Chapter 26

110 1 0
                                    

Juvia's POV

I splashed her again and continued the chase, I clearly out pacing her. We continued for a long time till she called it quits and waded back. "Race me!" She decided, having regained her breath and ready to go. I nodded, walking to the waters edge and looking around. Lucy touched my shoulder and pointed with her other hand to a rock out in the ocean. "Here and back," she explained quickly, getting ready to push herself against the water. "You are going to lose." I told her plainly and we began to the count down together.

"Three" Her voice had a small chatter to it as we reached knee deep in the salty sea. I waded further till it was up to my waist, before continuing. "Two" I moved myself into the ideal swimming position as Lucy stood beside me. "One..." The blonde was also ready, looking at me with a wink before facing ahead. I returned that cocky look with an equally cocky expression, my mouth hooked into a smile. "Go!" I yelled and immediately launched myself forward. The water was fresh as I opened my eyes, not stinging me in the slightest as I torpedoed forward. Kick, kick and swim, swim! I thought as I moved gracefully, moving closer to the floor of the ocean so I could kick diagonally forward and boost myself a couple of feet. As I reached the surface with the kick, I immediately looked over my shoulder, kicking forward as I saw Lucy cleaning the water off her eyes at least a meter away. With a satisfied loo, I turned ahead and saw that the rock was only a few meters away. Taking a sharp breath I plunged back under, swimming at an amazing speed without even using my powers. Quickly I touched the surface of the rock, flipping so I could kick off the boulder. As I used the tactic, I saw Lucy touched and getting into position as I launched off.

She'd regained distance, copying me stride for stride and jumping out of the water before slamming into the ocean floor to boost her far. I gasped, causing me to swallow the salty liquid. Immediately I countered with a strong current, which pushed me ahead of the chocolate eyed girl. "Water is my element!" I cried in the water, absorbing the liquid and boosting myself towards the end. A flash of gold in the deep made me turn. Catching my eye was Lucy propelling herself forward and ending up near the end.

With a grunt I cast a wall of gelatinised water, catching her. She struggled as I calmly walked to the surface. After I'd finished the wall under the blue disappeared and Lucy came up with a huff. "Told you so, I knew you could never beat me!" I announced, shaking my very damp hair. That began the sore losers chase, constantly circling around and around the sandy beach.

~*~

Sighing with relief as I soaked my aching limbs in the steaming water. Taking a lavender bath bomb from the side, I dropped it in and watched the water turn from a clear liquid to a purple with lighter bubbles and foam. I moved into a more comfortable position and sank into the large, luxurious bath. "This is great," I exhaled a long deep breath, allowing the lavender to fill my nose and calm me down.

Today was fun, great. The perfect time for us. It brought me back to when we were younger and naive, when we cleaned up the beach and our hearts shattered. I scooped some water in my hand, watching as it looked out like a fountain back into the ocean of hot water below. We picked up the pieces... met and loved and cared. We had kids, we had friends, we had mothers... we had each other. The sudden drop made me realise the fresh tears rolling own my face. If you asked me where they were from I couldn't tell you...

Were they from the betrayals and heartbreak from that distant nightmare. The feigned friendship and hope that Fairy Tail had once provided for me... maybe the hollowed our days before I even knew what a guild was. The far off memories of my mother. The scattered remains of Phantom Lord. The years with my girls, the years with my friends. The satisfaction of proving myself in the GMG...
No those were all excuses. These tears are for my heart. There is no way to describe it. Happy, sad, angry, loving - every feeling I'd ever experienced.

Together Through Thick and ThinWhere stories live. Discover now