The Magic of Three

Chapter 13

Flying on a broomstick was one of the greatest thrills to a witch. Soaring above the clouds, felling the wind and the breeze in her hair, seeing just how big the world could really be, it was incredible. It was cloud nine to Lucy and Erza, but Juvia still needed some time to adjust.

"You doing okay back there cous?" Erza asked.

Poor Juvia had her arms and her legs tightly wrapped around the stick.

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

"You're so tense." Lucy observed. "Relax."

"I can't! I just found out the magic and witches are real, that my mother was a witch, that my nanny is a witch and also happens to be my great-grandmother, that I'm also a witch, and now I'm flying, and it's all in one day."

"Good point." Lucy said.

"But you don't have to be so scared." Erza said moving her broom closer to Juvia. "We're right here, we won't let you fall."

"You won't?" Juvia asked.

"Of course. You're family. You may have been brought up differently than us and grown up in a different world, but we share the same blood and the same spirit. In this family we always protect and care for each other. No matter what."

Erza held her hand out to Juvia, a gesture of trust and to begin bonding. Juvia's grip on her broom lightened and she nervously let go with one had, it trembled as it slowly moved toward Erza's. There was one moment of hesitation but finally, the two hands met.

"Okay." She said. "I trust you."

"Good." The red-head replied.

"But can I hold your hand for awhile? Just until I get used to this?"

"Sure."

For the next ten minutes, Juvia just clasped onto Erza's hand, not sure if she would ever get over how frightened she was at the moment. Then suddenly, Lucy raised her own hand and flicked her wrist, which caused all the clouds to instantly clear out and reveal a sea of stars. The half mortal witch couldn't believe her eyes. So many lights twinkling and shimmering amidst the darkness, it was the closest she had ever been to stars. In fact she was so close and so amazed, that she let go of Erza's hand and actually tried to reach out toward one star, forgetting her fear entirely.

Of course she never touched a star but that was the beginning of when she finally opened her eyes to the astonishing thrill that she was experiencing. For once in her life she didn't feel afraid and unsure. She felt light and carefree, she felt like she could do anything. She was like a long caged dove who had at long last been released from her prison and was embracing her new found freedom. Juvia was so overcome with bliss and carelessness, that she began to sing.

"I turned around, and the water was closing all around, like a glove.
Like the love that had finally, finally found me.
Then I knew, in the crystalline knowledge of you.

Drove me through the mountains, through the crystal-like clear water fountain
Drove me like a magnet,
To the sea
To the sea
To the sea,
To the sea."

Her voice was like a nightingale's melody, so sweet and ethereal, yet there was a certain mystique to it. The way it echoed through out the night and was carried by the wind, it was like all that's best of dark and light. Like Juvia herself. She was fair like the moon, but deep like the night itself.

Her cousins were pleased to see her becoming less afraid and more comfortable with her new found powers. Even becoming happy with them. Unfortunately the blissful moment was to be cut short when out of nowhere a bat flew right into Lucy's face.