A Lost Boy

Chapter 7

The night skies of Magnolia echoed with the children's laughter as they flew through the evening wind. Juvia and her brothers had always fantasized about flying even imaging themselves doing during some of their pretend games but they never believed that they would ever experience it for real, until now of course. It was especially amazing at night because that was when all the houses and buildings were lit up, and from the distance of where they were the city lights looked stars that had come down to earth. 

"This is amazing!" Romeo said.

"This whole thing offends reason." Natsu said. "But I don't care!"

"Everything sure does look small from up here." Juvia said as she gazed up the city below her. "Oh look there's my school and the pretty dress shop where Mother shops for her gowns."

"I can see the bank where Father works." Natsu pointed out.

"And I can see the park where fly our kites and take Lily on his walks." Romeo added.

Gray couldn't get over seeing the lit up faces of children flying for the first time. There really was nothing to compare to it really. Why you ask? Because it was a fantasy they nearly every child dreamed of living out but had been told by grown ups that it wasn't possible. But then he would come and not only prove them wrong but make a child's dream become a reality. 

That was another thing he didn't like about growing up and adulthood. Growing up meant all your hopes and dreams had to be stolen from you. If he had doubloon for every time he heard an adult say that dreams don't come true and that you have to stop dreaming once you grow up he'd be the richest boy there ever was. But no one would take away his dreams and he would do his best to make sure that the same thing wouldn't happen to any other children. Of course he knew full well he couldn't help all children avoid that fate but that didn't stop him from trying.

"Juvia look out for that chimney!" Natsu called which snapped the dark haired boy out of his thoughts.

Juvia looked up and gasped to see that she was about to fly straight into the brick chimney of someone's house. Luckily Gray managed to grab her arm and pull her out of the way.

"Are you alright?" He asked her.

"I'm fine. Thank you."

"Watch where you're flying okay?" He chuckled.

"Okay."

"Trust me the last thing you want to do is go fly crashing into something made of bricks. Hurts like crazy."

"That ever happen to you?"

"Uh..." He blushed a little in embarrassment as he recalled the first few times he tried to fly which not only resulted in him crashing into a brick wall but also a tree, a lamp post, some bushes, and the occasional duck pond. "Nope. Can't say that I have. But a few of the lost boys would tend to do it the first time I brought them over."

Juvia giggled. She could tell he was fibbing because as he spoke he kept looking downward and both her brothers always did that whenever they fibbed. But she chose not to call him out on it this time because she understood how important a boy's pride and ego was to him. Why? She doubted she would ever know but nevertheless she chose to respect Gray's desire to protect his ego and let the fib slide. 

"How much further til we reach Tendrou Island?" She asked in attempt to change the subject.

"We just keep going straight and we'll be there in no time." He answered.

"What do we do if one of us was to get separated from the group?" She asked looking back at her brothers, she had been doing so every few minutes to make sure none of them get lost or left behind.

"You don't have to worry about that." He assured her. "All you three have to do is just keep following me but if that problem does occur just look for a pink light in the sky. That's Meredy and wherever Meredy is, I'm not far behind."

"Alright but what happens if one of us falls? How long does that fairy dust last?"

"Do you always worry so much?"

"I can't help it. Sometimes things just make me a little concerned and frightened. Aunt Mirajane always said that I get it from Mother."

"Well again you have nothing to worry about because fairy dust lasts for hours but if you were to suddenly fall I promise that I will be there to catch you."

That made her smile again and he smiled back. Out of all the faces Gray had seen lit up when flying, Juvia's had to be the one he found to be the prettiest and hoped to never stop seeing. It made that new yet odd interest and feeling stir inside him again although he had yet to find a name for what this interest and feeling was. 

Meredy saw the way he looked atand she snarled in envy. She didn't understand why Gray was so interested in this girl. She didn't think there was anything so special about her but apparently Gray did and that fact alone made her heart swell with jealousy.

You see Meredy had been Gray's longest relationship with a person and he in turn had been hers as well. They were like brother and sister, always looking out for one another the best way they could. Now there was nothing wrong with a relationship like that but Meredy had a nasty habit of thinking she always what was best for Gray and in some instances she did know what was best for him but this was not one of those instances.

She believed that Gray didn't need any other woman or girl in his life besides her. That another girl would either hurt Gray or take him away from Meredy and she was determined not to lose the only person who had ever cared for her. 

"There is no way I'm letting you come between me and Gray." She said to herself. "I won't allow anyone to take him from me. Especially not a big ugly girl like you."

And the jealous fairy immediately began to think of some way to destroy the innocent girl.

"Hey look it's Magnolia's clock!" Natsu said. "I've always wanted to do this."

He flew to the top of the large and grand clock tower and pushed back one of it's hands to make the the big bell inside chime upon being stricken. Which confused most of the residents of the city because it was not the proper time to be hearing that bell. But at the moment neither Natsu or the other children cared and so great were the delights of flying that they wasted time circling round church spires or any other tall objects on the way that took their fancy. This led to Gray getting a little impatient with the boys but for their sister's sake he wouldn't be too rude or short toward them.

Key word "too" rude or short toward them. Meaning that he let them have their fun but when eventually his patience wore thin he insisted they stop wasting time and carry on. Natsu did not like the idea of being ordered around by a boy his age and he considered trying to pick another fight with Gray but Juvia did everything she could to keep her stubborn borther from causing trouble.

"Do be more polite to him." She whispered to Natsu. 

"Then tell him to stop showing off and bossing me around." He replied.

"We must listen to him because we don't know exactly what we're doing or where we're going. He does. For once use your head for something other than mechanics."

After that talk he never tried to start a fight again. At least not when they relied on Gray at the moment. Before long the four children flew higher toward the sky, past the clouds and even a few stars until they reached the second one on the far right. In a flash of stardust they were transported to the incredible world of Tendrou Island where the Fernandes children would have their greatest adventure of their entire lives.