Juvia knew the best spell to deal with his shield. She unleashed two water bullets at Gray. The first broke his shield while the second one planted itself into his gut. Normally, Juvia would watch people double over in pain. However, Gray came to a stand still but remained on his feet.
'Not again, not again!' Gray thought.
Gray would not double over in pain. He was almost there, he was so close and unlike before, Gray had the will to stay on his feet. Gray surprised Juvia once again because his shoulder made contact with her body. Juvia would find herself flying backwards and her back hit a wall? Juvia looked up to see that a wall made out of ice is what she was leaning up against. Her eyes widen at remembering the wall she jumped back to dodge. Gray had made another one but further down the hallway. As Juvia's mind was trying to process how she fell right into Gray's hands. Gray slammed his fist into her jaw. The pain shot through her as she remembered that she very much was still in a fight. Juvia couldn't compose herself right away and found the air knocked out of her lungs by a gut punch. She became dazed as Gray finally put his hand on her shoulder. This was it, Gray was going to end her.
"This fight is done, we don't have to go any further." Gray said.
Juvia was at a lose for words. Gray had won this exchange and he stepped away from her. He fully expected her to surrender. Why was he being so nice to her? Juvia became confused.
"What makes Juvia so special?" Juvia asked.
"Idiot, didn't I tell you? You actually care about your friends even if it was two of them. You'd fit into Fairy Tail since we do our best to support our members." Gray answered.
Juvia didn't want to believe that.
"All of Juvia's life everyone hated her because she always brought rain wherever she went. All I'll ever do is bring rain with me and it'll always rain if I'm with the guild. Which means they'll hate me just like the rest."
Gray couldn't help but give out a chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Juvia asked.
"We have a woman who can turn into a demon, a guy that can turn into a monster at any given moment, a guy with arm that is a monster, a disciplinary freak, and so much more. A little rain ain't gonna hurt us. I want to be your friend Juvia." Gray commented.
Gray wasn't concerned about a rain cloud following a woman around because he had seen worse things.
"Your lying." Juvia said.
"Fraid not, the guy showed us on a mission that he is under a curse. He showed us his human arm becoming one of a monster. His arm had enlarged as it grew scales, his hand would be replaced with talons. His humanity is in question every day because if one day he pushes too far. Than he'll become a monster. Yet, we will still care for him because he is our friend and we want to help him instead of being a burden." Gray said.
Juvia didn't want to believe Gray. Everything she had experienced in her past is everyone wanting to get away from her. Even her past lover.
"That's just not possible, Juvia knows you'll get tired of the rain and leave her just like the rest." Juvia stated.
"Than just end the rain." Gray said.
"I can't, it's impossible. The rain has always been with Juvia." Juvia stated.
Gray could relate to Juvia as he took a step forward with his hand outstretched towards her.
"I thought it would be impossible to free Ur but someone showed me that it is possible. It took three spells and all of his magic but he succeeded in pulling it off, Ur was freed from her decade long imprisonment. He showed me that the impossible isn't always set in stone, it's just that no one has found a way." Gray explained.
"What does this have to do with Juvia?" Juvia asked.
"You controlled the water droplets earlier that means there's a way to stop the rain by absorbing it into your body since you can make your body out of water. I'm not some egg head but last I check clouds are made of water. You control water don't you?" Gray asked.
Juvia's eyes widen and she didn't want to try because if it worked...she'd owed this man too much. Yet the allure of freedom, and having actual connections with people was too much to pass up. Juvia did as Gray instructed and Gray could hear the rain come to a crawl. It didn't take long for it to stop and that's when the sunlight began to break through into the hallway. Juvia let out a startled grasp at seeing that it was working and double her efforts. It didn't take long for the 'clouds' to be absorbed into Juvia. The clouds lost the source of what made them up and as a result, the sky would become cleared of them. Juvia saw the sun light being so close to her and it was a joyous feeling. It felt so warm. The female falling to her knees as tears of joy would fall from her eyes. She got to hands and knees as she openly cried despite being in front of an enemy.
"Why? Why go through such lengths to help an enemy?" Juvia asked.
"You might be my opponent but that doesn't make you my enemy. I also see that despite being on the enemy's side, you're a good person and that you actually care about your comrades." Gray told her.
Juvia didn't understand why Gray was being so kind to her. Maybe, maybe he really believed that she was a good person and he is going out of his way to help her. Juvia at this point, didn't have the resolve to fight.
"I...surrender." Juvia stated.
Elfman took another hit that sent him reeling back. The young man wasn't able to get close to Aria.
'Damn it, I can't even see what his attacks are! It's unfair!' Elfman yelled.
Elfman wiped the blood coming from his mouth as he began to breath in and out at a rapid pace. The man had been taking hits the entire time while he hadn't landed a single hit on Aria. Elfman was undoubtedly becoming frustrated.
"It's a surprise you are still standing." Aria said.
"Real men always stay standing." Elfman replied.
"Such resolve! It's so sad that it be wasted here!" Aria shouted.
"Don't count me out just yet! Partial takeover magic! Gauntlet!" Elfman yelled.
Elfman tried getting close to Aria but the man simply thrust his palm out and Elfman would be sent flying back. He crashed into a pillar before sliding down the object. Elfman got ahold of himself as his feet touch the ground. He stayed upright despite the pain his body is in but that didn't mean Aria would stop his attack. In fact, he appeared in front of the wounded Elfman with both palms aimed at Elfman.
"Open Air...Annihilation."
Elfman's tried moving but his body didn't respond as it stayed rooted in its place. His eyes widening at seeing the spell about to launch right at him. However, a boot crashed into Aria's face. The spell deactivated after taking a hit. Aria would be force to stumble back as he got himself together. Elfman saw his mysterious savior land right in front of him. He couldn't believe it, Erza stood before him in her regular attire.
"Erza, you shouldn't be here. You're way too wounded!" Elfman stated.
"Elfman...where's Natsu?" Erza asked.
Elfman not expecting Erza failed to answer in that immediate second. However, he finally got himself together.
"He went on ahead to take out Black Steel. That way, it'd be us and Ur against Master Jose." Elfman answered.
Erza saw the plan, it was feasible. However, Elfman was clearly outclassed by Aria.
"Stand back Elfman, I'll deal with him. I have a few good punches to give him for putting the Master in his current state." Erza stated.
No arguments from Elfman. However, he didn't feel right in all of this because Erza had to save him. She knew what he knew all along, Elfman could not defeat Aria as he is right now. Erza stepped forward as she challenged Aria.
"From here on out, I'll be your opponent." Erza declared.