Ice-Cold (Gruvia Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Chapter 26: Eternal Snow Reprise

EEEK!! I am so hyped to write this chapter! If you guys remember, Chapter 11 was called Eternal Snow. Well, this is kind of like a reprise for that if you know what I mean. Up above is the Route L version of the song Eternal Snow, from the anime Fullmoon wo Sagashite. If you guys haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. It's not very well known, but this anime brought. Me. To. Tears. And let me tell you, I don't cry easily. So that's something.

Please enjoy Chapter 26!

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima. Fullmoon wo Sagashite belongs to Arina Tanemura.

Not too long ago, just the sight of Gray would be enough to label a day as 'happiest day ever!' That's just how much of an impact the ice wizard made in Juvia's life. Just his presence, knowing he was alive, healthy, and happy was enough for Juvia to continue in her life.

Ironically, seeing and witnessing him right now brought nothing but dread to the water mage's heart. This was the last thing she was expecting when she returned to the castle that night. Not only was Gray here, but Natsu, Wendy, Carla and Happy, Erza, and Lucy were there, too. All with looks of incredulity as they looked at Juvia.

But Juvia could only focus on the ice wizard that stole her heart and shred it to pieces...

Who was standing just a room away.

Gray looked back at Juvia, his eyes widened and his mouth agape. After all this time, here she was. They'd spent ages searching for her, thinking they'd never find her. He was so scared he'd never see her ever again. But now, she was there. He could see her, standing the closest she's ever been in a long, long time. She was here, and she was the most beautiful thing Gray had ever seen.

Unfortunately, Juvia wasn't having similar thoughts. While Gray was treading in relief, Juvia was drowning in dismay. The only thing she could think was, I have to get away. I can't handle this, it's too much!

And so, she initiated her response on what she believed was the best course of action. She promptly spun a 180 and bolted on a sprint towards the giant doors, running away from her friends she wasn't ready to see.

"Juvia!" Lucy called out in panic.

It happened in milliseconds. Gray wasn't sure whether the draining substance had worn off, or if it was his willpower, but either way, he felt a rush of adrenaline in his veins as he instinctively took off on his own sprint, chasing after her.

"Juvia!" he yelled.

He knew it had an effect, because just as Juvia was about to run past the doors, she stopped and hesitated. She turned her head and Gray could see the distress in her orbs as he ran. She backed away, and was about to start running again. Gray reached out to grab her hand to stop her, but before he could, he was swarmed by the soldiers that had escorted her to the palace.

Gray grunted as someone's elbow jabbed into his oblique, and more came. One had him in a headlock, and others had wrapped themselves around his limbs to keep him from moving. But Gray wasn't giving up. He looked straight at Juvia, who was standing there uneasily, not sure what to do. Gray struggled and fought intensely to free himself.

The one he'd been searching for was FREAKIN' RIGHT THERE! THERE WAS NO WAY HE WAS GONNA BE STOPPED NOW!!

"JUVIA!" he yelled, which caused her to jump in fright. "Please! Just listen to what I have to say! I'm begging you!" he cried desperately.

Juvia's lips quivered, and she blinked back tears. The sight killed Gray. "I'm sorry, but...I can't..."

Juvia made up her mind and turned to run away. She was now out the door and running as if her life depended on it. Gray growled in frustration and sorrow. He wasn't giving up. He swore he was going to fix things, if it was the last thing he was going to do. He swore on Fairy Tail's name that Juvia was coming back home with him, safe and sound. There was no way he was going against his word.