First: OMG Mashima is killing me with this current arc!! The feels are real :O :( What makes me freak out is the fact that what's happening in the manga is similar to the chapters I'm posting these days with this fic (I promise I'm not doing it on purpose :O ) I just hope Mashima will make sure we have a happy ending (I love happy endings!) but just like I said with chapter 488, I have faith in him.

So here's the 22nd chapter while we're painfully waiting for the next manga chapter!

Juvia let herself get carried by the arms of the one she loved. A small voice in her head kept repeating her he loved her back but Juvia simply couldn't believe it. It was so easy to feel like she was dreaming... However, the pain she felt in numerous limbs proved that she was indeed awake despite the unreal and wonderful feeling she had with Gray's arms wrapped around her.

The young woman was slowly getting her strength back. She could, without a doubt, walk but she wanted to stay a little more in this heat that emanated from him. However, faith had other plans. She almost had to hold back from retching seeing the man that just appeared in front of them: José. Despite the arms that tightened on her in a protective way, Juvia knew that, contrariwise, she had to get out of her love's arms. For the first time since their meeting, Juvia was the one to get away from Gray. She had to fight. She had to stop José. She had to make sure that her love and friends couldn't be hurt anymore by that execrable man.

She made a couple of steps in her enemy's direction. She seemed to be fine, at least, enough to fight.

"My love, is Gray ready?"

"More than ever" he said, placing his hand on his sword, ready to engage in combat.

"Tch... First Redfox with his little bitch and now you with your sculptor. You two are barely out of Phantom and already making me want to puke."

"Juvia can't believe she wasted nineteen years of her life at the service of a monster like José" she spat.

"Talk as much as you wish, Lockser, but you can't avoid it: everyone you love will be dead before sunrise. It's almost a replay from heighten years ago" he said, savoring his words with a satisfied grin.

Juvia felt Gray tensing a little more beside her before meeting his gaze. As if they always knew each other, she understood what he silently said and they stated to run at the same time. There was no way they would let him get away with this.

***

They were wandering in the palace for several minutes, not really knowing where to go. Then, they ended up before what seemed to be the throne room. The many guards that were standing before the door seemed to indicate the king's presence. "Good" thought Gajeel. The young man was more than eager to let his fists expressing what they thought about the pretended king.

So he started out with those guards in his way. They may have had the numeric advantage, Gajeel had seen tougher before and that not counting the fact that his shrimp never ceased to amaze him, fighting with a talent that was beyond the novice she was. "Focus on the fight in front of you, Redfox" he reminded himself, forcing himself look at his adversary rather than his girlfriend. Ignoring is need to make sure she was fine or his envy to simply look at her, he focussed back on those who were in their way. A wave of adrenalin filled his veins. Despite the unlikely situation they were in, Gajeel had missed that feeling of satisfaction that brought him every fallen enemy. On that thought, while Natsu was taking care of the last guards, he kicked open the door in front of him.

As expected, the king was there, his horrible councillor beside him. Some anger woke up in the pit of his stomach. The only thing he wanted right now was to beat the living crap out of them. And he started to do so, attacking the guards that were protecting those bastards. He alternated some calculated sword hits, making sure to avoid any vitals despite the pain the victim felt, and some well placed punches.

Then he heard the sound of metal on the ground. In this kind of battle, the sound of a fallen sword could seem banal. However, the one who was disarmed was where Levy stood. He gave a look to make sure she was fine. A smile was drawn on his face seeing his shrimp fighting with the spirit of a true warrior. But the distraction almost cost him his life and, without his sharp reflexes, the sword aiming at him would have slice his throat rather than barely miss it.

Another sword on the ground. "Focus" he reminded himself but couldn't help but giving Levy a quick look. This time, his heart skipped a beat. The weapon on the stone floor was no other that the dragon shaped sword, Levy lying next to it, a hand gripping her bloody arm.

"Levy!" he shouted, throwing himself before her, his sword ready to parry the second blow.

He then took Levy's aggressor out of balance with a single kick and trace a bloody wound on his arm that could compete with his shrimp's. Gajeel had to hold back so he didn't inflect him much more and hit his head so he could be out of commission.

"You alright shrimp?" he asked with anger.

He, of course, wasn't angry with Levy, only with every single person that aimed to hurt her.

"Yes, I'm alright" she answered, her voice a little shaky while picking up her sword with her now stained with blood hand.

Even if her dominant arm was still without any harm, the left one still bled a lot, much to Gajeel's annoyance. So he took off the headband that was holding back his hair until now and wrapped it around Levy's tiny arm to make a bandage out of it.

"Thanks" she whispered.

"You can thank me once we're done with those bastards" growled Gajeel, blocking another blow.

Quickly, they managed to get rid of that second wave of guards.

"Gihi" let out Gajeel seeing that the king's henchman was the last obstacle between them and the impostor.

Despite the tiredness in his arms, he lifted his sword once more, ready to use it. However, he barely made a couple of steps before a piercing cry could be heard from the backyard. Colours left his face. He had no doubts about the origin of that scream.

"Juvia" he let out, before looking at the gardens from the window.

I front of his best friend stood the one who caused all this pain to the two blue haired girls that meant everything to him.

"Gajeel?" asked a small voice behind him.

When he turned to her, Levy could see all the worry he had in his eyes. Giving herself a look through the window, she confirmed herself her assumptions. The young woman felt her hart burning at the thought of Gajeel getting closer to this monster but she knew he had to help the one he considered as his family. She nodded to encourage him, knowing very well what he was thinking of. As for Gajeel, his hesitation swayed between staying with her even though to battle was mostly over and helping his friend that probably needed his help more.

After a short hesitation, he finally gave in, however not liking the idea.

"Remember shrimp" he finally said. "No stupid decision".

"And you, remember to stay alive" she said in a small voice, throwing herself at him before, against her will, letting him go.

As an answer, he kissed her forehead and started to run in Juvia's direction. As for Levy, she turned back to Natsu and Lucy, ready to take back what was once taken from her.

***

Gray was an amazing fighter, but Juvia knew that the soldiers they had faced untill now were nothing compared to José. And that, not even counting the fact that he was still at the maximum of his strength while both of them had suffered multiple damages and used up a great amount of their energy. She clenched her teeth realising how much her movements seemed slow in comparison of her former captain. With a quick glance in Gray's direction, she noted that it was the same for him. If they didn't get help quick...

Her thoughts were suspended while she had the impression that her hart just got ripped off her chest. A scream escaped her lips with all the air her lungs contained while José's blade pierced the young man's abdomen.

The later emitted a muffled sound and collapsed on the ground, both of his hands on his wound. Anger she never knew she could feel took over Juvia and she rushed to the one she despised more than anything. This time, her sword was in her hands. All she could think of was to keep this despicable man far from her love.

But despite that burst of energy, she knew that, soon or later, he would surpass her. Holding back her tears, she continued the fight with everything she had left, refusing to think about what could very soon happen. She was about to block a new hit from José when he turned to his right to himself block an attack.

"Gajeel" she let out, tears now rolling down her cheeks.

"How's Fullbuster?" Asked Gajeel taking over.

Juvia took advantage of his question to drop on her knees next to Gray.

"My love!" she exclaimed.

"Hey..." he weakly greeted her, still breathing to Juvia's relief.

The young woman wanted to say so many things, but Gray didn't let her say a single one.

"You have to beat him" he let out with pain.

"But... Juvia can't..."

"You and Gajeel are the best fighters I know. You can do it Juvia."

The young woman breathed in and placed her lips on his to fill in with courage.

"Juvia promises to beat José. But Gray has to promise Juvia he will stay alive".

"We have a deal" he painfully smiled.

To that, the young woman got back on her feet and took place next to her best friend, ready to destroy the one who was responsible for every ghosts of their past.

The battle against the vilest man has begun. As you probably guessed, we're almost at the end of this story. But don't worry, I still have two chapters and an epilogue for you so it isn't over quite yet :)

I hope you appreciated it and have a nice day !

Lily xxxx