Caught on Land

Laergulpen

I gulped down my fear of telling Juvia, she would no doubt be sad and angry at me. I stared her straight in the eye "Juvia-" "It was a simple question, Your Grace," I balked at that, she'd never called me that before.

Her deep blue eyes blazed with anger trying desperately to hide the pain and sadness. "What was her price?" She asked again and I didn't stall "Her price was simply a hand in marriage."

"Your hand?" I paused and hesitated, then said "Yes, my hand." She stared at me for the longest time "Is it worth it?" She suddenly said, her voice almost cracking from unshed tears.

"Juvia-" "Gray, stop stalling, I know you think this is for the best, but isn't the whole point of me having legs is so I can be with you?" I stared into her eyes. They were narrowed in anger, less sadness now, easily dominated by the hurt and anger.

"Yes, but-" "But nothing!" "Juvia! Let me finish!" She stopped and looked at me expectantly "Juvia, I love you, I will find a way," "No," I couldn't say anything for a moment, too shocked by what she had said.

"Forget it Gray, I'll have my legs, you can marry the Magic-Speaker, she'll no doubtably make herself look prettier, then you can be happy with her. I'll be happy with my legs." "Juvia! No, I love you!"

"I love you too but you made a deal with a Magic-Speaker, you can't go back on your word," "But I can go back on mine."

A voice by the stairs suddenly spoke. Juvia and I turned our heads towards the stairs and saw the Hedgewitch. She smiled at us "Prince, you obviously love this girl, I'll ask for something else."

Juvia looked happy and terrified of what she would ask for but I stared at her, patiently waiting for her offer. "All I require is the scale from the monster Laergulpen." "I will get it!"

Juvia shouted and put her hands on the glass "Laergulpen is an underwater monster, I'll be able to get her scale." The Hedgewitch nodded "If that's what you wish, but how will we got you to water?"

I stepped forward "We can put her in a cart with a tank on it, we'll have to hide the tank with hay or something but that's our best bet." The Hedgewitch nodded again "Fine idea, let's go."

~Time Skip | Juvia~

I was in a tank full of water, waiting to get dumped into the ocean to find the Laergulpen to take its scale. Suddenly we stopped, the hay and tank cover above me removed.

I looked up to see the Magic-Speaker and Gray. I smiled at them and sat up in my tank. I looked out over the ocean and was hit with a powerful wave of memories. I held Adaliah close and looked at the two humans.

"I'm ready," I didn't sound very ready but I was. The Magic-Speaker gave me a waterproof map "This will lead you to Laergulpen, be careful." I looked at the map, the Laergulpen's lair wasn't too far, just down the coast a few leagues.

I smiled at the both of them "Thank you, both, wish me luck," I looked at the shoreline and crawled out of the tank. I headed towards the shoreline and as my hand touched the water I turned and waved.

They waved back at me and I dived down. I relished in the salt water but not for long. I swam deeper and turned towards the North. I started swimming, preparing for a long, boring journey.

As I swam I suddenly heard a mermaids voice "Juvia?" I turned my head, only one mermaid didn't call me "Princess". "Erza!" I saw a mermaid with long red hair and a purple tail that ended in red.

She wore a short, frilly, purple top. It has no strap and swirled around her, surprisingly, covering her well. I smiled at her "Erza!" She quickly swam to me and hugged me tight "Juvia! Where have you been?"

I looked up towards the surface "On land, with the human prince," "You're in love?" I looked at her, surprised, then I blushed "Yes," she giggled "I heard he was quite the handsome prince."

I kept swimming towards my goal and she followed me "Fill me in Juvia, that story has more holes than Swiss Seaweed." I laughed "Okay, I'll tell you, I'm on a quest."

I paused and looked at her but she just stared at me, expectantly. "I'm on a quest to get a Laergulpen scale to give to a human Magic-Speaker. That was her price, and in return I will have legs but I can always turn back into a mermaid by going into water."

Erza stared at me "Wow, Juvia, you've been a busy guppy. Is that where we're headed? The Laergulpen's lair?" I nodded "Yes, you don't have to come," "Don't even start, I'm coming, you need the backup."

Erza's sides glimmered and two curved blades appeared, studded with rubies and the blades were freshly resharpened. Erza ran a blacksmithing shop where her workers helped her weapons and others.

Her top glimmered, too, and was replaced by a red, amethyst studded armour top with deadly looking should guards. Her hips were wrapped in a similar looking belt and her tail down to the fun was covered in red-purple chainmail.

I gaped at her "Over prepared much?" I laughed at her and she laughed with me "Maybe, but I've heard the Laergulpen is fierce, I was thinking I'd take the hits and you use your water magic to hit her around me."

I nodded and swam faster "I know you're held down by that armour but I need to be quick about this quest, so hurry, swim as fast as you can."

~Time Skip | Juvia~

With a lot of water-speed spells Erza and I reached the cave entrance of the Laergulpen. I stared at it, Erza floating next to me. I grabbed her hand and looked at her "Now or never," she looked at me and nodded.

With that we dove in. Erza's armour clinking and both our tails swishing in the water. We entered the dark cave and after awhile came to a lit up area in the cave.

In the centre of the room was a stone chair, surrounded in eels and old gold. Sitting on the chair was the biggest mermaid I had ever seen, her long black hair covered most of her face. Her arms gripped the chair arms and she was laid back in the chair.

Her head was cocked to the side that made her seem dead, she looked dead. Her tail was all bone and her top was just a tattered piece of cloth with bones holding it together.

Her skin was deathly pale and when she looked up at us her eyes held no colour, just an empty, staring, greyness. I gulped back my fear and looked over her closer. One or two scales were still attached to her bone tail.

I pointed at them for Erza "I need on of those scales." Erza nodded and swam towards the Laergulpen. The mermaid stood and raised one hand as if to throw something but paused, waiting.

Erza raised her swords and prepared for anything, watching for any movement. The Laergulpen yelled in a voice that was just bubbles coming out of her mouth. She threw the things in her hand, black stones.

But not just any stones. Dragon Tears.

I watched in horror as the stones hit the floor and exploded in a dark magic spell. The Laergulpen threw more stones, still speaking in bubbly-tongue.

I shook my head, gaining back my ability to actually do something. "Water Slicer!" Water quickly moved around Erza and hit the Laergulpen "Water's Edge!" Erza's swords were surrounded in constantly moving water and hit the fake mermaid.

"Water's Wave!"
"Amethyst Slice!"
"Water Nebula!"
"Duel Ruby Slice!"
"Water Bubbles!"
"Ocean Crescent!"
"Water Cyclone!"
"Moon Fairy Slicer!"

Erza and I fought the Laergulpen, she gave a good fight but we eventually won. I swam up to her once she was down and picked up one of her scales. An old, dirty scale that was covered in seaweed and other disgusting plants.

I grimaced at it then smiled at Erza "You've gotten better, Erza," "You too, Juvia." I swam out of the cave and looked towards where I came from. I looked down at the scale, then back up again.

"What are you waiting for?" Erza came up behind me and I looked back at her "Still can't believe that as soon as I get back I'll have legs, and my Prince." Erza smiled and nodded "Let's go."